The Lemur and the Mixing Bowl

Hello patient reader! Here to tell you all about Bruce and I's adventures in jolly old England! After about 10 years since my last visit there, it was time to go back and see everyone!

We flew out with Ryanair, a budget airline infamous for sneaky ways of charging extra fees after you pay the meager flight bill (rumors were circling about a bathroom fee! No thank you.) However, the whole experience was not as daunting as our friends made us think. Check in was easy enough, and we had reserved seats which, for those of you who have flown with me know, makes me feel so much better. We departed a bit later than scheduled due to the de-icing of the plane, but landed about an hour later at London Stansted Airport with Uncle Chris waiting on the other side of baggage claim. Thank goodness for free wifi so Grandma and I could communicate about the delay and the gridlock USA passport line that Bruce had to wait in (I think he finished a podcast or two during that time). Driving back to Grandma's cottage in Chelmsford around 1:30 I had a huge sense of nostalgia as we turned onto the small lane, past the open grassy area where we played soccer and the horse field across the street. After a quick hug and kiss with Grandma, we both stumbled up to bed to catch some sleep before traveling into London the next day.
The next morning we grabbed a bite for breakfast and then jumped on the train into Liverpool Street Station in London, where we would spend the day walking around the city and exploring! Neither of us are big on doing super touristy things, so despite this being Bruce's first London experience, we didn't do much that usual first-timers do. 

 

St Paul's Cathedral

We walked into St. Pauls Cathedral, saw that it was 17 pounds to go in, and decided that the entrance way was gorgeous enough for free. It was here that I met up with Amanda (cue romantic run across the steps of St. Pauls into each others' arms)!! Seeing her again made me miss her even more...if that makes sense.... We walked across the River Thames to see the Globe and wander the road following the river all the while catching up on everything we've done since Korea. It still amazes me how close you can get to someone in as short as a year. As we walked into Covent Garden, Amanda showed us some places we should look into when we come back on Monday. We stopped in and grabbed a pint (well they grabbed a pint) at a pub and of course tried their fish and chips.

 

That evening, we said our goodbyes and Amanda grabbed the train back home and Bruce and I went in search of the restaurant for dinner (Valentine's dinner as it turns out! Who knew). Keeping it a surprise from me, Bruce booked a table at a restaurant called "Duck and Waffle" located near the Gurkin Building (or the one that looks like a bullet). The menu was set with multiple courses and champagne. While the restaurant's name has a British pub-sounding name to it (I'll come back to this later), when you walk out of the elevator and into the entrance area, you will see a very modern looking space with a bar in the center, graffiti decorated walls, and obviously windows wrapping around the building. We sat and talked, debating whether the vegetarian set menu was better than the carnivorous one for each course (I think we both agreed it was). The service was wonderful, super attentive and accommodating. I would recommend this place for anyone looking for a beautiful view to enjoy some drinks and company! After dinner we slipped onto the train back to Grandmas house ready for a bed after a long but lovely day.

The next morning, Chris and Bruce went off for a sprint...I mean run....while I huffed and puffed behind them at a slightly less ridiculous pace. Running through that area is such a nice change from living in the city. The green fields and tiny cottages makes it feel like you're running through a storybook. That afternoon, Grandma cooked us up her famous roast dinner with lamb, veggies, potatoes, and of course, Yorkshire pudding! A trip with Grandma wouldn't be complete without this meal, and I was looking forward to sharing this family tradition with Bruce! I think he liked it...based on the fact that there were no left overs, to my Grandma's delight. I think Chris had to be rolled to the couch afterwards though!

After digesting and reading, we drove over with Grandma to visit the Snowling family and their recent new addition! Leila is a beautiful, itsy-bitsy ball of love who cuddled and fell asleep in my arms. If that isn't a way to fall in love with a baby, what is?? Despite not seeing this family for nearly a decade, we fell right back into joking around and talking as if we saw each other every day. At one point it felt a bit like a middle school dance where the boys all sat on one side of the room watching rugby while the girls sat on the other oogling the baby. Some things never change I expect.

