(Note: I tried to post this on Friday, but (surprise, surprise) we were experiencing wireless difficulties. We’ll just pretend I put this up two days ago.)

So one of the coolest places in Vienna is the Gräfin von Naschmarkt. It’s a totally normal restaurant during the day, but in order to circumvent the Austrian law against establishments being open 24 hours a day, it boards everything up at around 2:30 a.m. It looks closed from the street, but one guy is inconspicuously reading a newspaper at a table outside. If you’ve got the inside scoop, you just have to tell him the open sesame words of “Wir möchten essen” and you’re welcomed into the wonderful world of late-night Viennese fare. The coolest part is after you’ve had your fill, you leave through the secret kitchen exit. Definitely makes you feel like a super spy.

In other news that will greatly excite Mom, Sarah and I saw Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) at the Staatsoper on Saturday. For these kinds of performances the tickets are usually sold out far in advance, but you can purchase standing room the day of for only €3.50. The only drawback is that you have to start lining up two to three hours beforehand, which (with the opera) translates into standing for like five to six hours straight. It’s oh so worth it, though. The set was amazing (I guess that’s what happens when you have the financial means), but my particular favorite was the stuffed dragon puppet which took up basically the entire stage. The opera itself was quite funny (even better that it’s in German), and the singing wasn’t bad either.