The Married Life

Storage Wars

2012-02-13T21:19:00.000+01:00

Storage Wars, a show following bidders as they hit up the different storage auctions in Southern California to try to fill their shelves or collections. It's my guilty pleasure show. You should check it out (shown on The Biography Channel in Austria).

Bang!

2012-02-11T13:46:00.000+01:00

Kathi and I had just gotten home from the supermarket on Thursday evening when we heard a loud bang. She was in the kitchen while I was by the stairs and we each thought the other had dropped something heavy. We immediately met in the living room to see if the other was alright and quickly discovered what the problem was. The largest of our three living room windows had exploded (1x3 meters). It was only the inside pane that broke so nothing had hit the window from outside (also ruling out an assassination attempt). Luckily it is safety glass so while some small pieces made it onto the floor, most stayed in the frame. Two workers came and looked at it on Friday afternoon. It seems that a crane will be required for the repair so we will be waiting for a few weeks. Kathi asked how such a thing can happen and the guys told her that it is rare but sometimes it just happens at random. Luckily property management will be taking care of everything, but it will be a cold day in our apartment when the repair is made.

Hotel 1898

2012-02-09T20:19:00.000+01:00

I have to give a shout out to our hotel in Barcelona, Hotel 1898. I received a coupon from Hotels.com and I used it as my rationalization to included very nice hotels in my search, which is how we ended up at Hotel 1898 located right on La Rambla. The building used to be the headquarters of the Philippine Tobacco Company. The tobacco baron feel still remains as the interior is filled with dark red wood and brown leather chairs. There is a bar located right inside the entrance which was screaming "Mudslide!" at me all weekend (that one's for my Big Lake readers), and they built a spa into the old, stone warehouse that was definitely worth a visit. Hotel 1898 is a beautiful and quiet escape from the rush that is central Barcelona.

Thirsty?

Wintry

2012-02-07T19:40:00.000+01:00

Here is a picture that I took this morning looking out of my office window. When we left Barcelona we flew into a cold front that had settled over Eastern and Central Europe. After a week and a half it is still here. My long underwear and wool sweaters have been getting a workout. Last week it was really annoying me but I seem to have adapted as I no longer feel cold all of the time. Maybe reading and hearing about the temperatures further east is helping keep things in perspective. I am sure looking forward to spring though, and I am sure everyone else is too.

Last of Barcelona

2012-02-05T13:08:00.004+01:00

Even though it is winter and too cool to swim, we still had to spend time near the water. Port Vell and some sandy beaches were within walking distance of our hotel so we headed for the coastline on Sunday. It was warm enough to sit and enjoy the view and luckily dry as it rained most of the day on Saturday. Being so close to the sea also meant it was time for seafood, with the highlight for us coming in the form of shellfish paella. Our trip was short but enjoyed. We would love to see Barcelona again someday. Hopefully the next visit will be longer and during a warmer season.

Port Vell

Shellfish Paella

La Boqueria

2012-02-02T19:49:00.001+01:00

Only two blocks from our hotel was the Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, an excellent street market. The colors of the market were amazing and the freshness of the seafood surprising (lobsters and crabs on ice were still moving around). It made you want to live nearby as the meal possibilities were endless. We also made sure to extend our shopping to the Panama Jack store in town to search out a birthday present or two (I love Panama Jack).

Shrimp

Lobsters, still crawling around.

Just for the record I have basically retired from travel photography. Kathi takes nice pictures and has a nice camera so almost everything that I post comes from her.

Walking Barcelona

2012-01-31T21:55:00.000+01:00

Not much is required for a person to enjoy Barcelona. A simple walk will provide a tourist with many photo opportunities. In the really touristic areas you have to watch out as the streets are very crowded, but just a short distance away you can find quiet Gothic alleys and large tree-lined boulevards. But make sure to keep your eyes up as the buildings cover all styles and are a treat to view.

Gaudi Architecture

Gothic Quarter

Barcelona

2012-01-30T21:26:00.000+01:00

Last summer Air Berlin had a sale which I took advantage of by booking plane tickets to Barcelona for my birthday in 2012. After a half year's wait we were finally able to put the purchase to use and escape the cold. The trip was short but by all appearances Barcelona is a beautiful and very livable city. It's a place definitely worth visiting. I just advise skipping the main tourist season as the streets in the city center were full even in January. More pictures to come later.

Sagrada Família

My perfect afternoon

Plaça Reial

Name that Flag

2012-01-26T20:59:00.001+01:00

I am going to start a new game today that has no prize. I know, very motivating. I post a picture of an obscure flag and you tell me where it's from. If you know the correct answer then you win at being smart. Hey, I guess there was prize.

The Muppets

2012-01-21T14:43:00.000+01:00

I forgot how much I liked the Muppets until I watched The Muppet Christmas Carol last month. That motivated me to want to see the new Muppets movie which didn't come out in Austria until this weekend. We decided to make a "date night" out of the evening with an excellent dinner being the motivating factor for Kathi (who is not as big of a Muppets fan as I am). We ate at Livingstone where we finally tried their highly reviewed hamburgers (the positive reviews were 100% accurate). After dinner (and a few cocktails) we made our way to the cinema where we were joined by a full theater of adult Muppets fans. The movie was good and a lot of fun to watch. The Muppets are always entertaining as they never take themselves too seriously (which is good, as they are puppets). It was the type of movie that I would probably enjoy more for a home viewing, but it still made for an excellent night out.

Helmet for My Pillow

2012-01-17T21:07:00.003+01:00

I haven't written about a book in awhile so today that changes. I recently read Helmet for My Pillow by Robert Leckie. It is Leckie's personal narrative of his time as a Marine in the Pacific Theater of World War II. I feel that even with all of the books and movies made about World War II over the years, the fighting done by the men in the Pacific has been underrepresented. Helmet for My Pillow is especially good because it was written during the years immediately following the war by a Marine / writer, about his personal experiences. I feel Leckie does an excellent job of giving the whole story. He writes about his disdain for certain officers, about time on leave and spent in hospitals, about fear and the terrible circumstances and conditions that soldiers are forced into. Helmet for My Pillow is not a book about glory, written by a third party who is trying to [rightfully] give respect to the people who had to sacrifice so much. It is the first hand, honest and human account about a Marine and the men he fought with. It is a book that I highly recommend for anyone who has read and enjoyed books from the same genre.

Cold and Spicy

2012-01-15T15:40:00.002+01:00

It's been a warm winter in the city with all of the snow up until Friday reserved for the mountains. We have had our share of rain but with temperatures mostly stuck in the 40s it has been very comfortable to walk around.On Friday we finally saw some white fall from the sky with a couple of inches coming down within an hour. Already only traces can still be found in the grass so maybe we can just skip the worst of winter for a year.