 Rugby was on

I wish I could have had another day catching up with them all, but living so close I know I will be over again! (or of course they are welcome to come visit whenever they'd like!) We left them with tons of hugs and words of love, filling me up until the next time I see them <3

From there, Bruce and I joined Chris on a short pub crawl (if 2 pubs count as a pub crawl) around the area. The first was the Axe and Compass, where the boys enjoyed some cider and we chatted until closing time. The next pub, The Leather Bottle, was small but cozy. The names of the pubs in England is something I absolutely love (referenced above, stick with me). Bruce and I spent a lot of the trip coming up with our own pub names. We decided that a small rodent or marsupial-like animal has to be involved. Some gems include, "The Wombat and the Spatula", and "The Badger and the Teaspoon". It seems we are partial to cooking utensils as well.

The next day we rose early to get to London for another day of exploring the city. The weather that morning was beautiful as we took the 3 mile walk along the river from Liverpool Street Station to Westminster Abbey. We stopped for a flake 99 (Google that if you don't know what I'm talking about) and walked up next to Big Ben, taking the standard touristy photos, then we went into the Abbey grounds. I had been there when I was younger, but I didn't remember too much about it. The line to get into the Abbey wrapped around the building, and would probably take about an hour or so. We decided to take our time walking around instead of standing in line and went to check out a restaurant one of Bruce's friends recommended for a pint of beer and better fish and chips.

 

 

The next sight on our list was Harrods, which is probably not a good place to go AFTER you eat, as the food section is second to none. For those of you who don't know about Harrods, it is a SUPER upscale department store, carrying the top of the top brands. I'm sure if I was a millionaire I would have a ton of fun going through the clothes and jewelry section. That day we sat up in the cafe and people watched as we looked at our map to see what to check out next. At this point, London started to do London things (it was raining), but we came prepare with an umbrella (albeit small and pink), but we were going to enjoy the day no matter what the weather (grrrrr!).

We walked along the road until we reached The Green, the park next to Buckingham Palace. And, well, you can't go to London without at least seeing Buckingham Palace, so we walked up to the gate dodging school groups and families. While I wish we could have seen the changing of the guards, we will have to save that for the next London trip!

To get out of the rain we stopped in a cafe nearby. From there we decided to stroll into the Soho area to see if there was a cool bookstore or cool shop to check out. We stumbled into the Royal Academy of Arts nearby Piccadilly and saw that the free exhibition was showcasing works of up-and-coming student artists. We should have known it was going to be a bit weird. That's the thing about art I suppose, it is different for everyone. And while I saw some pieces that looked like they attached pencils to their cat's paws and saw what happened, others might see it as genius. A bit of comedic relief for us from the cold and wet weather outside, we enjoyed ourselves as we came to each new, incredibly strange, piece of art.

Then, as we navigated the zig-zagged streets of Soho discussing dinner possibilities I saw a sign for  "Mediterranean and Lebanese". Naturally, this was happening. After seeing the menu of falefel, kibbeh, tabbouleh, and hummus, I knew we had made the right decision. This style of food will always be a favorite, reminding me of family and home <3

Full and happy we walked back to Covent Garden for a drink, hoping there would be a show to watch from the balcony, but unfortunately there was just a guy atop a unicycle, entertaining a small crowd in the covered market place.

Our final destination for our day was a restaurant called St. John that Bruce had seen on a show specifically showcasing the roasted bone marrow dish. I tried a bite, and it was so buttery and rich, I'm not sure how you could have a whole plate of it, even though it was an appetizer size!

By that point, the walking caught up to us (well...me...) and we made our way back to Liverpool Street Station to get back to Chelmsford. With only a minor train issue, where I almost left on the train to somewhere completely different as Bruce went to find out which our correct train was, we made it back safely and exhausted.

The next day we made tentative plans to visit Cambridge but after the long day before we nixed it for a restful reading day with a few outings here and there. While I enjoy getting out and doing things on these trips, it is also my vacation from the craziness and work, so I wanted to get some time to just sit and catch up on reading. We went out for lunch with Chris and Grandma at The Dog and Gun (morbid, but still the standard "animal/inanimate object pairing). The food there was amazing! If you find yourself in the Chelsmford area (I know...happens all the time), you should definitely check it out! It won the Food and Drink award for Essex in 2014, so it is definitely a must-try!

