Life in Graz, Austria

I've been in Graz for a week!  It's a lovely city.  Before this, I've only stayed for one week in Europe, in Paris.  It's good to experience the German-speaking lands :)  This whole week I've found myself thinking, "People seem to be doing something right, here."  The overall appearance is happiness and healthiness.  You see a lot of people out and about, enjoying their city.  It's not that surprising - if every building is beautiful, almost every other storefront is a cafe beckoning you to stay awhile, and there are beautiful parks, markets, and a riverwalk, why wouldn't you be out?  Austrians seem to value time with their friends, which I love seeing.  Places for children have areas that cater to adults, too (ie, cafes in parks).  The setup of the city and its venues really support the mingling of people and families!  

We had the other day off from rehearsals and I spent it doing things I enjoy no matter what city I'm visiting: walking and jogging around, drinking coffee, people watching from a bench, laying down with a book for a couple hours.  The cup above was from a cafe on the top floor of a shopping center that had a beautiful view of the city, and the coolest furniture!  I looked up the maker, Georg Maehring, if you'd like to see his work.  Not a bad life here at AIMS...more stories to come!

xomo