Since the picture of the snow outside of my office window isn't very exciting I also took a few pictures of Kathi making salsa yesterday. In the winter we can never find large tomatoes at the street markets so we end up buying four times as many tomatoes of the smaller variety. It's more work but Taco Tuesday doesn't take any seasons off.

White Castle

2012-01-12T19:53:00.001+01:00

I've been thinking about sliders a lot lately even though I've never been to a White Castle and can't remember ever indulging in a meal of mini hamburgers. I guess that's just my random thought for this month. Last night we went out after work for Georgian food. We got to the restaurant (Tiflis) only to find out that they cut the Georgian portion of their menu and now only feature French food. That took us full circle as we ended up at Champions where I ordered the sliders. There's supposed to be another Georgian restaurant in Vienna so I guess we can try to find that when the weather gets a bit colder and the craving strikes again.

More Christmas Pictures

2012-01-04T19:43:00.002+01:00

Krapfen Breakfast

Christmas Eve Dinner

Crepes!

At The Park

Winter Wonderland

2012-01-02T16:38:00.000+01:00

We made a quick trip to Villach after Nichole and Kaan flew home and arrived just in time as snowflakes started to fall as soon as we pulled into town. It was the first real snow we had seen this season so Kathi and I were excited. I love it when the snowflakes are huge and fall straight down. It seems like there was always wind when it snowed in Nebraska. Anyways, we were fed really well in Kärnten and so we took a few walks to enjoy the winter weather and burn off some of our meals. Our upcoming winter schedule will probably keep us out of the mountains until spring so I am happy we were able to make it south to see the Winter Wonderland, even if it was just a short visit.

Cafe Rainer

Burning Calories

Bosna King

Christmas Morning

2012-01-01T18:22:00.000+01:00

Santa found Ilkan and Atakan in Austria and brought them each soccer jerseys. He ate the cookies and drank the milk that they left out and wrote a note in return explaining that Christmas toys were left under their tree in Turkey. It didn't matter as soccer jerseys are more than enough to impress these two youngsters.

During Nichole and Kaan's trip Uncle Matt slacked off and didn't take any pictures. Everything that I am posting is either from Nichole or Kathi's camera.

Weihnachten

2011-12-31T16:52:00.000+01:00

On the 23rd Stefan and Sona invited all of the siblings (kindly extended to include my sibling) over for a Christmas feast. As is usual with their feasts, everything was wonderful. Everyone ate until it was no longer possible (checkout the giant bird in the first picture), then sat around the table and talked late into the night and participated in a round of Engerl-Bengerl (Secret Santa).

Feasting

Little Dancers

Christmas Guests

2011-12-28T13:31:00.000+01:00

We had out of town guests for Christmas this year (Nichole, Kaan, Ilkan and Atakan). With two little boys running around the time flew by, but they helped pack a week's worth of fun into a few days. They also managed to wear Uncle Matt out, so check back later for more pictures and stories.

Christmas Tree Close-up

2011-12-20T21:00:00.003+01:00

We are very excited for Christmas. There are many presents under our tree and we are ready to celebrate with both Austrian and American family. I previously mentioned that we have candies hanging in our tree. It is a common tradition in Austria but something we never did in Nebraska. To better illustrate what's all hung I took a few close-up pictures. The tree will slowly lose its decorations the week after Christmas as we eat all of the chocolates and candy canes. By the time January arrives the tree should be almost empty while I'll have a new layer of warmth around my midsection.

Different Chocolates

Candy Cane

Bowl Season

2011-12-18T15:15:00.000+01:00

A few weeks ago the sun set on another football season, but the holidays and bowl games are now here to keep us occupied. The reality of it all won't hit until mid-January when I have to think up new excuses to eat BBQ and chili every weekend. For now enjoy the holidays and go someplace warm to watch some football!

More Christkindlmarkt

2011-12-15T19:57:00.000+01:00

Kathi worked at punch stand that her office is sponsoring for charity on Tuesday. She was behind the counter with a Santa Claus hat on, and I forgot to take a picture. At least I remembered last night when we were out with a guest from Kärnten.

Game of Thrones

2011-12-11T14:58:00.001+01:00

Better late than never.

I started watching the first season of Game of Thrones last week. I had heard/read many good reviews for the show but avoided it because I thought it would be more of a "magic" type fantasy series. While it is a fantasy series, it is also a show set in a medieval world that is excellently made. I am not yet through the first (and so far only) season but I have quickly become an addict. Another great piece of work from HBO. If you are an adult and enjoy historical fiction, then this is a show for you.

Family Friends

2011-12-10T09:30:00.001+01:00

On Thursday evening we had the pleasure of showing some family friends a little of Vienna. Bob and Pam were my parents best friends when I was growing up and therefore reached aunt and uncle like status for Nichole and me. Over the past week they have been on a Danube river cruise through Central Europe and on Thursday their last stop was Vienna. We went out for Wiener Schnitzel and visited a Christkindlmarkt. With most of my time back in Nebraska spent with immediate family, it was nice to get to spend a few hours catching up.

Nebraska News Abroad

2011-12-06T19:51:00.000+01:00

Christmas Ready

2011-12-04T17:21:00.000+01:00

We decided to increase our Christmas spirit this weekend by watching a holiday movie. We chose Arthur Christmas in 3D. I didn't realize going in that it was a British movie but it was still very good. And with an afternoon showtime we made up half of the audience, bringing back memories of private showings at the Hangar.

After the movie we ate at Koi. The restaurant had been on our "to visit" list for a long time but for some reason our trip kept getting delayed. That probably won't be the case in the future as they have the perfect mix of Asian cuisine for Kathi and me. She can have sushi while I can choose between Thai curry or many yummy Chinese dishes. With reasonable prices and an excellent location it might become part of our regular rotation.

Also this weekend, we put up our Christmas tree. After getting everything up and decorated we realized that we had no star (the old one broke last year). Kathi also thought the tree looked too bare so we added a walk to Merkur to our agenda. Now the tree is fully decorated with many edible sweets spread around for our enjoyment. And on the way home we finally found a skirt for the tree. It was something we had always been lacking and was bought at a stand on Favoritenstraße for the low low price of €1.50. We had to do a double take when we heard the number.

