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| ...and all for the low cost of 11 Euro.
You see, there was potential for a boring, lazy, stay-at-home-do-nothing-and-regret-it kind of Saturday hanging in the air. Liz and Lynn were gone on a trip to Innsbruck, and Anne-Marie had to back out of our plan to go to Klagenfurt for the day. So there I was, alone, with a desire for adventure and an 11 Euro go anywhere you want all day in Austria train ticket burning a hole in my wallet.
I did a little internet research. I was determined to have an adventure, to see some beautiful sights. A castle or two, maybe some neat architecture or landscapes. Practically anywhere you go in Austria there is at least a pretty church to look at. I decided to head to a section along the Donau river famed for Medieval castle ruins, churches and breathtaking scenery, among other things. I printed a map and marked the places I wanted to see, a good mix of the above in 3-5 stops depending on time, (flexibility is important when traveling.) I decided to begin my journey at the western most stop and work my way back to Vienna. According to the online schedule, my train would arrive in Poechlarn at 11:25am. I would then catch the 11:35 bus to Marbach, arrive 10 minutes later, and then need another 10 minutes to reach my first trip destination, Maria Taferl, by foot at 11:55. However, while the train was sitting stalled on the tracks for 15 minutes, somewhere between Prinzersdorf and Melk, I began to get the feeling that things weren't going to go as smoothly as planned. I arrived in Poechlarn in just enough time to watch the bus drive away without me. Like any good traveler I went to check the schedule to see when the next bus ran. That was the last bus, until Monday. I was beginning to realize just what kind of a place I had dropped myself into. As I looked around I could not find a single grocery store or market, just a few empty cafes and some pension houses. Dont get me wrong, I was prepared for something like this. My internet research told me that everything 'touristy' in these towns was closed until at least April. I wasn't expecting bustling crowds, that was part of the lure, I thought I would go, look around, take some pictures and have a nice time. This was a little more than I bargained for. So what now? Do I get on the next train and hightail it out of there, or do I go on and see what I came to see? Apparently I don't give up that easily. I decided to check things out and see about walking to Maria Taferl. A 10 min bus ride couldn't be more than a 40-50 min walk right? Not when its through a town and makes frequent stops. I figured an hour walk there, some time to look around, and an hour walk back...I would be back to the train station by 2:30 and still have time for one or two more stops, depending on how late I wanted to be out.
I started walking. In about 20 minutes I reached and crossed the bridge over the Donau. It had been overcast and sprinkling earlier, but now the clouds were breaking and light was shining through, so my spirits were up. I then saw the sign- Marbach 7km. I quickly tried to do the math in my head. How far was 7 kilometers? How fast can I walk 1 km? I saw a gas station up the road and decided to run in to use the toilet and buy some film. I could collect my thoughts there. I decided to keep going. I couldnt see how far away Marbach really was because of a curve in the river, but I'd come quite a ways in half an hour, and I wasn't going to give up. I was really enjoying my walk. The sun was shining brightly now, and reflecting in sparkles off the water. Overhead some eagles were soaring, and trees were beginning to bud. I was next to some rocky cliffs and in the distance I could see some Alps. Suddenly, a noise caught my attention. In the bike path ahead of me was a goose. An angry goose. Standing very tall and honking as I approached. I of course stopped to take a picture. I walked on slowly and cautiously, giving old Goosey his space. Now, most wild birds while protective and somewhat agressive, also realize that they are smaller than you and will move at least 5 feet away from you as you get closer. I had this in mind while I approached, keeping my eyes on him, expecting him to move aside when I got too close, when, suddenly, Goosey came after me! He squaked and flapped until I was far away enough again. He stood there, daring me to try that again. I walked around him in a big arch this time, looking back just in case. Next I came across a swan, sweetly floating in the river. he was a nice birdie so I threw him a grape. I was getting close now, and actually could see the village of Maria Taferl up on the top of the hill, shining in all her sunlit glory. At the near exactly 2 hour mark, I reached Marbach. I pretty much knew at this point that this would be my only adventure of the day, but that would be fine by me. I was glad to be nearly there, just 10 more minutes...right? As I looked for a sign to