Europe 2015

What a trip it has been! After a 12 hour flight, 2 hours through immigration and a 1-hour wait for the shuttle bus, we are on our way home (another 2 hours, now that it is rush hour traffic), pick up J.T. (250% excitement there!) and look forward to seeing Spot again who’s been waiting at the house. A huge thank you to Teri & her family for watching J.T., and to Darlene for house & Spot-sitting over the last … Read More

While the day’s schedule is packed with post-wedding surprises (the wedding guests “decorate” the couple’s apartment according to the tradition), brunch and a family photographer session, we have yet another surprise planned! But not for the newlyweds – this one is for our parents. With their 45th (!) wedding anniversary fast approaching (Aug 7th), we’ve organized a cake with their wedding photo on it, and put together a brass frame (45th anniversary = brass). In the frame – 4 wedding … Read More

The big day is here – the main reason for everyone’s trip to Goetzis! Tina & Charly are getting married … after 13 ½ years (to the day … they met on January the 13th, 13 years ago)! The bride & groom are ready to take the big step in a beautiful ceremony at the Goetzner Schloessle, a small castle in the the center of town, reserved for locals only. Approx. 60 of their closest family and friends are invited … Read More

So many people, so many plans! Everyone gets to do what they want to do today – while Charly takes Kirk to the “Fruehschoppen” and fire department parade in the next town over, Sabine & Jon opt for a hike on the Pfaender (Bregenz) while Rainer & Heide with Pat and Baerbel opt for the Karren (Dornbirn). With everyone gone, Tina and I get to catch up with two of my girlfriends from high school who are coming over to … Read More

It is time to head west, and so the minivan gets filled to the last spot – Rainer & Heidi, Pat, Kirk & Andrea, Kirk, Phillip & Lena, plus luggage, gifts and more! We leave Gablitz and enjoy our leisurely drive through the Wachau – “Austria’s Napa Valley”, the most famous wine region in the country, following the Danube river. Once we reach Melk, we change pace and hop on the freeway, which will take us to the German border, … Read More

Today we relax! After a full 2 weeks on the road and heft sightseeing program every day, we are in need of a break. And what better place to take that break and relax than at my parents’ house in Gablitz in the Vienna Woods! We enjoy a lazy day, sitting in the mild (not hot!) sun and enjoy having no agenda for the day (that is after we scrapped our plans to visit the royal summer palace: Schloss Schoenbrunn … Read More

It’s time to check out Vienna today! The skies have cleared up and by late morning we are on our way to the Hoehenstrasse and Kahlenberg, from a great view and outlook over Vienna. I believe Pat is impressed already, and we’re not even close to the historical center yet … After dissecting the sights in view, we head down the hill again (this time towards Vienna) and are ready to explore more. Kirk & I get off at the … Read More

We’re ready to leave Italy. Finito … it’s hot, humid and over 80 degrees as early as 5am. Things are getting nasty with this weather. We depart our flat at 7:30am and head towards the Vaporetto station, to catch our boat to Tronchetto, the island where the bus station is located. From here, our InterCity Bus will depart later this morning and take us to Villach in Southern Austria. It’s a nice, quiet 3 ½ hr bus ride, and while … Read More

We get a slow start today, as it is hot – and humid – in Venice, and we’re exhausted before even getting started! But once we get going, seeing as much of Venice as possible is the goal! (on foot). We grab Krapfen and Cannoli for breakfast, which we enjoy on one of the many bridges, before starting our self-chosen walking tour from S. Maria Formosa. We head through the neighborhood of the apartment, towards the Rialto bridge – which … Read More

After stepping out again last night from some moonlight shots of the Colosseo, we are all packed up again and sad to leave Rome – and Sabrina’s beautiful home – behind, but are excited to make our way to Venice! This one will be a first for all three of us, and the high speed train gets us there in just under 4 hours. Right outside the train station is the Ferrovia boat line stop, and the boats are coming … Read More