NHM and KHM

Since my lesson yesterday went decently I decided to take it easy today. After dinner I'll probably practice double stops for an hour, because 10 years of neglect means that I basically can't play double stops. For orchestral work it may not be the most important, but I at least need to be able to play the right concertos for auditions. I typically don't like playing concertos and have avoided showpieces, in part because I knew my double stops were inadequate, but I am really enjoying learning Recitativo and Scherzo by Kreisler. Hopefully I can get my double stops up to par quickly because I am getting close to performance ready. It's exciting, because it's been so long since I've performed anything. I have been letting myself get by with such low expectations of mediocrity, and I am glad that even just starting to practice a few hours a day regularly has already yielded results.

Anyway, what I did today, after missing the bus to church, was go to the Natural History Museum and the Art History Museum. I've been to the Kunsthistorisches Museum once or twice since I've been back, but I have been wanting to go the Naturhistorisches Museum since I went to the Smithsonian. Oh that reminds me! I picked up my posters from the post office several days ago. I guess it was for customs or something ("Import Duty") but I had to pay 97 Euros. It only cost me $55 to mail it Express, and it took 3 weeks. But my apartment looks much nicer with art on the walls. My next task is to go to a framers who hopefully speak English and get my print I commissioned Rachel P. to make framed.

The NHM is seriously one of the best museums in the world. I think that of the museums I've been to the National Gallery of Art is the best, even though the KHM is bigger and has some excellent exhibits pass through. But I couldn't help be feel a little disappointed or underwhelmed when I went back to the Natural History Museum at the Smithsonian. The NHM has one of, if not the, biggest collections of rocks, minerals, and meteorites in the world. I know my mother will love those rooms. The Venus of Willandorf is there. I think of Chris when I see all the insects, since he is big into Entomology. But the best part is upstairs where there are rooms and rooms of preserved fish, birds, and mammals. The fish are mostly bones I think but this museum is a taxidermists dream. I found some rooms about the taxidermy process and history that I hadn't seen before. I think the birds are especially beautifully preserved. There was also an absolutely inspired collection of photographs of American Bison.

My feet hurt after a few hours but I decided that since I have a year pass I can never miss an opportunity to pop into the KHM, which stands opposite the NHM. The current Fantastic Worlds exhibit is incredible. I particularly love the engravings of Altdorfer and Wolf Huber. I'm also not sure how long the Peter Paul Rubens and Titian paintings will be there. The NHM is reasonably priced but I wish the Albertina, Leopold Museum, and Belvedere weren't so expensive. I love the art museums in this city as much as I love the music. I don't see as many concerts because it takes a bit of pre-planning. I typically go stand in line for Stehplatz at the opera at least an hour before the show, which including travel time means I have to reserve a 5 hour chunk of my day. But it's so worth it.

I seriously am getting excited about vlogging and might go buy an Austrian guidebook to make sure I see as much of Vienna and the rest of Austria as I can. I'm looking forward to going back to Prague with Trey and Shelby in July. That's as much traveling as I can afford this year, but if I do well next year there's a neverending list of places I'd love to visit. My current camera's in body stabilization is not good enough for video, unfortunately. But I never bought it for video. I'll figure something out, because I want to be sure to capture and share all I can of this beautiful place.