7:45 am

Yay, I don't have to wear long pants anymore. I again made the wrong decision on a very hot and sweaty day in Vienna. But last night I changed into shorts on the train and I'm not taking them off! I had a pretty restful sleep in the couchette. I met three Canadian girls. Last night, in the Stephensdom Square, I met a guy from Edmonton who was going to an outdoor Mozart opera film. I joined him. It was good to go, although I could only stay an hour in order to catch my train. Had I known what Vienna was like, I would've stayed. But it is expensive. Almost to Venice now. I had been in the square for some time last evening and it looked like a heavy cruising area. There was a really attractive guy sitting next to me. We kept looking at each other, but of course, I didn't make any moves. Then this other American did and he ended up talking with him for at least an hour. Probably slept with him! Gotta get some guts.

7:40 pm

I like Venice. People told me it's doable in a day. But I think I'll spend another night, although I am spending $32 at a hotel. It's a nice treat. Big room, big bed. I did my laundry this morning -- but no shower. The sink and bidet are enough. It was very hot and sunny today. I took a vaporetto to the Lido -- the beach -- and hung out there a while. That's what I can do tomorrow! Then I went to Piazza San Marco and walked back to my hotel by the train station. This is an expensive treat, but worth it. And they take MasterCard! Maybe I can shop tomorrow, too. That puts me in Florence on Tuesday -- good, because everything's closed on Monday. I love the people high up in the apartments just watching the world go by their window. Life from a window!

11:50 pm

I'm really depressed. Here I am in Venice, the most romantic city in the world, and I'm all alone. I haven't taken the initiative to meet anyone. That pisses me off! When am I going to take charge? I have in many ways, but not in meeting people. It should be so easy. I find it easier at the Youth Hostel. I don't think I'll get in at Florence. Well, I should at least try, god damn it! Enough of this pessimism. Remember Maude! Now I want to go on to Florence tomorrow. I was thinking of running away to Greece, but I think not. Too far.

8:00 am

Success! I RULE CZECHOSLOVAKIA! I was happy when only two of us were in the compartment. The girl was Yugoslavian. When the inspector came around, I showed him my ticket and he said, "Zbrodowice?" as if, "Why are you going there?" I explained (in Pig Latin Polish sign language) that my Eurailpass covered the rest of the trip. Fine. Then, as we get to the border, my nerves are on edge, although I had been keeping myself busy by reading. The Czechs came in -- one by one -- inspecting passports. After an hour's wait, we crossed the border. This time, more Czechs got on and thoroughly inspected the train -- they asked me to put my seat upright. It was stuck, but I finally managed and they looked under it. In the next cabin, they were knocking on the walls and ceiling. They knocked on the ceiling all the way through the train. It was 1 am. Finally, we continued our journey -- nobody had asked about the tickets. I felt better, but I knew it was still coming. My stomach was churning. I tried to sleep, but couldn't. At 2:30 am, there was a pound at the door and someone came in to inspect tickets. I was taken by surprise. I fumbled for my Eurailpass and gave it to him without even looking at him -- trying to be nonchalant, but feeling like I was giving myself away. He said thank you and gave it right back! What a relief! That was it! I had won! I was still so wired that I barely slept -- maybe 2 hours total. Crossing the Austrian border was a snap. No one has ever checked my bags. Luckily. Now I'm in Vienna for 15 hours. Time to explore! Very expensive here -- I paid $3 for a danish and tea that would have cost 50¢ in Poland! But I've reserved my couchette for Venice (no more train tickets - yay) and I'm ready to go!

2:00 pm

I'm sitting in the huge courtyard of Schloss Shönberg, overlooking Vienna. Very beautiful. This is a wonderful city. Very clean, very easy to get around, very accommodating to tourists and very picturesque. It's another warm and sunny day. There's a great breeze blowing up here. I'm getting so crazed, though. I'm trying to think of ways I can still do everything, including Switzerland. It just won't work. If I travel overnight constantly, I won't meet people in hostels. I should stay 2 nights in Venice. We'll see what happens. Vienna is very expensive. I can't buy or do much at all.