That evening as a goodbye dinner we went over to another family friend, Carol and her family's house nearby. She had a whole set up with homemade pizzas and snacks, as we all caught up. Again, it had been quite a while since I saw them, and their family had grown so much since then with new kids running around! It was a great way to catch up with them all again, and reform relationships as an adult (when you're 12 all you really care about is running around and playing, not talking to people). We said our goodbyes and headed back to the cottage for a short sleep until the early wake up for our flight the next morning.

All in all, the trip was short and busy but we had a few restful and relaxing days to balance it out. The house and area around my Grandma's home hadn't changed at all it seemed since my last visit which brought back so many memories. It was great to share it with Bruce and talk about old family visits there. Living so close I hope to get back out there a few times and visit over long weekends! Gotta love Europe :)

Now I have a few days to catch up on homework and planning before it's back to work Monday! We have a few new students and some coming for trials these next few weeks, so it'll be keeping me busy! Then it will be March! Time flies. Mum, Dad and Edward will be out here mid-March, so I'm working on a itinerary for them as well!

Until next time <3

German of the post: (translated from British English)
 "Fancy a cuppa?"
"können Sie eine Tasse Tee?"

Hi-Hiatus!

Hello! Still with me? I've taken quite a while to post up here recently. The job and grad school have kept me super busy- no that's not an excuse...okay it's my excuse, but I know it's not a good enough one. I've made a promise to keep you all up to date on my adventures! Sorry to leave you hanging. Delayed New Years' resolution to not wait 2 months to post (and we all know how New Years resolutions work out). I'll talk about it again on my next post (whenever that may be).

Quick catch up-- Not too much has changed here with regards to MIS. Still teaching little humans, although my classes have almost doubled almost since September, reaching to 15 now when we started with 8. Seems like standard procedure though as none of my coworkers are as startled by it as I am. I have been given the power to decide whether new students can/should join my class or not after they complete a 3-day trial with us. I feel like I'm torn between not wanting the class to get too crazy big and wanting to help out with any student wanting to learn! Teacher problems. Anyway, by May maybe I will have doubled once more (please please please cross your fingers against that. I don't have enough chairs).

As for grad school, I've started my last semester! I'm taking a course about Teacher Leadership, which is looking pretty interesting so far. The other course is about integrating STEM education in the classroom. At the end of this course I will be giving a presentation about my plans for implementing a STEM program into the school. Then I will officially have my Masters Degree of Education! Woohoo! It's been tougher to do these courses here in Germany than it was in Korea, but I've found that the busier I am, the more organized I am...? If that makes sense. My apartment doesn't get that organizational attention much, but my classroom and homework does!

Now to update you on our most recent adventures out here--

A few weeks ago, Bruce and the Ktown crew traveled out to Brussels, Belgium for a short weekend to celebrate Odie's last weekend in Germany and Bruce's birthday! Staying in a Motel nearby the city center, we were at the perfect location to explore town each day.

That first evening, Bruce and I grabbed some dinner downtown then met everyone at a famous beer house called Delirium Cafe. This bar is actually multiple places put together all selling hundreds of different varieties of beer. Can't say it was really a place for me (not a beer drinker), but the atmosphere was lively and fun! We met up with the rest of the group, then headed back to rest up before the next day. In the morning, Odie, Bruce and I walked (pretty far) to find a specific restaurant Bruce had found called Les Filles. This place seemed pretty fancy with a doorbell to enter and a giant staircase leading up to the restaurant area. They make all of their food in house with natural and organic ingredients. They also offer their homemade wine and cooking classes! (maybe next Brussels trip). The food was delicious! We stuffed ourselves with homemade yoghurt, bread, and salads before rolling out to meet the others.

 

 

That afternoon I had planned something different for the group to do in the city. Some people with us had been to Brussels multiple times, so they had seen most of the touristy spots. During my research I found a sight called My Secret Brussels. A man named Derek Blyth who leads Urban Walks around the town showing his favorite places, unknown areas, and graffiti art. Not sure what to expect, we met Derek in the main square and immediately hit it off with his Scottish humor (our group joked around a lot, wasn't sure if he would be offended!)