point me in the right direction to MT a very nice tabby cat befriended me. He practically jumped into my arms. I was thankful for Tabbys purring and cuddles, beacuse it was at that moment I saw what I was looking for and it was not good news. The '10 minute walk' I was expecting was just from the bus stop to the shared Marbach-Maria Taferl train station, in MARBACH! It was another 4 km to Maria Taferl according to the signs. What could I do? I'd already come this far, and I wasn't giving up that easily. So I walked on. The road began to wind uphill, the brook on one side, mossy forest on the other. I was getting out of breath and sweaty from the incline, then it began to rain. At first it was nice, it counteracted the warmness under the layers of coat and sweatshirt, then it just got me wet. Then it got windy. I still was not giving up, I was almost there, the goal was in sight. I realized that the road to MT was so long because it had to wind slowly up the hill, if I could find a more direct way there, that would cut walking time and distance. Halfway up I found my shortcut. Through the pasture I went, avoiding mud and blinking through the raindrops. It suddenly hit me that no one knew where I was. I hadn't told anyone my plans, or that I would be trekking up the side of a very large hill in the rain -by myself. What if something happened and I was unable to call anyone. I could die up here and no one would know! I marched on to the beat of "I'm stupid, crazy, insane! I'm stupid, crazy, insane!" (a part of me secretly enjoying the whole experience.) The pasture led me to some trees, and a little path leading directly to the stairs up into the village. I was there, I had made it! I scurried into the church just as it really started to pour. I looked around and took in my success. Postcard in hand I left the church to go find the real treasure of Maria Taferl, the worlds largest mechanical nativity scene. "A masterpiece with more than 300 moving figures." The Krippe, as its called in german, was set in a building along the main street, and looked like any other normal store front. I almost walked right past it, but my sharp eye had not been so dulled by my travels. I went in and pushed the button to start the Krippe moving. Instantly a little world came to life. Mary rocked Jesus in the manger while Joseph greeted passing shepherds and wise men. In the back monks and peasants worked to assemble a miniature version of the church of Maria Taferl. There is a working watermill with real water, sheep grazing in a nearby pasture and in the bottom corner maids spin wool on a wheel. I stayed just long enough to listen to the recorded voice tell me everything I had ever wanted to know about the worlds largest mechanical nativity scene, (now a lot more than it had been that morning.) I thought about resting there for awhile, inside on a bench, eating some food, waiting for the rain to blow over, but then I decided I just wanted to get back. Even if it meant braving the rain, time was of the essence. I headed back down the stairs, down the wooded path, into the pasture now sopping with water. I slipped once landing on my knee and adopting a nice brown muddy spot. When I got back on the road my feet were soaked with water, but I didnt care. I had reached my goal and was on my way home. I snacked on crakers and grapes as I sloshed, hood up, through the rain. Surprisingly my wool coat is quite water resistant and I was toasty from the knees up. I hustled back out of Marbach, back past the swan, back far around angry goose, (who was not glad to see me come back,) back past the pretty trees and cliffs, by the gas station, over the bridge and back into Poechlarn. Then, as if to say 'you did it kiddo' the sun came back out. It lit my path back to the train station where a train was waiting to take me back to Vienna. Now 4:36pm, nearly 5 hours later, I exhaustedly fell into my seat and removed my shoes and socks. With my feet on the heater, and a glimpse of a smile on my face, I left the day's adventure behind me.
I now posess three postcards and a ticket stub, trophies of my endurance and willpower...and sheer lunacy.
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| I will be keeping this short and sweet, because in less than 3 hours i will be leaving for my semester/winter break. I am travelling first with Leah, we are stopping in Graz tonight to visit, then in the morning its off to Zagrab, the capital of Coratia. We will be there for two nights and then we are going toVrbnik, on the island of Krk ( I love no vowels) and Rijeka, both on the Adriatic, for one night each. Then I will be travelling back to Vienna on Tuesday afteronoon by myself, and leaving Wed. morning for the Tatry mountains in Slovakia where I will meet up with Anne-Marie, Eric, Ciara, and Sarah A. for skiing/snowboarding/winter fun for the rest of the week.It will be so much fun, and i will think of all of you. And now here is the play-by-play of the last month.