Belvedere Christkindlmarkt

2011-12-03T12:15:00.000+01:00

This week we visited the Christkindlmarkt at Belvedere. It's always an excellent Christmas market to visit as the setting in front of the palace is beautiful and it is never overly crowded. The one downside in the past was that I had never found really excellent food there, but that finally changed this year. For dinner we stopped at the Kärntner Hütte for Kärntner Nudel and Fleischknödel. The quality was very impressive for a Christkindlmarkt stand. We might have to go back this year. I just wish there were more public transport options in the area (with a direct route to our apartment).

Black Eye

2011-11-29T16:27:00.000+01:00

I received a black eye this weekend when Kathi and I were watching TV and she turned to look for the remote with an elbow extended. The guys at work must think I got in a fight because everyone has been politely quiet the past few days.

Now on to a more pleasant topic. Apparently I am still awesome as Vienna was again ranked #1 in Mercer's quality of living index. The city moved into the top spot after I became a resident and apparently will stay there at least until I leave. No, I'm not full of myself at all.

Farmageddon

2011-11-27T15:03:00.000+01:00

Nebraska always plays football on the Friday after Thanksgiving and this year was special as it was the start of a new rivalry with our neighbors to the east, Iowa. The time difference made the kickoff time perfect for a party so I decided to declare Farmageddon (I borrowed the term from Kansas State - Iowa State). Our Austrian family proved to be excellent Cornhusker fans. They came dressed in red, asked many questions to learn more about the game, did not lose interest during the endless commercial breaks and even found ways to make fun of the opponent. I was impressed. I think they are ready for a trip to Lincoln.

Crock-Pots all fired up

Pies ready for later

Red well represented

New Cornhusker fans (flags expertly made by Maria)

1516 Thanksgiving

2011-11-25T23:01:00.001+01:00

Following our Viennese tradition of Thanksgiving, after work we went to the 1516 Brewing Company (this year with friends). It was an evening of yummy food, excellent beer and great company. Nothing less was expected.

I am now able to pace myself better so the evening doesn't end with a stomach ache and no possibility of movement. Also, pumpkin pie is now a pleasant addition at the end of the meal instead of an odd form of enjoyed torture. Thinking back on the evening makes me excited for next year already.

Christkindlmarktzeit

2011-11-23T20:28:00.000+01:00

Typically I won't visit a Christkindlmarkt until Thanksgiving as that is the point when I am usually ready for Christmas. This year is different though. We have already visited the Christmas markets at Am Hof, Freyung and Karlsplatz. I am even in the mood for some Christmas music and decorations, though I will try to hold off for another week on both of those. I am not sure what is different this year. I guess I am just thinking that if I have to freeze my butt off I should be able to enjoy the good things about the season too.

Crosstrainer

2011-11-20T18:18:00.001+01:00

Winter is here which means that other than getting to work or visiting a Christkindlmarkt there are no good reasons to be outside. (Unless you are in the mountains. If so, stop reading this and go skiing.) As we already have desk jobs it all adds up to not enough physical activity. Earlier this fall Eybl had a big sale to celebrate the opening of their new megastore. I took advantage and replaced our Hofer exercise bike with a Daum cross-trainer. We still use The Biggest Loser as motivation but now also watch other shows while working out to help pass the time. I reorganized our office before Kathi started her new job so it now comfortably fits a desk, a futon, the cross-trainer and our closets. It went from our least to most used room overnight.

Vienna Fog

2011-11-17T21:40:00.000+01:00

It's fog season in Vienna. Some weeks the fog will stick for days, not even the afternoon sun can burn though. It's a good time of year to read scary books and watch horror movies. While it may be foggy in Vienna, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Kathi and I enjoy watching an episode of the show some nights before bed. Charlie just might be the best character on all of television.

Nostalgia

2011-11-15T21:25:00.001+01:00

I went winter shopping this fall and apparently became a little nostalgic as I ended up buying American made products. I bought a nice Carhartt coat which is the warmest coat I have owned in several years. For my feet I found a pair of Red Wing boots, which is a brand my father always wore when I was growing up. Not many shops carry these brands in Europe and I was amazed to find them at all. Both are really well made so I should be set for several years. On a different note, Christkindlmarkt season is here. Kathi and I stopped for our first hot drink earlier this evening. With being sick hopefully out of the way we should be able to have a lot of fun from now until Christmas.

Hamburg Fever

2011-11-12T08:31:00.000+01:00

So we are supposed to be spending a lovely weekend in Hamburg but somehow we both got sick at the last minute and we are now spending the weekend in bed while having a fever competition instead. This is new territory for us. We have never before had to cancel an already booked vacation. Hopefully it is a one time deal. The fact that Air Berlin had another sale this week that I took advantage of helps lessen the blow.

Scheibbs <-> Nebraska

2011-11-06T16:22:00.002+01:00

I learned from my friend Michi that the Viennese have a saying that goes either "zwischen Scheibbs und Nebraska" (between Scheibbs and Nebraska) or "Von Scheibbs bis Nebraska" (from Scheibbs to Nebraska). Scheibbs is a small city in Lower Austria and if you are on this blog then you probably have a pretty good idea where Nebraska is. I think a proper usage of the phrase would be along the lines of: "I haven't seen something like that von Scheibbs bis Nebraska". Obviously referring to something not commonly occurring. Michi said his parents use the phrase (they are true Viennese), but when he was young he had no idea what/where "Nebraska" was. It has even been used for a song / album by an Austrian musician. Are there any other local Nebraska references that I am missing?

Jack-O'-Lantern

2011-11-01T15:20:00.000+01:00

I received help carving a pumpkin this year and Mario received his first training course. We did the cleaning and design together, I handled the knife work and everyone got to enjoy the finished product together. Next year I may need to try to find a carving kit and hand all of the duties over to Mario. I think he is ready.

Carving Time

Finished Product

Oktoberfest 2011

2011-10-23T16:26:00.001+02:00

We celebrated Oktoberfest at Maria and Gerald's again this year with family and a lot of food and beer. As always everything was excellent and I probably ate a little too much. This year they even set up a game where we blind taste tested several beers and had to guess the brew (Martina showed everyone who's the boss). It was an excellent evening. I already look forward to next fall.

Weißwurst mit Brezel

The Game

All Dressed Up

Football Buddy

2011-10-22T17:06:00.002+02:00

Hari, Kathi and Emilian joined us last Saturday so we could start teaching the baby about American football. We started off with some tailgating lessons by eating BBQ and nachos. We followed that up by talking strategy as seen in the picture above. And at the end of the night it was time to put our lessons into action:

Defense - fumble recovery

Offense - touchdown celebration

High Performance

2011-10-16T14:02:00.000+02:00

Lately my schedule has consisted of work and watching NCAA football, so when I started having problems with the internet dropping while I was trying to stream the Nebraska and Auburn games a fix was required. After a little bit of research I realized that ESPN and the Big Ten Network were streaming a higher quality of video than my wireless router could handle. Apparently a lot has changed over the past five years. A quick run to the store was made and now hopefully my problems are solved. At least we haven't had any problems yet. And the UPC speed test now returns the result that I pay for.

