Day Two: Vienna

Diane and Colton provided a rainy tour of downtown Vienna.   We walked by the Hofburg Palace, home of the Habsburg dynasty.  Knowing Owen's limits - one actual cultural visit per day - I opted for the one sentence explanation.  "These people had money and power."  Diane elaborated slightly on the success this dynasty had in marrying the rich and famous all over Europe.  Great strategy.

We visited St. Stephen's Cathedral, built in the 12th century to meet the growing city's religious needs.

To escape the rain, we enjoyed Viennese coffee and pastry at the famous Cafe Demel.  I, of course, loved every second.

I want her job.

For our one museum visit, we taxied 20 minutes from the center city to Schonbrunn Palace.  This modest 1,1441 roomed home provided a summer escape for the Habsburgs.  Likened to Versailles in France, this residence did not impress Owen.  We quickly bounded through the rooms, even the one where Mozart first performed at age 8.  Then, the gardens overwhelmed him.  He prevented us from exploring, "Mommy, what if we get loosed?"  He obviously trusts my sense of direction.  He then became "soaking mad" so we decided to head back to the hotel.

Diane organized an amazing night out with another friend of mine who lives in her apartment complex.  We spent a glorious 3 hours at dinner while Corey, her husband, watched the three boys.  Owen and I negotiated before hand.  Good report = New Lego kit.

The next morning, we headed home to Frankfurt.  But I must comment on the airport food.  Instead of processed meat, I found roasted chicken and grilled fresh vegetables.  Instead of McDonald's coffee, each stand served melange.  Instead of stale muffins, I found freshly baked pain au chocolat.  I used to search Dulles for Potbelly's - my favorite treat.  I am now spoiled for life.

Vienna, Austria: Mommy and Me Weekend

While Emily flew to the States for her spring break (which did not overlap with Owen's), Owen and I enjoyed "mommy and me" time.  We started our week visiting the Habsburgs, the old Austrian Monarchy, and my friend Diane in Vienna.  We bid adieu to Dave and Emily at the airport and headed to our separate terminals.

Owen and I stayed at a hotel down the street from Diane.  I forgot two of her wards, Isabelle and Magellan, are of the feline species.  (My extreme cat allergy forced us into a hotel.)  The first morning, we met at her favorite cafe for incredible croissants and a Wiener Melange,  a specialty coffee drink similar to a cappuccino.

Diane took the day off and decided to keep Colton, her oldest, home from school to play with Owen.  We relaxed, laughed, and caught up over coffee thanks to Angry Birds.  I wanted this trip to be kid-centric, so Diane took us to the Vienna Woods, forested highlands within the city boundaries.

Once a hunting ground for the royal family, this area now hosts hikes, concerts, and vineyards.  We spent several hours watching the kids climb the wooden structures.

Before dinner, Owen and I bonded over ice cream.

Ronneburg Castle

Castles line the Rhine River in Hessen like strip malls line Route 1 at home.  While we visited quite a few our first six months in Frankfurt, our pace slowed radically this last year.  Our visitors, the Nicks, inspired us to visit a new one, Ronneburg Castle, on their last day in town.  The castle was probably built in the beginning of the 13th century.

Emily "tried on" a classic dress from the medieval time period.

They still had a working well.  For a few euro, we turned on the light to see the water splash down.

We walked through a tunnel.

Then climbed to the top of this tower.

They used this device to stretch your limbs as punishment for rolling your eyes at your parents.

The servants prepared dinner in this kitchen.

We left happy to return to modern plumbing and lighting.

And enjoyed an ice cream treat.

Keukenhof

Our final day in Holland, we returned to the Keukenhof, the second largest flower garden in the world.  (Holland itself resembled a garden as their main crop, bulb flowers, lined the roadside.)

The Keukenhof includes a variety of garden styles. The English landscape garden features winding paths and unexpected see-through points. The historical garden is an enclosed garden with many old types of bulbs. The nature garden consists of a water garden where shrubs and perennials are combined with bulbous plants. The Japanese country garden is a non-traditional garden in a natural environment.

We figured the warm weather and the later visit guaranteed flowers.  Plus, the outdoor space which included several play areas, seemed perfect for four young children.

The kids remembered a "hot dog" stand - the highlight of last year's cold, flowerless trip.  "We have to get a hot dog," began when we entered the park.   Determined, we searched the for this one stand.  A taste of home.