Dec. 31st: Slept/relaxed all day to catch up from my trip to Germany. In the evening we (me,Liz, liz's friend Melanie who was visiting) went to Eric's Apt. to celebrate with him and Anne-Marie and her friend Anetta. We opened Christmas crackers and put on our paper crowns. Then we dranks some wine and melted lead figurines (you dump the melted lead in cold water and it hardens in a wierd shape. The shape tells you your fortune for the new year). then we left and lit off some fireworks, went to the city center, walked around, listened to the live music, dodged thousands of firecrackers and rang in the new year at the St. Stephans cathedral with about a million other people
Jan 1st: Got home at 1:30am, slept and stayed in all day.
Jan 2nd: Went shopping by myself for awhile. Met up with A-M and Anetta for coffee. Later we met at Cafe Benno, a cafe/bar with a ton of board games to play. I kicked butt in the game Zug-um-Zug
Jan 3rd: Went shopping again, my mission being to find a winter coat. Found one for pretty cheap. Navy blue pea coat with zipper and toggle buttons and hood.
Jan 4th: I went with Liz and Mel to ride the famous ferris wheel in Vienna, the Praterstern. It is huge and you ride in a big wooden box that holds 15 people
Jan 5th: I stayed in and read the 1st Harry Potter.
Jan 6th: I was bored, so I went to a Chagall exhibit at the Kunstforum, loved it. Then I called Robin.
Jan 7th: Went to church in the morning. Went to the opera with Liz and Mel to see Die Zauberfloete (the magic flute) in the evening.
Jan 8th: First day back at school after the break. We had dinner at Lynn's apartment and watched Grease
Jan 9th: School, then met A-M and Ciara at Cafe Benno again. We played scrabble and used up all the letters and only used German words
Jan10th: School, babysat Robi and Marlies for 1 hour, went to neighborhood Italian restaraunt with Lynn, Mel and Liz. The Italian waiter was very impressed that 4 Americans would show up in the non-touristy area.
Jan 11th: We brought Mel to the airport. I came home, watched CSI and did laundry.
Jan 12th: School in the morning, cleaned the apartment. Then our friend from Waldsee, Gerhard, came to visit. (real name David. He is living in Prague right now) We went back to the same Italian place, then Leah came over and we played Catch Phrase and Scattergories
Jan 13th: Gerhard and I took a walking tour of Vienna and of the cafe culture. He had lived here in the late 80's and knew a lot of really interesting facts about the city, and of neat places to go off the beaten path. In the evening Liz, Lynn, Matt and I went to one of my school's Matura Ball. We got all dressed up and had a great time.
Jan 14th: Slept in a little, had brunch with Gerhard before he left, tehn read a book all day long.
Jan 15th: School. Thats it.
Jan 16th: School, went over to Leah's to plan our trip to Croatia and buy train tickets. We cooked potato dumplings with mozzarella and tomato inside.
Jan 17th: School, Lynn came over and we watched like 6 episodes of the Gilmore Girls
Jan 18th: My day off, watched TV in the am, and went to Leah's for dinner. She had cooked a bean soup her mother sent her for Christmas.
Jan 19th: After school I came home and read for a long time. Then I met up with Leah and her friend Marius who was visiting. we went over to Erics for awhile then all of us + A-M went to a bar near his place. A-M and i played foosball, and everyone was in a good mood. On the way home Leah and I sang showtuned at the top of our lungs.
Jan 20th: Finished the book I was reading. In the afternoon I took a walk with Carly Simon and bought some Ice Cream and pop. That night + Liz, Leah and Matt we went our for milkshakes, but the machine at Mc Donalds was broken so we got sundaes. We wanderd around awhile looking for something to do, and found a bar with live jazz! Liz went home then, but the other 3 of us went in and watched the musicians for almost an hour.
Jan 21st: Went to church. For the first time (that I've been there for so far) they had coffee in a meeting room next door. The one old lady who I sit next to now invited me. I didnt get home until 1pm. And I agreed to help out with some Easter craft evenings for kids. There was this beggar lady who came to coffee too, and kept asking me for money and told me all of her problems in broken German, even though I tolf her I didnt have any money with me, which was the truth!