Richard's Story

2011-10-12T20:14:00.002+02:00

Kathi likes to ask people to tell her a story. This is the story Richard told her this summer:

Zobel

2011-10-09T20:51:00.000+02:00

Now that Kathi has started her new job we both work in the same area. This has led to us exploring the neighborhood for after work options and we have already discovered Zobel, which is right across the street from Europaplatz. The atmosphere at the restaurant is nice, the food good, the price reasonable and they even have their own brew (approved by Matt). I can choose between Austrian and American dishes during each visit. I think we have found and new location to frequent.

Mini Crock-Pot

2011-10-08T10:04:00.002+02:00

Four years ago I bought a Crock-Pot (an adventure to get and an excellent purchase). At the time options were limited here concerning both size and price so I bought a very large model for both personal and party use. Now it seems Crock-Pots are much more popular in Europe. Many common companies (e.g. Amazon and Tchibo) now carry them and the price is very reasonable so I decided to buy a "mini" version for portion control. My large Crock-Pot will remain for party use as always but my fall (football) Saturdays have many more possibilities now.

SportsPickle

2011-10-03T20:01:00.000+02:00

So this weekend didn't go so great for Cornhusker fans, but the BBQ was good and there is still a lot of football left to be played. My sports related highlight came when I read the suggested GameDay signs on SportsPickle. It's not that mind blowing but it still gave me a good laugh.

Columbusbräu

2011-10-02T17:11:00.000+02:00

The weather has been perfect in Vienna lately so yesterday Kathi and I went for a long walk. We started out by walking up to Möbel Ludwig which is a furniture store located a short distance from our apartment. Somehow we had never visited the store before, which was stupid because of it's location and selection. Several things that I previously went across town to Mariahilferstraße for I could have been buying in my own neighborhood. Next we went for a long walk up Favoritenstraße and ended up spending a lot of time at Columbusplatz. We started at a café and then moved next door to Columbusbräu for a beer and lunch. I really enjoyed their beer and food selection so return trips will be required. It was nice walking around and enjoying what our district has to offer. I felt like I was on vacation while never being more than a few miles from home.

GameDay

2011-10-01T14:51:00.000+02:00

ESPN's College GameDay is in Madison, Wisconsin this week for the big Nebraska vs. Wisconsin showdown. The excitement has spread over the Atlantic and I am ready to watch some football. It should be a fun weekend for all.

Nebraska Gaga

2011-09-25T14:06:00.001+02:00

The radio is on in our apartment everyday but I still don't do a good job of keeping up with the latest music. Lately I had been hearing a song played very often which sounded to me like country music with "Nebraska" as a repeated lyric (not a common occurrence in Austria). I finally looked up the song online and learned that it is actually a Lady Gaga song (Yoü And I) which was written for her Nebraska native boyfriend. Here is a sample of the excellent lyrics:

So put your drinks up for Nebraska
For Nebraska, Nebraska, I love you

It's fun having the word "Nebraska" said on the local radio station 100+ times a day. I have included the video below. You already know who the artist is so you should know what you are in for when clicking "Play".

Wachau Marathon

2011-09-22T19:27:00.001+02:00

As Kathi already posted, we attended (not competed in) the Wachau Marathon this weekend. It was our friend Michi's first marathon so we went along to cheer him on and to keep Ivana company during the race. It turned out to be a wonderful day to spend in the Wachau and after the race we were even able to enjoy some sturm.

Pre Race

Halfway Point

Finished!

Autokino Center Wien

2011-09-17T13:26:00.002+02:00

A few weeks ago I learned that Vienna has a drive-in movie theater (thanks Gerald). When Nichole and I were little there was still a drive-in theater in Omaha. Our parents would put us in our pajamas and off we would go for a family night out. Anyways, since it had been 20+ years since I last visited a drive-in theater, Kathi and I decided to check out Autokino Center Wien last night. We had a lot of fun and plan on visiting the theater again in the future. The drive-in was built in the 1960s and everything seems to be original, which I found to be very cool. There are three screens but unfortunately all three movies were only offered in German this week (sometimes they offer duel channels so you can listen to the original English text). We are happy to now have the option of going to movies when we have kids, so we can enjoy the show without disturbing anyone when the kids are still little. We will have to spread the word to our friends who already have children. And for anyone who is interested in catching a show, the season ends next week so hurry now or wait until 2012.

Suzi ready for the show.

Screen A

Screens B and C

Altstadtbräu

2011-09-11T19:01:00.000+02:00

I've been in Vienna long enough now to experience a bit of restaurant turnover. On Friday I visited Altstadtbräu, which is located where Papa Joe's used to be (a very nice but over-sized restaurant location). Altstadtbräu's menu offers all sorts of Austrian specialties and beers (and they also have a very nice brew of their own). I was very pleased with my selection (Kalbsrahmgulasch mit Butternockerl) and the service. As long as they show more staying power than Papa Joe's it could be a very good stop for any future American guests.

Awesome Headline

2011-09-09T17:40:00.001+02:00

I came across one of the coolest headlines that I have ever seen this morning. It was on the BBC and it needed to be shared so here you go:

Drunk Swedish elk found in apple tree near Gothenburg

Euro 2012 Qualifying

2011-09-08T19:16:00.003+02:00

I enjoyed Happel Stadium so much in July that I decided I needed to see it full for a soccer game, so Kathi and I went to the Austria vs. Turkey Euro 2012 qualifying match on Tuesday. It was a sold out crowd at 47,500 yet somehow the beer and bathroom lines were shorter than our last visit. Our seats were close to the Austrian fan sector but we were still surrounded by several hundred Turkish fans, which was a little intimidating. My favorite part of any visit to a sporting event at the National Stadium is the waving of the Austrian flags accompanied by classical music that takes place before [at least most] matches. The game ended in a 0-0 tie and there (obviously) wasn't much offense but it was still an excellent evening. I don't think it will be something that we repeat often but I definitely expect that we will go for another match at some point in the future.

