NIGHT AND MORNING IN VIENNA. No opportunity to spend an afternoon, but that's a different tune in any event (and look here, another orchestra in the State Line.) I attended a conference on international railway investments in Semmering, Austria, and after the conference adjourned the weather in the mountains was so fine we hung out there until early evening. That left me only time to check into the hotel and stroll around the Stephansplatz area a bit before bedtime. There is, however, something to be said for closing many central streets to vehicular traffic (instead of sidewalk cafes, there are full outdoor dining areas, with, as one might expect, live musicians) to allow strolling and windowshopping (very pricey!) The bratwursts from the outdoor Wurst stand are pretty good, too.

Then, there's the walk of stars along one of the streets. I noted Felix Mendelssohn, Carl Czerny, Franz Liszt, the Schumanns, and a few others. To be sure, some -- but not all -- of the composers led rather dissolute lives, but will anybody know -- or care about -- the names of the current crop of additions to the Hollywood walk in another 200 years?