Jan 22nd: After school, I attended Moedling Monday, which was taking place this time in Vienna. Becky, Greg and I went to a Pakistani buffet restaraunt. It is super tasty food, and the best part is you can decide how much to pay! You can give them 2 Euros or 10, whatever! Did I mention is snowed this day, for the first time snow fell and stuck on the ground!!!
Jan 23rd: On this day I cooked dinner for Anne-Marie and Ciara. I made creamy risotto with mushrooms and parmesan, fennel, and made-rite sandwiches (seasoned ground beef). Ciara brought wine and a frozen cake dessert, and A-M brought pudding and raisin corn muffins. YUMMY! we were stuffed!
Jan 24th: This evening was meatloaf dinner at Lynn's, with a viewing of Beauty and the Geek
Jan 25th: I was on the computer in the morning, then met A-M and Sarah A for ski gear shopping. I got a waterproof coat for only 25 Euros! plus a fleece headband to keep my ears warm. Later we saw a movie with Leah called Mein Fuehrer. Its about WWII and Hitler, but it is a satire that nakes Hitler look like a big dumb bafoon. The story is that he is about as bright as a 2 year old and needs to prepare for a big speech. To help him the nazis pull this famous jewish ex-actor out of a concentration camp to come and prepare him for the speech. The parts about the jewish man are kind of sad, but the parts about hitler are so funny. Its a wierd feeling leaving this movie, because you dont know whether to laugh or cry.
Jan 26th: I got done with class 2 hours early, so I came home and watched TV. Then went into town to look at H&M. I found a really cute green purse and some earrings for 50% off. Later Leah came over and we watched a fench movie called L'auberge Espagnol, about a French guy studying abroad in Barcelona.The title means the spanish hostel(or flat) and is about the group of people from all over the world that end up living together. Good movie!
Jan 27th: I called Ciara and the two of us rode a bus out to the Wienerwald-the hilly foresty area just outside the city- for a hike. When I left the sun was shining, but nce we started hiking it snowed lightly. It was amazingly beautiful. Fresh snowfall in the woods high up abve the city. We walked all afternoon then went back to Ciara's apartment for tea and snacks. When I left her place the snow was falling hard. There was a thick over over everything. Next I got ready for one of Liz's matura balls in Stockerau. The same group of us went and we showed those kids how we start a disco in the US.
Jan 28th: Went to church in the morning, and after, the same old lady who I sit with (who's name I still dont know-she told me once but she said mrs. blahblahblah and i couldnt understand and felt rude asking again) invited me to lunch. I kind of wanted to go home, but I could tell she really wanted the company and, well, who can say no to free Chinese food. We had a nice lunch and I told her a little about me and my family and she told me about prsident Lincoln and indians in vancouver...I dont know why. then after lunch she insisted that we go for coffee and cake, even though I was stuffed I had to eat cake, she just kept insisiting until I gave in. and she insisted on paying for it all too, how nice! Then she even walked me to my tram and waited for me. Shouldnt I be the one walking her home? I was glad that I could brighten her day a little though. And i am glad that my church here has brought me into a community. The rest of Sunday was quiet. I called home and talk to my mom awhile and then did lesson plans.
Jan 29th: I only had to do 2 lessons, so I got home early. i ended up spending the evening at home relaxing.
Jan 30th: After school I picked up Robi and Marlies and was with them until 5. We played with thier toys and watched Dumbo. They have both had birthdays recently and are now 6 and 4. When I got home i ate a quick dinner then went to city hall with Lynn and Matt for ice skating. It is really cool, there are two rinks connected by some paths through the trees so you can skate between the two and actually go somewhere besided in a circle. It is cool being outside with the buildings and tress all lit up in bright colors and the music was good. We skated until our feet had blisters (Lynns bled) and had Hot chocolate. When I got home Liz was waiting with my birthday cake and a present (Spaceballs on Dvd so I can watch it in four languages now)
Jan 31st: I had 5 classes to make up for missing friday (tomorrow) so i got home at 3. Was on the computer, did laundry and relaxed and prepared for today and my trip!