Kickoff Upgrade

2011-09-04T14:50:00.000+02:00

College football season kicked off this week and I am able to enjoy the games with many upgrades this year. As in the past my cable provider carries ESPN America which covers a random sampling of ABC and ESPN games. Also included is Eurosport 2 which carries home Notre Dame games and random Big Ten Network games (each team is guaranteed to be shown at least once). Eurosport makes for some interesting viewing (imagine watching the Huskers live from Lincoln with German commentators). My real viewing options come from online carriers though. ESPN Player (ESPN3 in the U.S.) gives me access to every ABC and ESPN game, which, with the SEC's contract with ESPN, means every Auburn game. And for Nebraska I have Big Ten Ticket (BTN2Go in the U.S.), so I can watch every Cornhusker game now too. Not a bad setup for living abroad. And with my off season bandwidth and RAM upgrades I am able to stream a cleaner picture onto my TV from my computer than what I can get through my cable box. It's going to be a good fall (maybe not in results though, Auburn was scary yesterday).

Driving Music

2011-09-02T17:42:00.001+02:00

The drive to Cortona and back made for a long road trip so Kathi, Richard and I listened to a lot of music. During the twenty plus hours spent in the car two particular songs became our favorites, and today you get to share in the fun. Enjoy the weekend!

Champions

2011-09-01T20:30:00.001+02:00

Last night Kathi and I met after work at a new Tex-Mex restaurant. Unfortunately it was already closed (after having been in business for only six months) so we walked up the street and ended up at Champions. Champions is a sports bar that I have been meaning to visit for the past five plus years. I really liked the atmosphere as it is just like an American sports bar. Also, they offer very greasy American food which goes perfect with sports. And to top it off they offer a wide selection of Austrian beers. Austrian beer + American hamburgers = an excellent meal. I plan on going back on a fall Sunday to watch some sports and fill up on goodies.

Back to Laxenburg

2011-08-28T16:16:00.001+02:00

After a long absence we finally made it back to Laxenburg this summer. Like our last attempt we arrived to a crowded scene but with some patience we were able to find a parking spot, and once you get past the entrance everyone easily spreads out as the area covers almost 700 acres.

We took a walk around the lake and explored the shore on the far side for the first time. It was a perfect walk as most of path was shaded and there are always original buildings and the like to discover. And with mandatory breaks for Weißer Spritzer and ice cream built in you are guaranteed to have an enjoyable day.

Goodbye Cortona

2011-08-25T21:09:00.002+02:00

It's time for one last post about Cortona. We really enjoyed our time in Tuscany and hope to visit Cortona again in the future. It is a small town so we were able to feel a little bit like locals by the end of the week, and we had the opportunity to try just about every restaurant available. Thanks to Richard and his cousin for making the trip a possibility. Come back and we'll do it again!

The Palazzo Comunale

Overview 1

Overview 2

Goodbye Cortona

(2 Kathi, 1 Rich and 1 Matt pic.)

wake_up

2011-08-24T21:50:00.000+02:00

Summer came late to Vienna but it's finally here in full force. We've been stuck in the mid to upper 90s all week and with no a/c at home it's a time to find cooler places to hangout. After work today we met Michi and Ivana at wake_up. It's a restaurant located on one of the channels of the Danube. It's a nice place to sit next to the water and have a drink or a snack. The coolest edition though is a wakeboard lift located in the channel and operated by the restaurant. For a fee you can go wakeboarding or waterskiing while being pulled by a cable instead of a boat. It is a pretty cool idea. As the four of us sat and enjoyed our meal we were able to fully experience the heat of summer with a water sports show.

Crazy, Stupid, Love

2011-08-20T10:54:00.003+02:00

Kathi got offered a new job so last night we went out to celebrate. We started off at a wine bar, then we moved on to a nice fish restaurant, stopped at a café and ended the evening at the movies where we watched Crazy, Stupid, Love. The picture of Kathi was taken at the café. A benefit of living in Vienna is that you can stop to have a coffee and end up having a view of a palace in the background. Crazy, Stupid, Love was one of the better movies we have watched in awhile. Very entertaining.

The Move

2011-08-18T21:36:00.002+02:00

Richard was showing us pictures from his family vacation in Florida when we came across "The Move". His nephew Grayson apparently watched some gymnastics and decided that he needed to patent his own move, which he is now happy to show off for the rest of the family. At some point during the trip we decided that it was time for The Move to go International (wine was likely involved in the decision).

The Move in Pisa

Practicing The Move

The Move (Double, Sunset in Cortona Edition)

Florence

2011-08-17T21:25:00.002+02:00

After a day off in Cortona we headed out to see the sights of Florence. I proceeded to get us lost but we figured out our location just in time for lunch. The rest of the day was spent wondering around the tourist district and hitting up a museum. For short trips to Florence you don't even need a plan. There is so much to see in the city that you can simply walk around for several hours and continually be awed. And whenever a break is needed you can simply stop for a coffee or an ice cream. The Italians really have some things figured out.

Rich - "Are you looking at my bag?"

Matt - "Where the hell are we?"

Palazzo Vecchio

Scooter Parking

Michelangelo's David

Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore

Ponte Vecchio

(4 Kathi, 1 Richard and 1 Matt picture.)

Cortona Home

2011-08-15T16:21:00.002+02:00

Our accommodation in Cortona was provided by Richard's cousin (she lives in the U.S. but owns a "vacation" home in Cortona). I'm not sure about the history of the home but it must be several hundred years old as everything in the area was medieval in design. Nobody had visited in awhile so we had to fight off several spiders and a scorpion on arrival, but after some quick work we had the place aired out and seeming like a home again. There were three floors, a large bathroom and plenty of sleeping space so we were more than comfortable. And as it was located only a few minutes from the main square we were close to everything. We were very fortunate to be offered such accommodation and are very appreciative for both the chance and the experience.

Street View

Main Floor

Upstairs Hall

Master Bedroom

(All pictures taken by Kathi.)

Siena

2011-08-14T18:05:00.000+02:00

On the way home from Pisa we stopped by Siena (we took a route that put it halfway between Pisa and Cortona). It's a beautiful Tuscan city that is considered to be a quiet alternative to Florence. There were still many tourists in the area but the city offers much to see so many excited people are to be expected. If you ever have it in mind to visit Tuscany and want to stay in a relatively large city then I think Siena would be a great choice.

City Gate

Piazza del Campo

Torre del Mangia

Cathedral of Siena

(3 Matt and 1 Richard picture.)

Maledetti Toscani

2011-08-13T15:52:00.005+02:00

In Cortona Richard found a nice leather shop, Maledetti Toscani. What started out as a single excellent purchase by one, turned into a weeklong shopping spree for all three. Every day spent in Cortona included a stop to look at the Italian made leather goods, and we were great customers. The salesman was always busy, but when he would see us walking by he always made sure to greet us through the window. It's more than a week after the final purchase was made and I am still happy with all of my decisions. Having a week to stop and go, shop and look, allowed us to purchase without relying only on impulse. And it's nice to travel by car as you are able to bring a lot home with you.

