Better

After an indecent amount of sleep and an even more indecent breakfast (here's looking at you, strangely addictive Austrian pancakes), I got my head around the subway system and found my way to the Freud Museum. Under normal circumstances, I'd link to their site but the tablet is still stretching my patience so if you want to know more about this small but perfectly formed museum, based in the house where Freud lived before fleeing the Gestapo in 1938, you'll have to ask Mr Google yourself.

The sun also figured out what it was supposed to be doing and I wandered around the main shopping/eating area enjoying the warmth. And making friends with lots of Viennese dogs; I'd forgotten the civilised European attitude to pets who are allowed on the subway, in shops, etc. Bristol would be so jealous of all the canine mates I've made today.

Later there was a half hour run which was fabulous and in a few hours our group of 12 journos and 40 travel agents from NZ, OZ and the US will be meeting for dinner. Happy days.

Today's visuals are of the Freud Museum.

Almost time

Colleague to me today: "Are you getting excited? You're so lucky to have an all-expenses paid trip to Europe."

Me to colleague: "Yes, I'm really grateful and can't wait to leave winter behind but holy mother of god, I'm going to miss the Hound."

Colleague to me: "Oh don't worry, he won't miss you. As long as dogs are fed and warm and in their own environment, they don't really care whether you're there or not."

Needless to say, my colleague is a moron (and if she's reading this, I mean that in the nicest possible way!)

In other news, the Vienna/cruise/Budapest/UK itineraries are being finalised. As I am one of the first of our group of 12 journos to arrive in Vienna and have a day or so to kill until the rest get there, I asked the PRs to help sort me with a visit to the Sigmund Freud Museum. I'm not sure if they're trying to mess with my head or if Astrid is just a really common name in Austria, but THREE of the women I'm currently dealing with are called Astrid. Which isn't confusing in the slightest.

And finally, as I gird my loins for the stupidly long and painful 30+ hour flight tomorrow, here's my two favourite boys who I shall miss like crazy (whether they miss me or not).

See you on the other side...