I will talk to you all when I get back!
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| I apologize in advance for the potential legnthiness of this entry, I have been in a funk lately and haven't felt very social or much like writing. But here I am again, and I actually had a really great Christmas vacation, and I am excited to tell you about it. Maybe the rest of january has just been a let down compared to all that awesomeness...
On wednesday Dec.20th after teaching 4 lessons about Christmas in the US, (once with 11 and 12 year-olds who begged to listen to the Chipmunks' song 5 times and had it completely memorized by the end of class, they were super cute and it was fun,) I ran home to finish puting together a few last minute Christmas letters, ate a huge lunch/dinner that would stick with me for 3 days, and went to meet Anne-Marie at Schoenbrunn for one last Gluehwein, and the final mug for my collection, before we split ways for the holidays. Then I went home and had about an hour to shower and pack and leave to catch my train to Jena, Germany. My train back 'home,' back to where I studied 4 years ago, left at 7:50pm and would arrive eight hours later. The man sitting across from me and I decided it was best for everyone involved if we allowed eachother to put up our feet on the others seat so we could be in a more sleeping position. This worked fine until my feet becam an armrest for the sleeping man. At least his armpit kept my tootsies warm. I got in at 4am and Sarah Hughey was there to meet me. We walked to her apartment and went back to sleep. She went to class in the morning, and I slept in and watched TV until she got home. Then we walked downtown and I got to see Jena for the first time in 4 years! It was actually really wierd. I knew where I was, and I had spent so much time there, but it felt unfamiliar. Like maybe I had only seen it in books or something and was seeing it for the first time. It was very surreal. We grabbed a coffe to go for 1 Euro and caught the bus to Globus, a German version of Walmart, and I was in the heaven of cheap variety! Products at Austrian grocery stores are limited and usually made locally. They don't like to import, but in Germany there are 5 times as many yogurt flavors, varieties of chocolate I have never heard of, different cheeses and snacks, and I had the chance to buy them all. I limited myself to some yogurts, chocolates and gummi snails from Haribo. We went back to her place and dropped of the groceries, then went to the Christmas market in town. I could have looked for hours. We enjoyed watching nuts roast and fruit get dipped in chocolate. I pledged to buy a piece pottery in the regional style and pattern and picked out what goodies I would try the next time around. We went back to Sarah's and started tacos for dinner. I met her boyfriend (the first of many this trip) who is named Florian -Flo for short- and studies mushrooms and has a pet scorpion and pet spider. He also has a very individual taste in music and movies, and he gave me many good reccomendations. Friday the 22nd I got to see Christine (Tine) my old roommate from when I was in Jena, and spend the whole day with her! We met around noon, Sarah came with, and Tine brought her boyfriend, Christian (#2). The four of us ate at the University cafeteria and we ran into Sissy, a friend of Tine's that I was friends with too, and the look on her face of utter shock and surprize was great. I have never seen eyes get that wide before. After lunch Sarah went off on her own to run errands and I walked with Tine and Christian back to their cute litte apartment. It is a really nice place, and I liked how they had decorated it. It has a very crisp and warm feeling, and there were cute pictures of them hanging up, and Tine still has the floor lamp she bought from me when we lived together. We drank tea and talked and ate Christmas cookies and cake, then went to the computer and looked at pictures. One of Tine's best friends, Linda, who I met a couple times has since gotten married, and just had a baby. Tine showed me all the baby pictures, and soem pictures of her and Christian on their first vacation together. I am so happy for Tine that she has Christian. He is such a great guy, he is nice and smart and good looking and funny, and everything that I could have wished for her. I know that when we lived together she used to feel bad that she didn't have a boyfriend and all her friends did, and she was worried she would never find anyone, but I always knew how special she is and that the right guy was out there waiting for her! Ich hab dich lieb Tine! When it started to get dark we walked back into town, and had a Gluehwein (are you sensing yet that I really love Gluehwein) and walked around town talking, and listening to the musicians play at the market. We ended the day in a cafe over big coffees with lots of foamy milk. At 8pm we went our seperate ways. I joined Sarah and Flo at a birthday party for one of Flo's friends. There