Introduction to Vienna

You cannot judge these pictures as I am still stuck with my iphone, but I thought they would provide a little hole in which to look.  (One day, we will get all our stuff and maybe even feel settled.)  The embassy offers a two hour tour to introduce the city's highlights.  Despite still being a bit jet lagged, we dragged ourselves up, took the U4 downtown and joined the dozen other new Americans.  The guide inherited his script from someone who had been doing it for a few years, but his charismatic touch drew us into the story.  Vienna is layered with military history, the Hapsburg Dynasty, a famed music and coffee house culture, and just incredible architecture.

These snapshots cannot begin to capture what is here.  I am overwhelmed when I think about how to start exploring it.  Frankfurt opened up quite easily.  One walking tour and I felt quite comfortable in the city.  Here, I don't know where to begin. The next three months, I just want to get oriented.  Right now everything feels tight and confining, but I can see where there is potential to fall in love.

Meanwhile, the bratwursts are incredible!

Grocery Shop Challenges

Our first week, we focused on establishing routines and learning the grocery stores.  Unlike Germany, where we had access to a US commissary, here we strictly have the economy.  Small differences like needing a euro to get a grocery cart and having to print stickers for loose produce coupled with our inability to read packaging or labels make this simple task challenging.

Luckily, we discovered our favorite food part about European food shopping a ten minute walk from our apartment - a market.  We found gelato on our walk over and Emily found a friend.

The little block includes one of the best bakeries in Vienna Josef Brot.  The whole wheat breads are indescribable and of course croissants...

The produce is my favorite part.  The berries actually taste better than anything we found in the States and the people who own the stands insisted on us sampling the apples, berries and watermelon.  Emily walked away with a free peach.

The Vienna Woods

Unlike Frankfurt, a smaller city, Vienna encompasses 23 sections referred to as districts. These districts were created starting in 1850 as the city was enlarged by the inclusion of the surrounding communities. The First District, where most tourists visit, contains many of the historical attractions, but residents live throughout all 23 districts. The city even includes the Vienna Woods - forested highlands that form the northeastern foothills of the Northern Alps.

The Eberts invited us for dinner our second night.  They live near the Vienna Woods which are also filled with beautiful vineyards.  After dinner, they took us on an incredibly steep hike to show us the vineyards.

As long as you only take a few at a time, the owners allow people to taste the grapes!

We took in views of our new home.

First Weekend

We arrived to unusually hot Vienna weather.  Most places lack air condition as the temperatures are typically moderate here.  (We are fortunate to have air condition in our place, but we could not spend every minute in an empty apartment.  It's a little depressing.)

Our sponsors, also our friends from Germany - the Eberts, offered to take the kids and I to a pool while Matthew took Dave to buy a TV.  Like in Germany, the pools here are mini water parks but cost only 5 euro for adults and 2 for kids.  This one consisted of five different pools, diving boards and a huge slide.  We found eight lounge chairs and settled in for our first day in Austria.

The kids loved the wings and fries.

Deborah and Temby-the youngest Ebert

Emily: One Long Night

From Emily:
On the ride to the airport I was having second thoughts about moving.  I was starting to cry and I was feeling a little bit sick to my stomach (but don't worry, I was fine).  Saying our goodbyes was very hard, and we all cried a little.  Getting through security to our gate (surprisingly) wasn't hard at all!! When we were waiting to board, I was taking a video, and there was a kid about my age sitting next to me glaring at me while I was taking the video and at one point said: "What?" I said politely that I was just taking a video and that I wasn't talking to him, but he still looked confused.  Just a funny moment that made me feel better about the trip.

Texting the twins, our neighbors from Virginia who recently moved to Vienna, selfies, and getting ready to take off!

















The flight was very rough, especially because there was a baby sitting two rows in front of us and she was crying basically the entire flight.  I watched the first Jumanji with Owen which was actually really scary, and I kind of enjoyed the second better. Of course, by the end of the flight I was very hungry, and eager to see our neighborhood and apartment.

We came to our apartment to a lovely surprise from our sponsors, friends we had from Germany: a scavenger hunt!! The surprise at the end was a basket full of candy and chocolate (not including the chocolate hippos on each bed).

An hour after we arrived, the twins surprised us and came over for about an hour or two (we were having so much fun that I lost track of time).  The story of them being here is: Our family's are very close, and once we announced that we were  moving to Austria, we all were a little bit sad that we were being seperated.  So, Mrs. Marta got a new job in Austria and we all lived happily ever after!

Golf Central

Golf Central plays regularly on our TV so we jumped at the opportunity to tour the Golf Channel while we were in Orlando.  Alan, a childhood friend, produces several shows and offered to show us around. 

Arnold Palmer started the channel in 1995 so his parking spot, golf cart, and other memories littered the property and halls.

We sat in the news anchor chairs and watched the broadcast of a live show from the control area and instruction studio. 

Wishing on a Star

Once again we decided to visit the Magical Kingdom before we headed out.  We wanted a relaxing few days not an intensive Disney trip so I booked the Four Seasons resort for five nights.  This amazing hotel offered beautiful pools, a lazy river, basketball courts, a spa, twice-a-day room cleaning...  They even providing little things like water-bottles, sunblock, sunglass wipes, and bookmarks.  I wish I could live at the Four Seasons.

I continue to be amazed at the cult of Disney.  We still had two tickets left from my grandparents 1988 unused purchase which at least cut part of the price.  With early morning "Magic Hours" we hit the park at 730 am and walked as fast as we could to visit the lost boys in Neverland.

We then went to the Hundred Acre Woods and "It's A Small World" - a truly offensive ride - all before the Park officially opened.

Emily talked us into waiting in the "Splash Mountain" line.  Dave and I watched four-year-olds excitedly depart the ride so we tried to put our roller coaster fears aside.  (When we went again on Sunday I whispered to Dave, "I don't think I can do it again."  "I don't think I can either."  Much to our relief and Emily's dismay, the ride would not start.)

I did find the hard core Disney familes fascinating to watch.  People paraded around in full costume not a bit deterred by the oppressive 100 degree heat.  Entire families dressed in matching shirts designed specifically for this vacation.  Everyone seemed to wear mouse ears.  I wondered if anyone else noticed the eurocentric nature of well, everything

We left the park by 1:00 both times to enjoy an afternoon of being waited on at the pool.

Back Again

Three years since we said "Tsuse" to Dornbusch, we are saying "Halo" to Vienna.  We packed up the house, stored our furniture, bid adieu to Nats stadium, and headed out.  This time, the kids are older bringing very different dynamics.  They will be making their own blog contributions!  Follow us as we once again live as expats in Europe.