Derek led us through back streets that we might have never wandered down and told us stories about the history and other lesser-known aspects of Brussels. Once especially interesting part was the anarchist organization that liked to throw cream pies at important figures visiting the city. Their headquarters is located in a small building also serving as an underwear museum, showing underwear from famous people around the world.

The weather was a bit chilly for the walk but overall I am so glad we did it! We learned a lot of things about the city that we never would have seen! Little parks, unnamed statues, and musical instrument museums were just a few of these. Leaving us at a mussels and fries restaurant, we thanked Derek for all of his help and hoped to see him next time we come to visit! If any of you are planning a Brussels trip- I would absolutely recommend this tour!

After dinner we met up with a friend at Delirium Cafe once again, then strolled (for a quite a while) to one of my favorite places I've been to called Madame Mustache. First walking in, it was a bit quiet, but they were playing some great old songs and we danced until the wee hours of the morning- pausing only to sing happy birthday to Bruce and give him a cake, which we shared with other dancers there!

The next day we had some breakfast nearby the hotel, stocked up on Belgian beer (well Bruce did...) and hit the road back to Germany. A short trip, but was such fun! I love being able to do this weekend journeys into a whole new country. Brussels is definitely a place I would go back to, as well as checking out other Belgian towns!

My next big adventure will be going to England next week for vacation! I haven't been there for 12 YEARS! How crazy is that...Very much looking forward to seeing everyone, and especially the new baby in the Snowling house! Getting to London and meeting up with Amanda will be so incredibly wonderful too! If anyone is around, come meet up!

Until next time- (hopefully not another 2 months)
xoxo

German of the Post:
Travel the world
Bereisen Sie die Welt

Frohe Weihnachten und Glückliches Neues Jahr!

Time for a long-overdue catch up post! I'm sorry it has been a long time since my last post. This one will cover the two week break for Christmas and New Years! 

Monday, December 22^th

After picking up ski equipment and stocking up on some rations for the week, Bruce and I followed our friends Barbara and Nathan down to Belp, Switzerland where we would be staying for the week over Christmas. On the way there, we stopped in Freiberg, Germany to grab some lunch at a brewery called Martin’s Bräu. I hope to go back to explore this area more, as it seemed to have some fun restaurants and places to check out near the university!

Driving into Switzerland we saw the Alps lit up by the last bit of sun as it was setting. We arrived at Barbara’s parents house and got settled in for the evening. This night we met Plug (Stöpsel) A cat that often visits Barbara’s home for treats and love. We headed over to Barbara’s brother’s house where we had Swiss Fondue (much better than the Melting Pot version at home!) and talked about our plans for the week.

 

Tuesday, December 23^rd

This morning I woke up and looked out the window of the living room. The house is located in a valley surrounded by farmland and small town buildings. In the distance I could see the Alps rising up into the sky. I couldn’t imagine taking this view in every morning!

Once everyone was up and moving we did a big grocery shop for our meals over the next few days and visited the Belp Airport, which consists of a small building and a landing strip in the middle of the valley. Along the side of the airport is a river where we walked to a covered bridge nearby.

 

 

 

From the walk we met Barbara’s brother and his girlfriend for a tour of the capital city, Bern. While European cities have similarities, I notice that each city I have visited so far has certain aspects that are special for that area. Bern had streets lined in tall stone buildings that snaked around the town. Old clock towers and renovated historic buildings gave the city such character. The weather was gorgeous this day as we walked through the cathedral grounds and towards the Bear pit where the bears of Bern (Bern=Bear in Swiss) reside during the warmer months of the year. They were all hibernating, naturally, so there were no bear sightings on our visit. Perhaps I will have to get back there during the summer!

 

From Bern we took the train to Worb, where there was another brewery selling beer from an old coin operated machine. Once the sun set, the weather got very chilly again and we headed home to get warm.

Wednesday, December 24^th

Christmas eve feels strange without being surrounded by family, but living abroad, it is something to get used to. This morning the men went out for a cold run up the mountain nearby the house, and Barbara and I went to go visit her grandmother for the holidays. We brought some Prosecco naturally and looked at old photo books from previous birthdays, trips, and family events. 