was drinking of more spiced wine, actually a regional punch called Feuerzangenbowle, and we walked up a hill to look over Jena at night. Flo and Sarah were off on a bench wispering to eachother then Sarah called me over and said that Flo wanted to set me up with his friend who's birthday it was because he is funny and a little wierd and I am too, and therefore we would be a perfect match...both Sarah and I were like, Um...no. Saturday Sarah and I had a big shopping day planned. We went out to the area where we lived in '02-'03. This is when the old sights started to feel familiar again and the emotional-ness set in. We went to our old grocery store/shopping complex called Kaufland (shoppingland). I stocked up on cheap foods to bring back to Vienna and got new headphones. Then we went back to the Christmas market to take pictures and digital films on Sarah's camera, and eat crepes and chocolate snowballs, and I bought my pottery. Then there was last minute Christmas shopping by Sarah and Flo, a long visit to a book store which I did not leave empty handed, and an even longer wait in a drug store to use the digital picture printer. There was this lady in line who decided she needed to wait until the day before Christmas Eve to print out every digital picture she had ever taken while the rest of the people in line had maybe 5- 15 to print. We stood in line over an hour, taking turns actually standing in line because it was so hot and stuffy in line we had to take breaks outside to sit and get some fresh air. Eventually we made it home and had open faced sandwiches for dinner and Sarah and I watched Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase.
On Christmas Eve I was the first one up and the first one to go. I had never walked to the train station from that area of town before, and following Sarah's actually really good directions I got lost and walked the wrong way, UPHILL, three different times before finding the right way (uphill again). I got to the station with just 10 minutes to spare (I should have had 30+) and I was sweaty and out of breath and my bags felt so heavy. I tried to buy a ticket with my Austrian bank card which did not work, then my train pulled in so I had to ask the conductor to buy my ticket on the train. I read a little and enjoyed the old familiar scenery fly by. I arrived in the city of Chemnitz around noon. I was picked up by Michael, who is Katrin's husband. Katrin was the mentor for our group in Jena, and I had spent Christmas in 2002 with her and her parents and sister, Elke. Back then Michael was just her boyfriend, but now they are married and have a baby boy, Georg, who is now just 5 months old. I went to their apartment for Christmas Eve. It was so great! I got to play with baby Georg, and help decorate the tree, and have goose broth with rice soup,and I baked zucchini bread, and we caught up on the last 4 years. We went to Christmas Eve church where there was a funny Christmas play with both kids and grown-ups, and Michael played the organ. It was lovely and misty outside when we drove home. Then we lit the candles on the tree and opened gifts and Georg cried, no screamed, the whole time. The general belief is that he was cutting a tooth, not the best way to spend one's first Christmas. Next we ate a wonderful dinner of roast and veggies and potatoes, and drank wine. While the food settled, and Georg settled into bed, we played memory and looked at their wedding pictures. Dessert of pears simmered in red wine covered with a vanilla-cinnamon sauce, with a cup of tea finished off the evening. On Christmas day we went to church again in the morning because Michael was playing organ again. I got to have real German breakfast, and play with Georg some more. In the afternoon we drove to the Herwig's (Katrin's parents). We just had to wait for Elke and her boyfriend, (#3) Sandro, to arrive. Then we opened gifts again. Before dinner Elke and I took a walk and talked. She is easy to talk to and really the person I am closest to in that family. She told me about studying in Leipzig and about Sandro, who is going to become a minister, and I talked about Vienna. We then had dinner and later watched "Ritter der Kokosnuss" translated to Knights of the Coconut aka Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
