Phespirit goes to Austria
Vienna     November 2001

BRING ON THE DANCING HORSES

Phespirit was fortunate enough to catch the very last performance of the Spanish Riding School for 2001.

Here a Lipizzaner executes a Courbette.
A stallion, ridden without stirrups, shifts his weight to his hindquarters and executes several jumps without touching his forehand to the ground.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

Post-performance applause for 'Salome':

Phespirit absorbed all of this .....

..... but came out singing this. 

AUSTRIAN PARLIAMENT

This magnificent neo-classical chamber of parliament is the half that was not levelled by Allied bombs in 1944.

The destruction of Vienna by bombing was considerable. Phespirit is caught between lamenting such tragic waste and cheering each report of a direct hit.