Summer Vacation 2010: Vienna

Summer Vacation 2010: Mountain Hike

Since we arrived in Austria the weather has been very strange, shifting from cold and rainy to sunny and warm every few days. So when a sunny day finally came around again we knew we had to make the most of it. We decided to spend an afternoon hiking up one of the surrounding mountains, the Zwölferhorn.

View of St. Gilgen at the start of our hike

Lake Wolfgang

At this point I had to stop and record the wonderful sounds around us. We had recently passed a farm house where someone had just started playing accordion. Meanwhile the cows grazed in the pasture beside us.

At the edge of the pasture stood a water trough fed by fresh mountain water. It was so picturesque we decided to have our picnic lunch right there.

We were close to the top, but we decided to start our descent back into town.

So close!

One thing we have learned about mountain climate is that it changes very quickly. So when we looked up and saw dark clouds moving in, we decided not to risk getting caught in the storm.

pretty purple mountain flower

Thankfully we arrived back in St. Gilgen safe, sound, tired, and dry.

Summer Vacation 2010: Lake Wolfgang, Austria

Fall Break 2008: Salzburg, Austria (Oct 26 - Oct 31)

I lived and studied in Salzburg in the fall of 2004 during my undergraduate studies. This was my first visit back since then and the city is as beautiful as ever. As soon as our bus arrived back in Budapest from Romania, Jon and I hopped on a metro to the train station and began our journey to Austria. It was quite early when we arrived so we first explored the city as the sun was still rising.

a chilly morning view from the Mönchsberg

the Salzach River

Mozartsteg Bridge

We stayed with my former host family, Annette and her two children, Sophia and Christian. Monday night we visited Hellbrunn Palace. It is situated just outside the city and surrounded by beautiful gardens.

Christian leading the way to Hellbrunn Palace

gardens at Hellbrunn

We took a guided tour of the Wasserspiele ("Water Games"). Built in the 17th century under Archbishop Markus Sittikus von Hohenems, these trick fountains and water-powered toy theatre was a fun stop.

a fountain in the Wasserspiele

I think visiting Salzburg after Transylvania added an additional layer of appreciation to our time there. At times during our travels through Romania our rooms were heated with wood stoves were advised to never drink the water. I remember Salzburg feeling luxurious in 2004, but this was even better. In addition to physical comfort, it was such a joy to reconnect with Annette and the kids.

Annette, Christian, Sophia, Kyung Woo (a schoolmate of Christian's)

For Jon, cooking was the favorite luxury in Salzburg. To thank Annette for her hospitality, we insisted on making the family dinner one night. The meal (handmade orecchiette with vodka sauce) was such a success, Jon was welcomed into the kitchen to make food as often as he liked. I think it was after he made cannellini bean soup that Christian asked Annette if they could adopt Jon into their family.

Sophia learns how to make orecchiette

Other trip highlights include: spending all our Euros at the chocolate factory in Grödig, an afternoon at the art museum with Annette, Christian's adorable attempts at card tricks, picnic lunches in the city, and coffee in Austrian coffeehouses. I can't wait to go back.

view of the city at dusk

from Mozartsteg Bridge at night