So, luckily, my angels took care of me that night and got me to the youth hostel. I would never have found it through the jigsaw streets.

     As we pulled up to the Hostel, the man simply waved and drove off. I panicked, trying to jump out and thank him fervently, but because it was a rental car, I couldn't find the frickin' button to unlock the door. Before I knew it, he was down the road, me chasing after him trying to thank him with two of the few words I know in German. "Danke Schon!" I yelled after him, feeling like a fool. I turn around, laughing at my idiocy and went inside the building. The performers' meeting was in progress inside the quaint cafe-style setting. I saw some of the same faces from Linz, Villach and Feldkirch Festivals. Like all buskers on tour, it's a small world.

     Bruck an der Mur was a simple one day festival. A much smaller town, and it took alot for this many performers to reach this out-of-the way place off of any main highway. I had to leave early fromthe European Juggling Convention in Karlsruhe, Germany, and drive for 12 hours on winding roads, deciphering German autobahns and B and C roads until I arrived there. But it was worth it. Not only were the crowds some of the most appreciate and supportive, I saw a fire show like one I would never see in America....unless there were 10 fire trucks surrounding the stage along with 20 fire marshalls holding fire extinguishers, just in case. Like I said, the Europeans are alot more relaxed.

     The fire show was put on by "Theater Unglaublich" from Hamburg. They were up on a HUGE wooden stage....bigger than most rock concerts and made especially for them. For the finale of the night, all eyes turned toward the stage. Spraying, sizzling fire begin automatically on the edges of the stage. The show progressed into the performers holding, moving, manuevering, manipulating, large contraptions of fire in amazing formations that swung and moved around the stage and their bodies. Much more then fire swinging, chains or torches, this was an event, and it was amazing! I was awestruck, not only by the fire, but also by the fact that I saw no big fire engine ANYWHERE in the entire vicinity. I find resistance to juggling fire in Texas in a placecompletely covered in concrete even
with a fire extinguisher, a permit from the fire department and a red fire truck parked closely and conspicuosly. Unless of course I play the guerilla busker. But that's a different story.

At least that's what I was told. I know it gave the crowd a chuckle when I would say it, but who knows what I was REALLY saying....

     In Bruck an der Mur, a town with the strangest name, means Bridge over the Mur River. Many bridges and a serpentine river. It's one of those quaint towns that have so many winding roads whichchange names every 1/10 of kilometer, negotiating the direction to the Hostel where the performers were staying turned into quite a challenge.

     Finally, I just pulled over to the side of the road, frustrated, wondering what to do as the rain drizzled on. A car pulled up behind me. My American, New York attitude kicked in, and I looked around my car for a weapon, just in case. A large man jumped out of the car and came to my window. I grabbed one of my trusted pink Todd Smith juggling club, just in case. I didn't open my window for fear of....well, American paranoia.

     I looked closely through the rain, and the man was smiling and saying Halo!. Ok, I'll crack the window, he looks harmless enough. In German he begins speaking at a clipped pace. Whoa, I said, "spreckenzee English?" "Ya, ya", he says. "You need help?" I smile sheepishly and hand him my map that is encoded with cryptic clues jumbled all in German. In my broken English I say, "I perform in festival tomorrow. Sleep at Hostel. Can't find". His eyes light up and he looks back at my incredibly messy car filled with juggling props and unicycles. "Ya, ya," he says, "You jongleur?" "Ya, ya" I say. With an appreciative understanding for the lost foreigner he says "Follow me." So, I followed him, hoping he wasn't playing some mind trip and going to lead me into the forest and .....well, you saw The Blair Witch Project. My American mind is so warped.