Tues. the 26th, known as the second Christmas day and is still a holiday in Germany and Austria, started of with a late, long breakfast. Elke and I had planned to go ice skating, and we left around 1 with Sandro in tow. He didnt want to come skating, so he walked around the park taking pictures and took pictures of us skating. We skated for an hour then went back. We had some tea and a snack, and then Elke taught me how to make these really neat intricate looking stars out of 30 individual folded squares of paper. Everyone pitched in on helping cook dinner. We had salad and goose, and homemade traditional potato dumplings called Kloesse. They are really difficult to make, and you have to have the right amount of starchy potato paste and grated potato for them to stick together in the boiling water. For dessert Elke made homemade cinnamon ice cream. Later in the evening Elke, Sando, and I were picked up by one of Elke's friends from high school. We went to a party that was a gathering of her old group of friends so they could catch up while everyone was home for the holidays. There were board games played and chocolate eaten. I was stuffed and tired, actually exhausted, so I wasn't very talkative, and this one friend of hers kept translating things into English for me because she thought I didn't understand, but I did so it was a little annoying. I had originally planned to go back to Jena on the 27th, but the Herwigs told me they were having another large family meal, this time with the dads parents and brothers family, and they invited me to stay another day. I felt rude saying no, so I stayed, and we spent the whole day cooking and preparing this huge, amazing buffet with multiple salads, cheeses, breads, meats, apetizers, desserts...just tons of food. The families arrived around 7 and we ate around 8. After dinner us young people played a game called Activity, which is a mix of Pictionary, charades, and Catchphrase. Thursday I ate my last bowl of Herwig fruit salad, playes two last rounds of memory, and packed up my backpack. I said my goodbyes and Elke drove me to my train. As we were on our way it started snowing, which made the depature a little less sad. During my train ride the snow fell heavier and heavier, and suddenly Germany became a giant Chritmas card (only 3 days too late). But it was beautiful to watch the snow covered trees go by, and how a little stream cut through the white powder like dark glass. When I got back to Sarah's I was surprised to find she wasn't there. While she was with Flo's fmily for Christmas she had made plans to go see a friend in southern Germany and had left just a few hours before. She had thought I would be back the day before, so she figured on seeing me and being able to tell me, but I forgot to tel her I was staying an extra day. I still stayed in their apartment, which was wierd at times being alone with Flo, but still nice of them. I was sad that I had missed Sarah, because we really didn't say goodbye. We thought we would be seeing eachother again, and I felt bad that I hadnt told her I would be late. This is when I started to feel wierd. Back at the Herwigs I had been feeling like I was about to overstay my welcome, and that I was there just enough time, but anymore would be too much. When I got to Sarah's and she was gone, I started thinking about how much longer to stay in Jena. I didnt have a return ticket yet and I had thought about staying into Jan. but now I felt like just going back to Vienna. I had that strange sort of lonley homesick feeling. I decided not to make any decisions until I got ahold of Anett and Desiree (aka Emily, who worked at camp with me last summer). I sent them both text messages and waited. Anett answered back not to much later and suggested meeting for a drink. We met at a place called Gruenowski's, where I learned to salsa dance long before, at 9:30. As always when you haven't seen someone in nearly 4 years, I was nervous, but that instatly melted away. We saw eachother and hugged and ordered some wine and started talking. We talked about people, being single,and school and work and life, and her upcoming semester in Barcelona. One thing I really love about Anett is that she is so confident. She has her own individual trendy style and is not afraid to be herself. When I am with her I want to strive for that kind of confidence, but the downside is that I dont feel like I am pretty enough, cool enough or confident enough for her company, and I start to worry that she will get bored with me, or that things will be awkward. I didn't feel like that at all that night, I felt equal. We went to a different quieter bar near the center of town for another glass of wine and ran into an aquaintence of hers named Gunnar who is an actor with the city theater group. About 2am we headed out our seperate ways with plans to meet for lunch the next day. We met at noon at the Cafe Boheme, however this time I felt less confident and not so equal. It was still a great lunch we talked the whole time, but I felt like I was not so interesting, and I began to question why we are friends, what do we really have in common? I got that wierd feeling in my stomach again, that strange lonley feeling. Anett had suggested visiting her folks in Weimar on Saturday, but they had plans already. Then she thought to ask them about that night and gave them a call. They said they would love to have me for dinner, so there were plans again to meet at Anett's apt, and she would drive us to Weimar. I spent the afternoon walking around Jena and shopping. I had a double ice cream cone which was brighly colored, and as I was waiting to cross the street a bus drove by. In the bus was a cute