Once we got back, we started prepping for Christmas eve dinner, where we would try a Bernese platter, consisting of a variety of meats (ham, sausage, etc.) served with sides of potatoes, and some rehydrated green beans (taste SO much better than they sound). We then had a dessert called Vermicelles, which is a chestnut paste pushed through a pasta maker, of sorts, to make noodles that then go on top of a meringue cookie. Without whipped cream, it apparently was not perfect Vermicelles, but it tasted alright! The boys thought it was like playdoh noodles on top of Christmas ornaments. Not a raving review to say the least. After a ton of toasts and story swapping, we wished each other goodnight and a merry Christmas eve!

Thursday, December 25^th

Christmas day! This morning we got all ready to hit the slopes. The weather hadn’t been the best for snow sports, but it was the last chance for Bruce and I to go before going back to Germany. Getting all bundled up, we drove up to the lift where the parking lot was completely empty. Not only was it Christmas day, but also people were probably deterred by the lack of snow on the mountain. This worked really well for me, because it meant there were less people for me to crash into/get crashed into by. This would be my first skiing experience since I was about 6 years old in Colorado with the family. We all had a bit of a poor experience at that time due to a mixture of it being deathly cold, and lots of falling. This would be my second chance to see if I actually love the sport!

 Once we got to the slopes, we saw that the bunny hill, which I was hoping to live on for the day, was in fact closed… not to worry though, because I could learn on the easier (blue) slopes. Putting on the skis, I began to feel nervous about the long planks of wood that would carry me down the steep, snow-covered mountainside. Getting to the top of the ski-lift was when my heart started to beat pretty heavily. The slope was much steeper than I thought. I focused all of my energy on the “pizza” stance trying to go as slowly as humanly possible. Whenever I turned I would start going much too fast for my comfort level, usually resulting in my falling on my butt while Bruce watched from further down. It took a long time for me to get down the first slope. Not only was I falling quite a bit, but I was also frozen in fear at some parts that looked especially dangerous. Having groups of 12 small children shooting by me like they’ve been doing this since they popped out of the womb didn’t help much either, but I was determined not to make Bruce wait for me for too long on the slope so we made it down eventually. Once we got up to the top again, we stopped for a drink and prepared ourselves for the next slope. The rest of the group assured us that there were less difficult runs for me to practice on for the rest of the day. As I looked out to another peak, I saw a slope going straight down, and prayed that I wouldn’t have to do that one.

 

We headed down the other side of the peak along a trail that proved to be much more difficult than the first. Lots of times it was easier to just go fast and straight along a path, but I felt like I had no control once my speed picked up. By this time, I knew the next day would be a very sore day for me. The restaurant we planned to get lunch in sat at the bottom of a slope that had a blue side and a red side. Alas, due to the lack of snow, the blue route was closed. I knew that the way down the red slope would be a long and slow struggle. To no avail, I pushed Bruce to go down at his own speed and leave me to crawl, slide, and roll my way down. He refused and stuck with me as I made my snail-paced, very ungraceful way down the slope. Finally making it down the bottom I had a few moments where I felt comfortable with turning and going a bit faster, but I still had a long way to go. After grabbing some warm food, we had one more run to get back to where we would take the bus to the car. We got to the top of that route and I realized it was the same one from the first bar where I hoped I wouldn’t have to try…After some very steep parts, and a few failed T-bar attempts, we got back to the first slope we rode of the day. I made it down that one a bit better than the first one and then cut my losses, choosing to wait for the others to go down a few more times.

In the end…I’m glad I tried again. I commend those who are good at skiing and snowboarding, as it is definitely not an easy sport. It took a lot of physical and mental energy for me to make it down each slope and through each turn. I’m sure once you reach a level of mastery in skiing it becomes more enjoyable and relaxing. I can check the “skied in the Alps” box on my list now!

That night we opened up Christmas gifts and had another delicious Swiss meal of “Raclette” where you melt a slice of cheese in a hotplate and pour it over potatoes or other vegetables. Needless to say, my normal diet went out the window on this trip.

Friday, December 26^th

Bruce and I packed up the car and hit the road back to Germany, which took a bit longer than we hoped due to a few traffic jams, one of which we were at a standstill for about an hour. Finally back home, we prepped for Bruce’s friend Brandon to arrive the next day!