Pisa

2011-08-12T18:14:00.002+02:00

Our plan for Tuscany was to establish a pattern of one day in Cortona followed by one day on the road. Our first trip away from "home" took us to Pisa. Obviously everyone knows what the main sight in Pisa is. The tower and surrounding buildings are in surprisingly pristine condition, minus the obvious lean. The rest of our time in the city was spent wandering around the small streets and market near the [Arno] river, waiting for the good restaurants to open.

Holy cow is that tower leaning?

Leaning Tower of Pisa

Street Market

(2 Kathi and 2 Richard pictures.)

Finally Cortona

2011-08-11T16:53:00.005+02:00

Five and a half hours south of Kärnten is Cortona, our home for the week. My Rough Guide calls it "the hilliest off hill-towns" in Tuscany, and the reality of the place did not disappoint. It's a small and very old town located behind a wall on top of a hill. You have to leave your car part way up and (luckily) take an escalator the rest of the way. Walking through the streets is like stepping back in time. Our accommodation was generously provided by Richard's cousin who owns a home in Cortona (which is worthy of its own post). A full week in the town, which is a tourist hotspot (the setting for Under the Tuscan Sun), turned us into semi-locals as several of the shop, restaurant and bakery owners came to know us as "regulars". It's a great place to visit in Tuscany.

Our Street

Cortona

Walking

Yum Yum

Cortona

The Valley Below

(3 Kathi, 2 Matt and 1 Rich pic.)

Next Kärnten

2011-08-10T18:26:00.000+02:00

On Saturday we headed south to Kärnten. First we stopped in Hirt for a Kärntner Nudel and beer lunch. Then we continued on to Klagenfurt to visit Fritz. Next we stopped in Villach for some Bosna and cake (Villacher Torte) before finally ending up in Arnoldstein. In the evening we enjoyed the mountain view (along with a mountain beer) and then had an exhausting Eye Toy competition. After that it was time to rest up for our long drive on Sunday.

Hirter

Bosna

PS2 Eye Toy

Victory Pose

(Pictures from both Richard and Kathi today.)

Then Vienna

2011-08-09T20:17:00.002+02:00

On Friday we stayed in Vienna. After having Richard sleep off a bit of his jet lag (which he had surprisingly little of) we woke up and headed out for a Naschmarkt breakfast. We worked the meal off during a shopping spree on Mariahilferstrasse (all three of us ended up with a new pair of shoes) before spending the afternoon walking around the Hofburg and visiting the National Library. As a nightcap we enjoyed some wine and schnitzel at Figlmüller. All in all a very Viennese day.

Naschmarkt

NENI

Butterfly House

National Library

Figlmüller

(All Vienna pictures from Richard.)

Starting Wachau

2011-08-08T18:22:00.003+02:00

Reality is nice but vacation is awesome. We had a great time with Richard in Austria and Italy but he had to return home this morning and Kathi and I had to go back to work. I will start posting about the things we did and saw but be patient as it will take several days. Most of the pictures during the trip were taken by Richard and Kathi, but there might be a few of mine mixed in from time to time too.

Richard arrived in Vienna on Thursday, July 28th. After a short stop at home we basically headed straight for the Wachau. His first missions in Europe were to eat Marillenknödel and then to help Kathi make apricot jam.

Weissenkirchen

Marillenknödel

(All Wachau pictures taken by Richard.)

On His Way

2011-07-27T20:51:00.004+02:00

Kathi and I are officially on vacation and Richard is on his way to Europe to join us. We will spend a few days in Austria and then several in Italy with Cortona acting as our base. It might be awhile until I make another post but I will be back with pictures eventually. Here are some old ones to hold you over until then:

NENI Reuben

2011-07-26T20:32:00.001+02:00

We often eat breakfast at NENI but when I learned that they have a Reuben sandwich on their menu I decided that I needed to go back for dinner, which I finally did tonight. A Reuben is a grilled sandwich with layered meat (corned beef), Swiss cheese and sauerkraut on rye bread. One of the sandwich's origin stories states that it was created at the Blackstone Hotel in Omaha. Now I can be a good Nebraskan and support the sandwich abroad, and NENI does an excellent job so it is a pleasure to eat.

Christmas in July

2011-07-24T15:08:00.001+02:00

Kathi recently had a similar named post but I will be dealing with a different topic. When I was growing up, Nebraska Furniture Mart had a Christmas in July sale each summer. The sale itself didn't mean much to me but the commercials always had a catchy tune which is stuck in my head to this day. It's several years later now and we are dealing with a new meaning of "Christmas in July" in Austria. While the U.S. is dealing with an unbearable heat wave we have been stuck in a cool pattern for the past week. It hasn't seemed like July but I have been treating the weather as free air conditioning so it hasn't bothered me much. That is until today when the radio talked about snow in the mountains. Yes, it is late July and it is snowing in Austria. Let's see if either Santa Claus or Christkind gets confused and gives me a present.

An Idiot Abroad

2011-07-20T20:20:00.002+02:00

While we were in Turkey Nichole and Kaan introduced us to An Idiot Abroad. It's an English travel documentary that follows Karl Pilkington as he visits the New Seven Wonders of the World. It's entertaining in all of the wrong (yet oh so right) ways, as Karl has no interest in traveling or experiencing other cultures. We're not finished with the first season yet but so far my favorite episode is Mexico as Karl seems to actually enjoy himself a bit. A new "Bucket List" season will be starting this September so we will continue to be entertained for another year. If you are interested in comedic travel documentaries and can handle a thick English accent then you should checkout the series too.

True Story

2011-07-19T21:07:00.002+02:00

IFAF WM Final

2011-07-17T00:10:00.002+02:00

Last night was the American Football World Championship final in Vienna. The USA played Canada and I expected a close game but the Americans ended up putting on a clinic (final score 50:7). The announcer and crowd were eager for a Canadian victory so we felt a little outnumbered in the stands but there were two large and drunk Austrians behind us who were USA fans for the day so we weren't alone, plus they made for excellent entertainment. As the game went on and the score became more and more lopsided the crowd started to switch sides and I think the fan ratio evened up by the final whistle. It was a lot of fun at Ernst-Happel Stadium. While not many people were likely fans of American football they all came to have a good time. If you ever watch a game at the stadium eat beforehand though. Their sausages aren't at the same level of Generali Arena's. And besides Northwest Missouri State's retired coach leading Team USA, just over 11% of the players were also Northwest graduates which gave us an extra cheering incentive. All-in-all is was a really fun evening.