little boy who's eyes widened and lit up when he saw my cone. I smiled and waved at him, and he waved back as the bus drove around the corner. It is so nice to see kids display their emotions so easily. As I walked back to Sarah's to get ready for the evening I had a funny thought. I joked to myself that I should bring my toothbrush and deoderant. So many times before when I was in Weimar for band practice or visits I would miss the last train and have to spend the night, and it became habit to bring a toothbrush to Weimar -just in case. I smiled at the memory of those evenings and nights, and was looking forward to going back to that place. After a quick tour of Anett's apt we hopped in her car and were on our way. I am really bad at holding conversations in cars, but I tried hard and did a pretty good job. We talked about the songs on the radio, and agreed that "Chasing Cars" is excellent, although a bit overplayed here. We got to the Grobe house just as dinner was ready. Potatoes and rouladen, yummy! I had forgotten what her parents looked like, but after we started talking I remembered them. As it turns out, Anett and I decided that our fathers should become friends because they have a lot in common. My dad is most excited to come to Vienna to see the Lippizzaner horses and the Spanish Riding School, Anetts dad would also go to Vienna for that same purpose. After dinner we moved to the living room in front of the fireplace and talked and shared pictures and had pictures of us taken. Then I saw Anett bring in a bag and her laptop and she said we should leave soon for the bar in Weimar. Then it became clear, I would be spending the night in Weimar, without a toothbrush, I should have known! We went to the Plan Bar, which I had been to twice before, and it was still the same. It is known for the Frozen, a blended ice drink that changed flavors every night. That night it was citrus mango and I had two. We were joined by Anett's brother's girlfriend/partner, (They have a son, Mateo, but are not married) and Rene, a friend of the guys from the band. Saturday the 30th, Anett's parents were taking Mateo to the zoo, so he was there for breakfast. Hes about 3, a little spoiled, but really cute. After breakfast i was presented a huge tin of christmas cookies to take home with me, and was driven to the train station to go back to Jena. I wasn't quite ready to go back though, so i took my traditional walking tour of Weimar. I saw all the familliar places of one of my favorite places on this earth. I felt both attached and detached, and I shed a single tear for the memories as my train pulled away from the station. Back in Jena I finally heard back from Desiree. We would meet for dinner. I packed and felt sad about leaving Weimar, so I watched Love Actually in Sarah's room. Then I went into Jena to do my last minute shopping/errands and met Desiree. We had Arabic food, and went to get my stuff from Sarah's to bring it to her place. I hung out the rest of the evening with Desiree, looking at her pictures of camp and of Concordia. We went to a bar to meet up with her brother and his friends. As much as I am into the East German biker bar scene, I was ready to leave not long after arrival. About a half an hour before my train back to Vienna we let and got my stuff. Desiree walked me to the station and waved goodbye to me as I pulled away at 12:30 am for my 8 hour journey back to Vienna. I was actually able to get a decent amount of sleep, and the moments awake were spent reflecting on my strange and wonderful and perfect Christmas trip.
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| While looking for calendars for the year 2007, I came across an artist who was unfamiliar to me, but who's artwortk I really, really like. Scottish painter Jack Vettriano. Here are three of my favorite paintings.
Back Where You Belong
Only Deepest Red
On the Boarder
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| I have finally collected enough and found the time to put up some pics of the people I am getting to know here in Vienna, and they are...
Eric and Leah at Leah's Halloween party. Eric is a snowboarder, and Leah is a rubix cube. For good measure I will throw in my costume too, because I think its great.
 I was the party maid.
Ok, moving on, this next one is me and Matt on the train to Linz.
We are eating a sweet bread called a Butterzopf which I think is a great name for a horse.
My fellow Moedlingers. Jan, Greg and Becky. This is not in Moedling, they took a trip to the mountains.
Sarah B. Sarah A. and me. I dont really see them very often, but I think I have told enough stories to include them.
I like this one, its Anne-Marie and me in Bratislava being photographed being photographed by a statue outside of a cafe called Paparazzi.
Finally, the first stop of the market crawl featuring Lynn, Liz, me, Ciara, and Bill.
Enjoy! Let me know if I've left anyone out, and I want to see some eprops.
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