Monday December 29^th

We packed up and left Bruce’s by 9 to get to Doro’s by 10. Doro began the trip on an interesting note. While we waited in the car for her to back out and vacate her parking spot, she proceeded to run over her bag and coat, which were lying next to her car in the snow. Thinking she would stop, we watched as she accelerated further to get her car over the “mound of snow” she believed to be hindering her reverse. Piling into the car we prepared ourselves for the supposed 7-ish hour drive to Vienna. Stocked with snacks and German radio stations, we hit the road. 

 

Our second speed bump was the lack of windshield wiper fluid, causing the windshield to become foggy and pretty much impervious. Even with snowy and icy road conditions, Doro was a superhero and got us to Vienna safely. We found our hotel, dropped off our things and went out to explore the nearby area. While looking for a place to grab some dinner, I spotted an establishment down the road called Falafelria which proved to be a self-falafel-wrap bar where you could stuff your pita sandwich with whatever toppings your heart desired. The only downside to this first meal in Vienna is that we then smelled like falafel for the following few days…a sacrifice we were willing to make. We stepped into a bar nearby called Hammonds where we talked to the waiter about what we should plan for the New Years celebration night coming up. He gave some advice about restaurants, bars, and where to count down into 2015. After a while, the long day of sitting in the car caught up to us and we went to bed ready to explore the city the next day. 

hotel lobby

falafelria dinner

creepy picture on the headboard of the bed...

 Tuesday, December 30^th

After breakfast in the hotel, we drove the car to a lot where it would stay for the remainder of our trip there and then took the train into the city center. When we exited the station and walked through the side streets into the main city I had some flashbacks to Siena, Italy when we got lost in the zig-zagging cobblestone streets with the ornate buildings guiding us through. After grabbing a coffee (A huge part of the Viennese culture), we followed the giant street decorations hanging between the buildings to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, which stood flooded with tourists wanting to get an inside look into this gorgeous structure. My jaw dropped as we entered. The ceilings seemed never ending and everywhere you looked there were detailed statues and glasswork covering the walls and windows. I took a moment to light a candle for Grandad, knowing that he would be just as in awe of this moment as I was. 

From St. Stephen’s, we walked through side streets to find the National Library, which was on my list of places to see from when I first started researching the trip. During our route there we were stopped by a journalist working for a Viennese newspaper. She was hoping to talk to us about why we chose to visit Vienna, what we thought thus far, and what our plans were for the count down. After taking a jumping picture showing us “having fun in Vienna” as she requested, we figured that was the end of it, and the article would never run. That evening however, after some research, I found that she did, in face publish the article, with our jumping picture as the main photo! Pretty cool to be famous in a new country.

Anywhoo- back to the library. The square in front of the library stands a statue surrounded by tall, white buildings. With the white snow on the ground and the blue sky, the scene could have been out of a movie. After getting our tickets (some delay due to a broken ticket machine) we walked up the marble staircase and into my dream room. Bookshelves lined the walls and reached from floor to ceiling. Giant globes and statues were placed throughout the library, as well as spiral staircases leading up to the second level. If I wasn’t with a group, I totally would have brought my book, sat down on a bench, and stayed for a few hours. The ceilings were covered with paintings of angels and other heavenly depictions, which further supported my feeling of being in heaven in that room. 

 

After dragging me out, we walked to the square nearby the palace where a New Years market (very similar, if not the same as, the Christmas markets) was set up with the usual Glühwein and sausages to keep visitors warm and full. We grabbed some bread bowls of warm soup, and some awesome mushroom mugs (mugrooms) full of warm wine while we walked around the market. As our toes began to freeze, we decided to head into the Art History Museum next to the square to warm up (and see art of course). Our trepidation about whether the entrance fee was worth it was immediately erased when we saw just how many objects this museum held. From ornate dishware and jewelry, to old clocks, moving machines, and Egyptian catacombs, this museum covered a whole ton of history in just the first floor. When we exited, we realized that we went through the exhibits backwards, viewing the modern royalty and recent history first, ending with ancient roman and Egyptian artifacts. Made it interesting though, like time traveling…

 

From the museum, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the rest of our group to arrive.