It's That Time Again

2011-07-16T15:01:00.000+02:00

Apricot season has begun in the Wachau. We made the drive west yesterday afternoon for Marillenknödel and several pounds of apricots which Kathi turned into jam last night. We will return in a few weeks with Richard for more of everything.

Sports Week

2011-07-14T20:34:00.003+02:00

Tuesday, July 12th

USA 17 - Mexico 7

Wednesday, July 13th

USA 3 - France 1

Thursday, July 14th

Austria Wien 3 - Rudar Pljevlja 0

Carnuntum Revisited

2011-07-10T16:21:00.000+02:00

Yesterday we decided to escape the heat of the city by taking a drive to the Carnuntum region. We walked around the ruins of the ancient city, drove past many sunflower, corn and wheat fields (the wheat was being harvested), visited a Heuriger and stopped by a wine shop so we could bring a bit of the region home with us. It's a drive we need to start taking more than once every three years as the region is close (30 minutes) and it's an excellent place to visit on a hot summer afternoon.

Lightning

2011-07-09T21:58:00.001+02:00

We don't get many good thunderstorms in Vienna so when we do I get excited. Right now one is passing over the city (though not our district) so I tried to capture lightning in a picture. Most came out blurry but I ended up with one good shot.

More Turkey

2011-07-07T18:54:00.000+02:00

Here are a few more pictures from Turkey. You can use them to decide who won the challenge.

Atakan

Uncle Matt

Ilkan (the champ)

Fireworks

2011-07-04T18:05:00.000+02:00

Happy Fourth of July!

Zotter Revisited

2011-07-03T14:41:00.001+02:00

We visited the Zotter chocolate factory yesterday with Peter, Magda and the kids. They've done an excellent job of keeping the factory shiny and new since we last visited (three years ago). They have also simplified some of their recipes, which really suits my tastes. It was fun watching the kids' faces light up as they tried the different chocolates. And now Zotter has a small animal park which makes for a nice walk after all of the eating. With their location less than two hours south of the city in a very rural and green area, Zotter is an excellent place to visit in the summer.

Chocolate Time

Post-Chocolate

Family Bonding

Riegersburg

OM

2011-07-02T19:21:00.003+02:00

The combination Indian restaurant / cocktail bar OM is located in Vienna's Bermudadreieck. I was impressed by their food as it was better than I expected but that was also reflected in the price. On the other hand their cocktails were both excellent in taste and price. As I already have an obsession with Indian Pavilion and Nirvana I will continue to use those two restaurants to feed any cravings I get for Indian food. If I am ever in the first district on a warm day OM would be an excellent stop for a Mojito though.

Catching Up

2011-07-01T16:27:00.001+02:00

Sorry, it's been a busy week so I didn't get a chance to post any pictures. We had a great time in Turkey and were very well fed (though the boys helped us burn off those extra calories). Here are some more pics:

Nichole and Atakan

Ilkan sharing his Lucky Charms

Breakfast on the balcony

The gang

Lunch by the sea

Kaan and Atakan

Goofballs

2011-06-27T20:36:00.002+02:00

We've returned home from Turkey and back to reality. Somehow our four days felt like two but at least we have returned with many pictures. Kathi took her camera, I had mine, there was a video camera and Kaan tested out his new waterproof cam so we have many documented memories. I will post pictures from all of us over the next few days.

There was an ongoing challenge of who would be worn out first, Uncle Matt and Aunt Kathi or Ilkan and Atakan. I am willing to call it a draw but the boys were definitely more active than the adults so maybe any tiebreaker should go their way.

See Ya

2011-06-22T07:05:00.006+02:00

Everyone who has been here before knows what that picture means. We'll see you again in a few days.

Churrascaria

2011-06-21T20:36:00.002+02:00

Last night we went to a Brazilian barbecue for Caipirinhas and meat. It was the first time we had been to such a restaurant outside of South America and Churrascaria did an excellent job of producing the same feel in Austria. Side dishes were offered buffet style while twelve different meats were served on skewers throughout the evening. By the time we were finished I felt like it was Thanksgiving evening. I was so full that meat didn't even sound good anymore, but now I am fully recovered. With so much food we won't go back often but if we are ever in the mood for a meaty feast, excellent cocktails and some Brazilian flair then we will definitely visit Churrascaria again.

Motto am Fluss

2011-06-19T14:09:00.001+02:00

One of Kathi's favorite restaurants near her work is Motto am Fluss. They have what I consider a modern menu and excellent views of the Donaukanal. She treated me to breakfast at Motto one spring morning but I was more impressed when we stopped for a quick dinner on Friday. They served me an excellent club sandwich and now I'm thinking that Motto am Fluss might need to be the location of Richard's first lunch in Austria during his upcoming visit as the restaurant has a very urban European feel and is located just off the side of his favorite "Platz".

Despicable Me

2011-06-18T17:24:00.000+02:00

I like kids movies, and every few years they come out with one that is just as good for adults. Last year that movie was Despicable Me (which I just finally got around to watching). It was great. If you like movies that are fun for the whole family then this is one for you. I just might have to watch it again next week with a certain two little boys in Turkey.

Pecan Pie

2011-06-16T21:22:00.002+02:00

My dad and Jane sent us two pie dishes last year so we could spread the art of pie making to Austria. Kathi has used them a few times to make apple pie but I recently moved things further south with the addition of pecan pie. There are no frozen crusts for purchase here so everything is 100% handmade. I have a little work to do on the overall presentation but the taste is golden, a small piece of heaven. My motivation came from Allrecipes.com so if you are hungry and motivated you should pay the site a visit.

Foxy Frozen Yogurt

2011-06-15T21:30:00.013+02:00

More frozen yogurt. The new craze in Vienna. Kathi and I had dinner at Naschmarkt after work and then decided to try the new yogurt shop in the 4th district for dessert, Foxy Frozen Yogurt. Foxy only serves plain yogurt but with many more topping options than Kurt (though Kurt's frozen peach yogurt is the best). Our choice (Oreo) was good and the location is great as it is near many of my favorite restaurants and pubs (also Naschmarkt). And I don't think they will have a problem staying in business as the area was full of university students, each carrying a cup of Foxy frozen yogurt.

On an unrelated note, I was one block over (from Foxy's) last night sitting outside and having a drink (Himbeer-Soda) when a shoddily dressed guy came stumbling by. Apparently he drank too much Himbeer-Soda as he stopped between two cars near where I was sitting and proceeded to empty his bladder on a busy street. Not cool guy, not cool.

