1)Aimee
When our plane landed in Vienna on Thursday night, I cried knowing that my Aimee was somewhere in this city and I will be seeing her in less than 24 hours. I cried at the anticipation of seeing her while waiting for her at the train station and hoping she really got the message of where we were to meet. I cried when I saw her walking across the station floor to greet us and then proceeded to hug her about 5 times not wanting to let go.
2)Christmas Lights
It seemed like every street, every corner, every building had Christmas lights adorning them. Every corner we turned there was another sight and as beautiful but different that the previous one. I loved how the city put on a show for Christmas.
3)Christmas Markets
I probably could have gone to each market and tasted their yummy food ( I particularly liked the crepes and mustard, but not together) and purchased a different ornament at each if I had the time and means, but instead I chose only one ornament to remind me of Vienna and a nativity that was simple but beautiful.
4)Aimee
Having my daughter, that I think of being 6 and still hoping she needs her mommy, not really need me, but navigate me hopping on and off buses, Ubahns, street cars,
etc. and showing me through her eyes the sights of Vienna. She was a wonderful tour guide and informed me of so many fascinating sights of her city. I loved having her speak German so comfortably, although vendors did not allow her to speak it enough. But the strength and confidence she showed reassured me she has grown up into an amazing young lady, who only leans on her mommy occasionally because I need it.
5)Schoenbrunn
Which I probably misspelled, please forgive me Aimee. This amazing schloss/palace, with grounds that would take you all day and maybe the next to visit each corner was beautiful even in winter. Aimee had visited in the summer with a study abroad buddy and fall with Anthony and Jana and now winter with us, each season showed its true beauty. I probably loved it because my family had been there before, but I loved it on its own merits too.
6)Advent Calendars
Most of us know these to be little cardboard pictures with window to open and a treat lies behind. In Vienna, it is real windows on buildings numbered and the window is opened/lit with a design for each day closer to Christmas.
7)Aimee's friends
Meeting the Brewer's (Aimee's professor and family), Claire, Ali, McKinlee and the Greindl's (Aimee's host family) was a delight. Each of them had given of their friendship and love to Aimee and made her feel a part of them, I love them because of that. But they were genuine kind and sweet people who made us feel loved too. The Greindl's invited us into their home and feed us a delicious traditional dinner of dumplings and apple strudel. Birgit sent me home with a lovely traditional Christmas decoration of a wreath with candles. Her generosity has been enjoyed and helped our home feel a little bit more like Austria.
8)Zentralfriedhof
The world's 2nd largest cemetery is home to the grave site of Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms located in the music section. The Dr. Karl Lueger Gedachtniskirche was beautiful and peaceful, but my favorite section was the old Jewish section. Although the plots and gravestones were not well take care of, they were quaint and had a presence of beauty on their own. Aimee had traveled there on one snowy afternoon with friends and again it was wonderful having her show us more of her city.
9)Vienna's Boys
Choir
Sunday morning, Aimee took us to a tiny Catholic church for mass, you could purchase a ticket to sit or crowd into the middle space for free standing room only, we choose the later. During this mass, all presented in German, the Vienna's Boys Choir sang 6 or 7 songs. They were on a 2nd balcony above us and their voices floated down to our listening ears and receiving hearts. When Aimee suggested that we could hear them I jumped at the opportunity, their voices were sweet and sincere and I loved it. For the last number they came down to be viewed, this small group of young boys sharing their amazing talents.
10)Naturhistorisches Museum
When our plane landed in Vienna on Thursday night, I cried knowing that my Aimee was somewhere in this city and I will be seeing her in less than 24 hours. I cried at the anticipation of seeing her while waiting for her at the train station and hoping she really got the message of where we were to meet. I cried when I saw her walking across the station floor to greet us and then proceeded to hug her about 5 times not wanting to let go.
2)Christmas Lights
It seemed like every street, every corner, every building had Christmas lights adorning them. Every corner we turned there was another sight and as beautiful but different that the previous one. I loved how the city put on a show for Christmas.
3)Christmas Markets
I probably could have gone to each market and tasted their yummy food ( I particularly liked the crepes and mustard, but not together) and purchased a different ornament at each if I had the time and means, but instead I chose only one ornament to remind me of Vienna and a nativity that was simple but beautiful.
4)Aimee
Having my daughter, that I think of being 6 and still hoping she needs her mommy, not really need me, but navigate me hopping on and off buses, Ubahns, street cars,
etc. and showing me through her eyes the sights of Vienna. She was a wonderful tour guide and informed me of so many fascinating sights of her city. I loved having her speak German so comfortably, although vendors did not allow her to speak it enough. But the strength and confidence she showed reassured me she has grown up into an amazing young lady, who only leans on her mommy occasionally because I need it.5)Schoenbrunn
Which I probably misspelled, please forgive me Aimee. This amazing schloss/palace, with grounds that would take you all day and maybe the next to visit each corner was beautiful even in winter. Aimee had visited in the summer with a study abroad buddy and fall with Anthony and Jana and now winter with us, each season showed its true beauty. I probably loved it because my family had been there before, but I loved it on its own merits too.
6)Advent Calendars
Most of us know these to be little cardboard pictures with window to open and a treat lies behind. In Vienna, it is real windows on buildings numbered and the window is opened/lit with a design for each day closer to Christmas.
7)Aimee's friends
Meeting the Brewer's (Aimee's professor and family), Claire, Ali, McKinlee and the Greindl's (Aimee's host family) was a delight. Each of them had given of their friendship and love to Aimee and made her feel a part of them, I love them because of that. But they were genuine kind and sweet people who made us feel loved too. The Greindl's invited us into their home and feed us a delicious traditional dinner of dumplings and apple strudel. Birgit sent me home with a lovely traditional Christmas decoration of a wreath with candles. Her generosity has been enjoyed and helped our home feel a little bit more like Austria.
8)Zentralfriedhof
The world's 2nd largest cemetery is home to the grave site of Beethoven, Schubert and Brahms located in the music section. The Dr. Karl Lueger Gedachtniskirche was beautiful and peaceful, but my favorite section was the old Jewish section. Although the plots and gravestones were not well take care of, they were quaint and had a presence of beauty on their own. Aimee had traveled there on one snowy afternoon with friends and again it was wonderful having her show us more of her city.
9)Vienna's Boys
ChoirSunday morning, Aimee took us to a tiny Catholic church for mass, you could purchase a ticket to sit or crowd into the middle space for free standing room only, we choose the later. During this mass, all presented in German, the Vienna's Boys Choir sang 6 or 7 songs. They were on a 2nd balcony above us and their voices floated down to our listening ears and receiving hearts. When Aimee suggested that we could hear them I jumped at the opportunity, their voices were sweet and sincere and I loved it. For the last number they came down to be viewed, this small group of young boys sharing their amazing talents.
10)Naturhistorisches Museum
We walked into the door and I felt like I had walked into the movie “Night at the Museum”. The set up and exhibits felt familiar, I kept wondering if I was going to walk around a corner and see little armies fighting with each other. I particularly enjoyed the dinosaur exhibit, but the snakes freaked me out. I was glad to see the Venus of Willendorf, a little 6 inch statue that was about 25,000 years old, Aimee had expressed an interest and had not seen it yet so it was nice to share in this find together.
11)Aimee
Hugging and kissing Aimee after a 4 month absence.
11)Aimee
Hugging and kissing Aimee after a 4 month absence.
