Saturday, May 3, 2008

Two Strikes

May 1st is a holiday in Austria and we decided to celebrate like the Austrians. There were suppose to be parades, activities, and all kinds of things. I was excited. I had the day off! We slept in and the night before I'd been pretty worn out from my shots (as Lori said, I'm getting a bunch). So off we went. I knew where the parade was and the street was all blocked off, but we could not see anything. Did we miss it? There were a few political rallies going on as we marched down the parade route.

This one says "War to the imperialistic war!"



This was says something like "Live the Revolution" but I'm not sure what some of it means



This one says 'Against racism and capitalism.'




Just typical signs like you'd find all over Utah County.

So we wandered around but it didn't look like the revolution was quite ready to start so we walked into the inner city to see if anything was going on. Near Stephensplotz we found some stalls, and the crowds were thick, but it seemed more like people were just walking around like we were.



We were wearing out and still had not really found anything happening and it was starting to rain. As we recrossed the street we could see that the parade was receding into the distance. It was a celebration of the Worker and we could hear loud protestish shouting, but we'd missed it. I'm always late to the revolutions. Lucky I'm not a reporter.

Well, Mayday was a flop. We could not find anything going on anywhere. Nathan said, "Maybe it's like Thanksgiving and everyone is inside with their families." Pictures of some poor European family wandering the city streets looking for the action on Thanksgiving Day afternoon suddenly danced in my head." We went home.

But Today would be different. We would go to the museum. I finally talked everyone into a return to the world of education. So I thought we'd do something different. The Museum of Technology would be just the ticket to liven everyone's mood! Ok, Ok I know what your thinking, "The Museum of Technology doesn't even sound fun." . . . Well, you would be right. Here is one of there more thrilling displays. Stoves of yesteryear.






Sigh.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Now we see the real side
Past the tourist stalls
And the superior culture
To life as its lived.

With a 'sigh.'

Anonymous said...

Oh - SMWaters you are so poetic. I wish I could say things like that, and you said it perfectly.

Must admit the protests sounded pretty weak and the The Museum of Technology was not particularly a high point, but still, what an environment to be bored in. How lucky can you folks be.

Anyway love your sharing your (near)adventures with us. Live for them and Steve, your science blog is definitly great food for thought. I need all the intellectual stimulatlion I can get, especially without occasional contact with the above named SMWaters.

Love and miss you good folks. - Dad/grandpa

Anonymous said...

Gee, I think they did better here. Illegals demonstrated. People who want the immigration laws enforced, demonstrated. The truckers blocked the freeways in Portland,due to the high cost of diesel,and the dockworkers took the day off for some reason that no one understands. Think it was better when my mom was young. They used to pick bouquets of flowers and put them in baskets and take them to people. I remember doing a maypoll dance when I was in grade school for May Day. Much more fun that going to or watching demonstrations. Maybe somethings should be as when they were in the "good ole days".

Anonymous said...

I'm with you Grandma Skettie. Oh how I miss the flowers and maypole dancing on the 1st of May. We've got to get back to loving each other and making life more beautiful in the merry month of May. Nice to read also that you are finding pockets of pretty things and experiences.

Love and miss you all. - Grandmap