Fritz's 70th Birthday

2011-06-14T08:24:00.005+02:00

On Saturday we celebrated Fritz's 70th birthday in Villach. There was a large party at an excellent nearby restaurant where I proceeded to eat too much (so much in fact that I passed on Bosna later in the evening). Everyone had a great time. Click around on the different Austrian blogs and you will find additional photographic proof of that statement.

The Party

The Birthday Boy

70 Year Supply Of Villacher Torte

American Football WM

2011-06-13T15:16:00.001+02:00

This spring a coworker told me that there was going to be an American Football World Championship tournament in Austria this summer. I did a little research and confirmed that such a tournament exists and that the U.S. will play with a team of mostly D2 and D3 college players. When I learned that the head coach of the American team is Mel Tjeerdsma (the recently retired Northwest Missouri State head coach) I decided that I needed to watch a game. As the group stages will take place in Graz and Innsbruck I have taken a risk and bought tickets to the championship game in Vienna. Now we just need a good result so I can watch the right team. The tournament will be played from July 8th - July 16th. The schedule means that each team will play four games in eight days with a 45 man roster. I am interested to see how the international version of American football is played. If it's anywhere near as violent as what takes place in the U.S. then I think the schedule will be impossible.

Artis International

2011-06-08T21:38:00.000+02:00

I realized the other day that I have often mentioned going to the movies but I have never talked about my favorite movie theater, and considering that Kathi and I have seen three movies in the past week now is the perfect time for a post. There are a few English cinemas in Vienna but our favorite is Artis International in the first district. It's located on a little alley in a very old and attractive part of the city. Artis is only a few blocks from Kathi's work and there are many nice restaurants, pubs and ice cream salons nearby. Their largest theater has a balcony, which I love, and to make sure I get the seats we want I always book my tickets early as in Austria you are assigned to a specific seat. Oh, and Artis International is owned by Cineplexx, hence today's picture.

As a disclaimer for the first sentence of this post, the Hangar will always be my favorite movie theater. Artis International is my favorite movie theater in Austria.

Kurt Pure Frozen Yogurt

2011-06-07T21:12:00.009+02:00

It's warm outside so I'll post about something cold. A few weeks ago we noticed a new shop was about to open next to our favorite cinema. On Saturday we saw it completed for the first time and realized it was a yogurt shop. We weren't hungry at the time but we went back last night and tried it out. The shop is called Kurt Pure Frozen Yogurt. They currently only offer three flavors of frozen yogurt but there are many options for toppings. I had a plain yogurt with chocolate pieces. Kathi ordered peach yogurt with additional fruit. Mine was good but Kathi's was great. I will order a flavored yogurt next time too. Possibly blueberry. If it's as good as the peach then extra toppings will not be required.

Ceiling Fan

2011-06-05T14:13:00.001+02:00

It's June now so it won't be long before the weather really warms up. Like most homes in Austria our apartment doesn't have air conditioning. Typically it's not a problem as the nights are usually cool and we have a nice breeze that flows through our apartment. Still, for the few weeks that are uncomfortable we have upgraded to a ceiling fan in our bedroom. I'm not very good with concrete work as everything in Nebraska is made of wood so hopefully I have the thing hung properly. It seems very stable though and the new guaranteed, artificial breeze in our bedroom feels great.

Happy Hour

2011-06-04T11:52:00.003+02:00

I don't remember exactly what I was originally looking for but I quickly opened the Air Berlin website yesterday morning and by chance saw that they had a happy hour sale starting in thirty minutes. About an hour later I remembered this fact and decided to go see what this airline happy hour was all about. It seems that every Friday Air Berlin and Binoli team up for a special flight + hotel offer that lasts for three hours. Yesterday the offer was for Hamburg, included Vienna as a point of departure and had a few excellent hotel choices so I decided to surprise Kathi and book us a trip to Hamburg for this fall. Two round-trip, direct flights and two nights at a very well reviewed four star hotel on the edge of the city center (breakfast included) for just over €300 (€166 per person). Not a bad price for a mini-vacation. I need to remember to check Happy Hour every Friday from now on.

Unglaublich

2011-06-03T17:22:00.004+02:00

Another restaurant that I frequent is named Unglaublich. It's located on Schleifmühlgasse in the building where Centimeter used to be. During the switchover the location was remodeled leaving Unglaublich as a new and clean restaurant / pub. In the evenings the restaurant isn't busy so it's never difficult to find a table, and the staff is always very friendly. After sampling several dishes on the menu I realized that the Käsespätzle is not only my favorite dish but that it was possibly designed specifically for my taste buds. There are many great places to grab a bite to eat and a beer after work in the fourth district, and Unglaublich is one of them.

Volkspark Laaerberg

2011-06-02T13:09:00.002+02:00

Kathi and I went for a long walk this weekend and ended up at Volkspark Laaerberg. It's a park that we had driven by several times but never actually visited. I was happily surprised when the park continued down the backside of the hill where a small lake was hidden from view of the road. The lake / pond is surrounded by weeping willow trees which creates a very nice view. The rest of the park has many other old, large trees (for a city) and there is plenty of space so it should never be difficult to find a quiet area where you can relax. It's a really nice park to have close to home. We will have to go back later in the summer when it is too warm to stay inside.

DIY Tex-Mex

2011-05-30T20:23:00.001+02:00

It's no secret that I have a Tex-Mex obsession / addiction. It's a hunger that dates back to before I was born, as my mom ate a lot of Mexican food while she was pregnant with me. Austria takes good care of me by providing both restaurant and store-bought options to keep me satisfied. That may no longer be necessary though as we continue to expand our DIY (do it yourself) household. Last summer Kathi and I started by making our own salsa (inspired by Richard). Then in the winter Kathi moved on to homemade guacamole. Now it's summer and I have expanded our capabilities to include homemade flour tortillas. All that would be left are self-made spice packets and actually killing the cow / chicken. I think we'll leave those last two to the grocery stores though.

Viktor-Adler-Markt

2011-05-29T14:53:00.001+02:00

It was raining yesterday and we were in need of some fresh vegetables so we went to the nearer Viktor-Adler-Markt instead of Naschmarkt. Viktor-Adler-Markt is located next to Reumannplatz (the subway station closest to our flat). There is a permanent market that is open six days a week but on Saturday mornings they close off a side street for more stands, effectively doubling your choice of fruits and vegetables. If you go in the late morning or around lunchtime it can be difficult to navigate through the crowds but since we went early and the weather was less than ideal we had no problems yesterday. I really love the feel of the market as Naschmarkt is always 50% tourists and 50% locals. At Viktor-Adler-Markt you only have Viennese shoppers and since the 10th district is full of foreigners, the shoppers represent all different sorts of cultures and fashion choices (even a burqa would not be out of the question).