Amanda on the Danube: The Sounds of Music by Darlene Foster Page A

and son both named Johann Strauss. Johann Strauss II, you may know as the composer of the famous
Blue Danube
. Music is regarded not only as entertainment, but as an important part of everyday life here in Vienna.”
    Amanda, pleased to see the calm smile on hermom’s face, noticed her parents holding hands as they sat on the bus gazing at all the old buildings.
    She turned to Leah. “Thank you so much for inviting us on this trip. My parents so needed a break from work. Look how happy they are. I haven’t seen them this relaxed in a long time.”
    Leah glanced at Amanda’s parents. “Your mum and dad are brilliant. You are so lucky.”
    â€œYour parents are pretty cool as well.”
    â€œRight. Except for my dad always making a big deal of me texting my mates.” Leah scowled.
    Amanda glanced out the window as the bus passed a gorgeous garden. “Look! Look! There is the statue of Mozart!”
    â€œSo, what is the big deal about that?” asked Leah.
    Amanda leaned over and whispered, “That is where we are supposed to give the violin to the monk.”
    â€œHow do you know we can trust him?”
    â€œWell, he is a monk. Don’t they take a vow to be honest?”
    â€œMaybe he is just pretending to be a monk. You can be so naive sometimes, Amanda.”
    The bus stopped at Hofburg Palace, the immaculate, wedding cake-like winter home of the Hapsburgs. Amanda picked up the violin and followed everyone off the bus to look around the lavishsetting.
    She noticed a sign over a doorway:
    Home of the Spanish Riding School
    â€œMay I go and look in there?”
    â€œYes, you can,” said the tour guide. “You might be able to see the Lipizzan horses. They will have just completed their practice for today.”
    â€œI love horses and I once went to a performance of Lipizzan stallions in Calgary with my great-aunt. They were totally awesome!” She motioned to Leah. “Let’s have a look.”
    Horses and riders entered the stables just as the girls arrived. The riders wore the traditional uniform of brown tailcoats, black two-cornered hats, white buckskin breeches, white suede gloves, and black riding boots with swan neck spurs.
    Leah’s face lit up. “They sure look dishy in those uniforms.”
    As the riders took the horses to their individual stalls, one young rider noticed the girls, took off his two-cornered hat, held it to his chest and nodded his head. “Would you like a closer look?”
    â€œWould we?” Amanda didn’t need to be asked twice. “I love how they are pure white, like fresh fallen snow. You must have to work hard to keep them so clean.”
    The young rider grinned. “They are not always white like snow, as you say.” He pointed to some dark grey and black horses being fed in a corner. “Lipizzaners are born black and get lighter as they grow older. It takes a long time to train a horse, so by the time they are ready to perform, they are completely white. Those over there are young horses being trained.”
    â€œHow long does it take to train one of these horses?” asked Amanda.
    â€œA long time—over six years. Only a few can master the complex jumps and moves that make up the classical dressage. It has to look effortless, like a ballet with the horses dancing to the music. But that is nothing, compared to how long it takes us, the riders, to be trained.”
    â€œAre there any girl riders?” asked Leah.
    â€œYes, there are some in training now. Up until recently, only men were allowed to become riders at this school. But, that has changed.”
    â€œHow long have you been training?” Amanda had so many questions.
    â€œI started as an apprentice at age fifteen. After four years I became an Assistant Rider and was put in charge of training this beauty here.” He rubbed the horse’s nose. “Next year, after ten years of training, I will officially