I didn’t write anything yesterday, which didn’t mean that nothing was going on – it was more like I was completely overwhelmed by the end of the day. My primary reason for being here is to attend a conference on the confluence or genealogy and history. For the most of the day I am sitting still and listening. There are 4 panel sessions each day – two in the morning and two in the afternoon with a half hour break between sessions and 90 minute lunch break between the morning and afternoon sessions.

This is a small conference with only about 100 attendees. It’s probably the best conference I have been to in years. Participants and presenters alike are all expert historians or genealogists, or both. I know many people here, and am meeting many more. The amount of information being imparted is intense and amazing. I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed a conference more.

A short train ride each morning followed by a 10 minute walk brings us right to campus. My hotel is cute and simple, and right in the heart of shopping and restaurants. Nothing here is open late, which is good, because after dinner, I am fit for nothing but sleep.

Last night, after the last session was over around 6:30 PM, we went to a dinner hosted by the mayor of Vienna at the Ratskellarhaus (I think I have that right – I keep mixing up syllables).

Presentations during the day have covered documents, research techniques, case studies, of Galicia (Austrian Empire), Hungary, Bohemia, Moravia, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Germany. Although all the sessions are in English – there are so many languages being spoken all around and so many accents.

The ice cream is great, the food is wonderful, and tonight I had a slice of the famed sacher torte for dessert.