Wednesday, December 31^st

This morning, we woke up and headed to one of the famous cafes in Vienna, called Café Central. The line trailing out of the front door should have told us just how popular it was. The inside has towering ceilings with colorful molding, and columns throughout the café. We sat and chatted about our plans for the day and goofed around, as this group is inclined to do constantly. From the café, we walked around the city and came upon Viennese waltz lessons provided for the public in the middle of the street. We learned how to do some simple steps so that at midnight, we could participate with the crowd in the traditional Viennese way. After an afternoon nap, we were ready to hit the down for the New Years eve celebration. Because we were a little late for our dinner reservation, we had to go at a slight jog. This would have been easier in clear streets, but as it was the holiday, the street was packed from sidewalk to sidewalk with people. Bruce, taking the lead, held his phone flashlight in the air and dogged through the crowd as all 9 of us tried to follow in his path. With only a few small children getting bowled over, we made it to the restaurant with no missing group members or injuries. During dinner we went around and talked about highlights of our year, what we are thankful for, and what we look forward to for the next year. Everyone in the group has known each other for a variety of lengths of time. Despite this, everyone gave very heartfelt and meaningful speeches to the group thanking them for friendship and sharing stories of the previous year. I looked around and realized just how lucky I am to be part of this group of people at that moment. 

 

 

After dinner we walked through town, listening to live music, seeing sparklers and larger fireworks going off (both in the air and the crowd) and feeling the excited energy around us. Making it to the main stage in front of the Rathaus (Town Hall), we got separated from half of the group. With the use of a rebel call and green laser pointers, we found each other in front of the stage, and spent the last few hours of 2014 dancing and singing. As the countdown began I looked around and couldn’t believe where I was celebrating. As everyone grabbed a partner for the waltz, we danced in to 2015, anticipating the wonderful adventures and nights of fun to come.

That night we walked across the whole town in a hand-holding-chain as not to lose each other, and spent some time in an Australian bar, listening to 90’s throwbacks before heading back to the hotel to call it a night.

Thursday, January 1^st

Originally, our plan was to take a quick day trip to Bratislava this day, as it is only a few hours on the train from Vienna. Waking up though, we all were a bit sluggish and tentative about making that trip. We decided instead to stay in Vienna another day and check out some areas we hadn’t been to before. We grabbed a delicious brunch before saying goodbye to half of our group who were traveling to Budapest for the rest of their vacation time. Then, walking around the city, we saw the Opera building (the outside) and then decided to head to Schloss Schönbrunn (or Schönbrunn Palace). In the grounds of the palace was another market set up with more mugs of Glühwein, and the boys tried some Raclette, a traditional Swedish dish that we tried in Bern on the Christmas trip. 

 

This castle has an audio tour, where you have a specific time slot to walk through a path and listen to recordings of information about each room and the royalty that lived there. While it seemed a bit impersonal, it was nice to go at your own pace and replay information if you missed something. The rooms in the palace were so elaborately decorated with gold plating, paintings, and ornate furniture, it was amazing that people actually lived there. The most breathtaking room was the ballroom. With mirrors lining the wall, and windows along the other side, it looked as it if lasted forever. 10 meters wide and 40 meters long, the room was filled with chandeliers and candles. It was one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever been inside.

Walking through the rest of the castle, we all agreed that we were thankful to have gone and taken that tour instead of traveling elsewhere. That night we stopped for dinner at a restaurant located in the basement of a building in town. It felt like we were eating in some underground-railroad system. Stuffed and tired, we wandered back to the hotel for the night, getting ready to head back to Germany the next day.

Friday, January 2^nd

Leaving Vienna, we stopped in Melk, which was on the way home. After some research I saw that there was a gorgeous abbey there with a library and church to explore. Unfortunately, we arrived in the middle of a long break between English tours of the abbey, so were not able to see everything, but we did walk around the grounds and got to see the church with it’s breathtaking interior. Designed in the baroque style, ornate decorations covered the walls and ceilings. Everywhere you looked there was something else incredible to look at. It was a great place to stop and walk around before hitting the road again to get back home.

 

Sorry for the long break between posts. but I knew this one would be a long and busy one! Until next time xo

German Phrase of the post: "Entschuldigung. Dies ist nicht möglich."

"I'm sorry. This is not possible."