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Sunday, September 25, 2022
Goodbye Europe ... until we meet again
And somehow it's already my last night here in Austria. Not sure how that happens. How can three whole weeks fly
by that fast? It's a mystery I will never quite understand.
This past week I was off Monday through Wednesday. Went to a few appointments with my mom and we also went to a Chinese restaurant for lunch and relaxed. Thursday and Friday I worked which of course made the days fly by even faster. It was really nice to have a week off straight in a row but of course coming back from that means even crazier times trying to catch up.
Saturday I went back into Vienna and met up with my friend Claudia. Ended up being there about an hour early and used the time to be a bit touristy, sitting in a cafe facing St Stephen's Cathedral. The weather was pretty decent and nice enough to be able to sit outside (at least for a short time) which was great considering the weather hasn't been all that great. Very fall like, chilly and often raining. But my hour sitting in the cafe enjoying the view and people watching was a lot of fun. Then I met up with Claudia at Schwedenplatz and we caught up chatting.
Today, Sunday, my mom, aunt and our neighbors took a little daytrip into the countryside (about 1 hour and a half one way). The weather wasn't super amazing but it ended up not raining which was good. And we had some delicious food and an enjoyable day.
When we got back I ended up doing all my packing and now just watching some TV and drinking some wine, trying to relax and enjoy my last night with my mom. The airport taxi picks me up at 5.30am. Ugh.
Mail Update: All caught up with my mail for once :)
Posted by Hanna at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Sunday, September 18, 2022
2 Weeks Gone ...1 More To Go
And time is continuing to fly. Tomorrow (Monday) is already the 2 weeks point with 1 more week to go before I leave on Monday, August 26th. I really don't know how it happens but times just seems to go on "fast forward" whenever I am here, no matter how long I am here for. You would think that three weeks would feel like a long time but no, not really.
Anyway, let's see what I can recap for the last week. I worked Monday and Tuesday but have been off starting Wednesday. On Wednesday I met up with an old friend, somebody I was good friends with growing up while living here but haven't seen in ages. He is now also married and has two daughters, a beautiful 3 and 6 year old. We caught up over lunch at McDonald's (because yes that's what you do when you have kids that age *g*) Anyway, was a lot of fun to catch up.
Thursday I had a hair appointment and spent a good amount of the day at the hairdresser. In the afternoon I met up with Andi for some tea/coffee and a quick snack which was nice. And Friday my aunt, mom and our neighbors Helga & Franz went to a Heurigen (Sandbichler) for a fun vineyard lunch. Was also able to pick up a few bottles of wine to bring back to the US.
Yesterday, Saturday, I was in Vienna and went to the Belvedere. Been quite a long time since I have seen the museum there. Lots of Klimt paintings amongst other things. Then had a nice cafe lunch at Cafe Mozart people/tourist watching before heading back.
And today, Sunday, was just a quiet day. The weather has been pretty fall/autumn like, cool, windy, sometimes rainy and kind of dreary. Managed to catch up on my letter writing today and also watched a Rosamunde Pilcher movie with my mom in the afternoon.
And tomorrow is already Monday again. I do have a couple more days off from work but also have some things I still need to catch up on. So let's see what this last week brings before I head back to the US.
Mail Update: Letters should be going out soon to: Carmen/Malta, Celia/MA, Nina/WA, Eunice/Malta and Kimber/Halifax.
Posted by Hanna at 02:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Sunday, September 11, 2022
Austria Musings .. time is flying by
And as usual time is flying by like crazy. Tomorrow is already Monday
again which means I will have already been
here for a week. I really don't know how a whole week has already passed by but I guess that's how it goes.
Wednesday I accompanied my mom to her physical therapy appointment and afterwards we had lunch at the Seedose, a really nice restaurant by the lake. Lucked out with the weather as well and were able to sit outside enjoying a lake front lunch. The first few days I was here it was actually almost hot during the day but towards the end of the week a weather front passed through which made things a bit more unstable. Not terrible by all means but definitely some rain, wind and unstable weather mixed in.
Thursday and Friday I had to work. But Friday we were able to squeeze in a nice Chinese buffet lunch with my aunt prior to me needing to start work which worked out well. And the weekend was jam packed with activities as well.
Saturday I took the train into Vienna and met my friend Andrea at 10am for breakfast at Cafe Stein. I had not been there previously but it definitely did not disappoint. I had a delicious egg scramble with smoked salmon & avocado accompanied by some lovely Earl Grey tea. From there I took a nice scroll as the weather was cooperating well. A bit windy but sunny and good picture taking weather. Met up with Lydia at 1516 around 1pm and we hung out there for a while before moving on and stopping at Kolar and ending at the Hard Rock Cafe. As usual too much to eat and drink but definitely a fun day for sure.
And today, Sunday, I took the train to Salzburg and met up with my Salzburg family. Rain for the most day but had a lovely lunch nonetheless followed by a nice coffee/cake and prosecco stop at Gerti's apartment where my friend Anneliese also stopped by and we had some time to catch up and hang out before it was time for me to return to the train station and catch the train back. It's a 2 1/2 hr train ride one-way but always worth it.
Definitely a bit tired now and kind of wish it wasn't Monday tomorrow but it is what it is. I do have some days off coming up later in the week so there's something to look forward to for sure. :)
Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a response to: Celia/MA, Nina/WA, Eunice/Malta and Kimber/Halifax.
Posted by Hanna at 03:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Tuesday, September 06, 2022
Hello From Austria
Hello September .. hello Austria. Of course it was busy the rest of last week as I was preparing for leaving for Austria. Saturday we went to Rizzuto's for lunch and Sunday was my travel day. Of course as it seems to always go these days my flight was delayed. Ended up with 1 hour 25 min delay before we even left for the airport (which was the only blessing) Delay was due to a delay with the incoming aircraft. All in all I guess I was lucky as the flight was cancelled completely the day before.
It ended up being a day of delays and everything taking longer than it should. JFK was a mess but I guess it was to be expected on a holiday weekend. The check in line took forever as did the security line. Total madhouse. The flight itself was relatively uneventful but my connecting flight to Vienna also ended up being delayed. And it took forever for the luggage to get off loaded in Vienna but luckily I did get my luggage so all in all everything ended up fine, just took much longer than it should have.
My jetlag has been a pain too but I guess it is what it is. I had the day off today which was nice. Even nicer since the weather was beautiful. Went for a walk with my mom and also spent some time sitting outside. Also accompanied her to her speech therapy session and all in all had a really nice day. Watched a neat nature documentary on Cornwall with her at night as well.
Tomorrow I have a 1/2 day and will need to work from 6-10pm (12-4pm EST) and then working the rest of week (Thur/Fr) But I do already have plans for the weekend with a couple of friends in Vienna on Saturday and in Salzburg on Sunday. The weather is supposed to get more unstable and a bit cooler starting tomorrow but I guess we'll see how it goes. I am here for three weeks so there are bound to be some up and downs with the weather while I am here.
Mail Update: Received a letter from/owe a response to: Celia/MA, Nina/WA, Eunice/Malta and Kimber/Halifax.
Posted by Hanna at 04:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)