I am spending two weeks, mostly in Austria, exploring the Eastern Alps and biking along the Donau (Danube) River, before seeing Wein (Vienna) and Prague in The Czech Republic.  Austria is exquisite. The majestic views here make Wisconsin’s landscapes look like a table model for the real thing. (And I love Wisconsin’s land.) In Saltzburg, an imposing castle stands atop the city. (The photo is an IPhone shot I took in Salzburg.) Indeed in most significant Austrian cities there are castles or grand churches hundreds of years old, each so stately it defines the character of the community. I can’t help but wonder how the imposing presence of the past impacts those who live in Austria today.  Unlike the US which grew steadily, the Austrian-Hungarian empire significantly shrunk following World Wars. How does this affect the cultural norms passed from generation to generation?…