Boarding the plane in Zurich

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 3 weeks.

With 20 days exploring Swizterland, Italy, Austria and even a potty break as we sprint through Germany, our journey comes to a close.

Now back to reality …

One final sunset (Zurich)

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 photos: Rainer & Heidi, Kirk & Andrea, Jon & Sabine and Charly & Tina! It’s perfect!

(We’ve decided Phillip should wait about another 10 years before getting married … just to give everyone a break from the last 3 weddings in the last 17 months!)

In the late afternoon and it is time to say goodbye. Most of the family departs … including us 3, heading to Zurich, where we will spend one late night before flying out Wednesday morning.

Of course Kirk couldn’t leave just yet. He’s been itching for a döner kebap this whole trip. As you can see, he finally gets his wish as he enjoys one in Zurich.

Celebrate!

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 to attend, and Charly’s brother Andreas and I get to be the official witnesses of the wedding ceremony. Not a dry eye in the house (or a dry forehead .. it’s hot yet again, and humid today).

After the ceremony (yes, they both did say “I do”), additional guests including more friends and coworkers are joining the group for the Agape, where everyone gets to congratulate, the “Schlaraffen” (Goetzis carnival organization) welcome the newlyweds with a sword tunnel and the kindergarten teachers have prepared a song for the happy couple.

Another surprise awaits when a horse drawn carriage comes around the corner to pick up bride & groom plus Andi & Andi for the ride to the reception (at Dorf Mitte in Koblach, next town over)! With traditional tasks lining the trip (cutting through wood, drinking Schnaps, etc.) it takes almost an hour to get to the next location. Refreshing drinks, the bouquet toss and a quick rain shower later, it is time for dinner, dance and celebration!

A great celebration for a happy couple … finally married!

Charly & Kirk in Götzis

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 chat!

Over the course of the afternoon, everyone makes their way back to Tina & Charly’s place, and also aunt & uncle (Christine & Norbert) arrive. Only cousin Alex & Alex are missing … they will not arrive until Monday. With everyone in town, we head out to the Schattenburg (castle from the 13th century) in Feldkirch (where we went to high school many years ago) for sinner. They serve a foot-long Schnitzel … who could resist!

One packed van

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, where the no-speed limit-Autobahn awaits. At 100 mph, the countryside flies by our windows and we reach the Austrian border to Vorarlberg (the westernmost state in Austria) in only a few hours.

It’s time to say hello to Tina & Charly, looking calm & relaxed less than 48 hours before their “I do’s”, ho are already hosting Sabine & Jon as well as Baerbel who arrived earlier. It’s family time!

Andrea walking ahead in Gablitz

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 in Vienna today).

Hofburg Palais, Wein

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 Marriott Hotel, to meet up with a couple of former colleagues (Alex and Gabi) and have a great time catching up.

By mid-afternoon, Kirk and I stroll through the Innere Stadt (inner city) to reconnect with my parents who are touring the area with Pat. We catch up at the Hofburg (former royal winter palace) and continue on together through the Volksgarten (park), stop at the Café Central when it’s starting to rain and check out the Graben & Kaertnerstrasse pedestrian / shopping areas in search of souvenirs after the sun is back out.

We take the subway (U-Bahn) back to the western-most stop where the car is parked and drive home. But instead of going all the way, we stop at the Hochram Alpe for a delicious Austrian dinner. Stuffed and happy we make it home late this evening . More sightseeing Vienna awaits tomorrow!

Next train to Wien

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 we get some heavy rain at times, the sky has cleared up again by the time we arrive.

After a quick change from the bus onto the train, we are ready to ride it all the way to Vienna’s new main station (Hauptbahnhof). All is good until shortly before Leoben (approx. 2 hrs into the 4 ½ hr ride); the train conductor announces that this train will stop in Leoben and will go no further.

The tracks have been flooded between Leoben and the next station, and there is no getting through. The heatwave over Austria finally came to a crushing end the prior night and brought rain, heavy winds and hail to the area, causing havoc to transportation. The OeBB are usually pretty quick with organizing buses to shuttle travelers to the next available train/station, but given that the roads are flooded as well, that won’t work. So we are asked to sit back and wait … and we do.

After about an hour, we learn that no train will continue in our direction all day, and we need to get on a different train, take it for 1 stop, then get on a bus to get to Linz and from there take a regular train to Vienna (West station).

Not a great route solution, but we change trains anyways. Then wait for its departure.

And just before it’s supposed to leave, yet another announcements has us jump up and out to catch the train on the opposite platform, which will take us directly to Vienna – only 2 ½ hrs late! I’m impressed!

When we finally make it to Vienna, my parents are readily waiting for us at the station, for pick up and transport home … (we later hear about the tornado that touched down just outside of nice earlier that day!)

David McDonald

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 is hidden under heavy scaffolding. It’s like a mini-Ponte Vecchio, but crossing the Canale Grande instead. From there we explore the neighborhoods on the other side, many more tiny, small, short, long, zig-zag pathways (“roads”), crossing countless bridges, but staying close to the Canale at all times not to get lost. (I have a detailed map, but still – it’s tricky!).

After a light lunch on the Campo S. Barnaba we take our lunch break and relax. Once we head on, our next destination is the Accademia, where we have another bridge to cross back over the Canale Grande. We take a break at the S. Moise church before entering the Piazza S. Marco. Fewer pigeons – and fewer tourists – on the square, mostly due to the heat from the sun shining directly down on it. It’s time to get hydrated again and we sit down at one of the cafés on the piazza. The prices certainly include the location, view, music and service upcharge! But we wouldn’t want to miss it! Once again refreshed, we head up the Campanile (it’s for cheaters … it has an elevator!) for a spectacular 360 degree view of the city!

We later stroll along the waterfront, before heading back into our neighborhood for dinner, and – while it’s still hot outside – our walking shoes are ready to call it a day, so we return to the flat to (hopefully) cool off a bit!

Buona Notte Venezia!

Andi in Venice!

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 and going from/to all directions! Nicolo, our Airbnb host here in Venice instructed us to take the #5.1 line, and while we wait we giddily watch the boats on the Canale Grande, the churches, palaces and houses on either side and people crossing over bridges… what a sight to see! I am not the least bit disappointed! After about a 27 min ride, we arrive at the San Zaccharina stop, close to S. Marco Square, from where we will have to walk to the apartment. It’s not far, but getting lost is easy and we do end up taking a couple of small detours before we get to our destination. Nicolo tells us to ring next door, where his mama lives. What a nice lady! She and her husband show us the apartment, hand us the key and we are settled!

After a little relaxing, we are ready to head back out, stroll around the neighborhood before locating our desired restaurant for dinner. Mama suggested the Trattoria Giardinetto, and we are delighted with not just the food but also the service. This place must be recommended! Since no day in Italy is complete without Gelato we find a small gelateria after dinner, get the daily fix and head off for some more evening photo ops. There are plenty of gondola boats out on the canals, but after seeing the price tag (EUR 100 after 7pm; discounted to EUR 80 during the day; for ½ hour predefined tour) we prefer to walk for sure!

We’re ready to call it a day and head home. We’ll need our foot strength again tomorrow!