Lessons for Ball-goers

 How to be classy at a Viennese ball and have a fun time (for future referance):

1. bring a spare pair of shoes (preferably flats), and alternate to avoid the worst blistering of your life+
2. to be even classier (ala my Viennese friend Julia Doleschel) have the spare pair of shoes be other high heels
3. bring a flask, and thus, a bigger fancy purse in which to hide the flask because all of the drinks are wayyyy over-priced (even water)
4. bring snacks/power bars in said larger fancy purse to make the evening last longer (I pooped out at 3, was not willing to stay until 5 for the final waltz)
5. wear a dress with a full skirt for full swooshing effect when dancing, but have it hemmed to be a little above your shoes to avoid having to pick it up*

+bold typeface indicates the most important guidelines
*the hem of the little train of my dress had a inch and a half of mud and black on it from people stepping on it and it trailing on the ground through the subway, and of course, walking home part-way barefoot. I also eventually stuck the tulle train into the back of my dress to dance out the fastest rounds of the 2 AM quadrille without having to worry about it. But I felt like alice with her 6 inches of dirt on her wedding dress---I had a great night.

more deets on the ball to come! check facebook for a zillion pictures and videos of the opening ceremonial dances!