#austrian alps family vacation

[hausweyerbach]

Haus Weyerbach

Website: https://www.hausweyerbach.com

Address: Bramberg am Wildkogel, 5733, Austria

Haus Weyerbach, nestled in the picturesque Wildkogel Ski Arena and the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern, offers a serene getaway with its family-friendly holiday apartments. Catering to individuals, couples, families, and groups, our three fully-equipped apartments provide a blend of comfort, quality, and convenience. Whether you're seeking a ski adventure across multiple regions, a tranquil escape in the Alps, or a unique experience hunting for emeralds in the Habachtal, Haus Weyerbach is your ideal destination. Embrace the magic of the Alps with us!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nationalparkhohetauern.holidayapartmentsweyerbach/

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[dinosaurchurch]

Salzburg fortress and the view of the city from the top.

August 30th 2023.

[97linelover]

Fic Recs BTS

I have some favorite Authors, those authors that I´ve read every story of!

@alphabetboyluvr - Holly is the best! I adore her Storys

@oddinary4bts I read every story!!!

@btsgotjams27 Talented!!!!

@jamaisjoons queen of smut tho!

Kim Namjoon:

Intro: her - jamaisjoons

⟶ 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦:〝 you enter namjoon’s life in the most unexpected of ways, but will you be able to stay, especially when he comes with three adorable but chaotic children, even more chaotic best friends and a bitch of an ex-wife? not to mention your own emotional baggage. 〞singe dad au.

half a heart - jamaisjoons

⟶ 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦:〝 you and namjoon have always been the best of friends; who just happen to be in love and are refusing to do anything about it. 〞best friends to lovers. childhood friends to lovers. idiots to lovers.

photobooth - jamaisjoons (CHEFS KISS!!!!)

Summary: You never knew fucking in a photobooth, while all your friends are on the other side, could be this sweet.

Kim Seokjin:

Internal Conflicts - yoongiofmine

Summary: Kim Seokjin was everything any girl could want in school . Handsome, kind, popular. Many girls in your class had a crush on the man; including you. Being a few years older than you meant that after he graduated, you didn’t think you would ever see him again. Fast forward to seven years later, the oldest clichê in the book: Your mother marries a man, the man has a son. That son was Kim Seokjin. And now, you’re coming home for a family trip to a cabin in the woods, with a very much awakening crush on the man that is now one hundred percent off limits. A shared bathroom, a snow storm, a small town. What could go wrong?

The end - jimlingss

➜ Summary: It’s been a habit of yours to vent in the form of love letters. There’s six in total. They’re kept secret, hidden in your closet. But on your 30th birthday, what you least expect is for each letter to become reality. All done by the whacky ghost of Christmas future trying to grant your birthday wish.

Warm this winter - Jamaisjoon

⟶ 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦:〝 spending the winter vacation with an ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend was not something anyone would ever consider doing. spending the winter vacation with both an ex-boyfriend, his new girlfriend, and the one night stand you’d used to try to get over him, well that was a whole other situation that anyone sane would have fled from. and yet, here you are. caught between your best friend (and consequently your ex-boyfriend), and the very same man who you’d fallen into bed with after a night of wallowing in self pity. all while stuck in the picturesquely beautiful - and cruelly romantic - austrian alps. well. at least you can say you had an interesting christmas.

Min Yoongi:

The Devil wears Valentino - orchidyoonkook

Summary: Having known him for years—from a small mistake on your behalf, and a favour on his—you’re one of the only people he seems to be able to put up with for company. Certainly the only one he’s half-way decent with. But what’s more surprising to you is that despite his name, reputation, and the fact he’s always joked he’d have killed anyone else by this point, is that he’s never once tried to cause you harm. 

Ride - MYG

⤷ summary. who knew a boring party would turn into you taking more than one ride inside Min Yoongi's car? alt. when you and yoongi first got together. 

Angel - sailoryooons

❀ Summary: Yoongi never meant to keep coming back. You never meant to become Yoongi’s favorite. Being Min Yoongi’s favorite has dire consequences. 

As it was - midnightagust

Summary: The love of your life shows up unexpectedly after a break up that changed everything. You know it's not the same but...

Endless Summer Nights - midnightagust

Summary: While on a small break from tour in Thailand, Yoongi surprises you to show you how much he appreciates you touring with him. 

Now we reign - oddinary4bts

☆summary: when working on a collab together makes you and Min Yoongi seek comfort with the other, you discover there’s more to life than loneliness. Only, hurdles mark your path in Min Yoongi’s life, and it’s unclear what the outcome will be. Will you be destroyed by him and his world, or will you learn to reign over it, together with him?

swing life away - aphrodijin

synopsis: it's your first anniversary as a married couple but not only did you forget today's special occasion, you also didn't prepare a self-made gift for your husband -- except for the bundle of joy in your womb.

The final - Day 02 - yoongiofmine

Summary: You've been Yoongi's go-to companion for the past few years, well aware that's all you were going to be. Despite your very real, growing feelings for the rapper, you took what you could get every time. Now, you're backstage at day two of the final leg of his tour when another member takes an interest in you. Will it be enough to make Yoongi realize he's got competition?

Still got it - Kookslastbutton

✑ Summary: "Say it again. I dare you to say that shit again, y/n." or On your 10th wedding anniversary you decide to voice out some slight marital concerns to your husband Yoongi. You also slip out that you don't think he can get you off given the fact that the last time the two of you got it on was months ago. Yoongi makes you eat your words.

Stick & Stones - xpeachesncream

♢ summary: surprise! you're gifted a free massage at the nearby massage parlor called "Blissful Hands." you've heard about the parlour about once or twice, never thought about stepping foot inside to take advantage of their services. thinking you could use the massage to relax, rid yourself of any stress and built up tension, you walk into the parlor excited for your first massage opportunity. however, when you realize your masseur is no other than Min Yoongi himself, all excitement flies out the window. never did you think you'd reunite with your biggest crush in college, the one that got away. they say sticks and stones may break your bones but words will never hurt you— but in this case, you find out that words have actually ruined a lot for you and Yoongi. and stones.. well, they'll do a lot to ease that instead.

It takes two - xpeachesncream

summary: min yoongi was the one who came to understand you and took you for you. but, when boundaries start getting crossed and priorities begin to change, you start to question if your relationship with your bestfriend is strong enough to make it through.

fuck being friends - strawberrynamjoon

– summary: as if watching the guy you were hopelessly in love with hook up with another girl each weekend wasn’t enough, he also happened to be your best friend, making things extra complicated. and it only gets worse and worse once he finds you crying in the bathroom at a party one night.

Jung Hoseok:

suncity - jamaisjoon

⟶ 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦:〝 when you’d taken a spontaneous trip to Barcelona, you hadn’t expected to meet hoseok. more than that, you hadn’t expected to begin a torrid affair with him. 〞stranges to lovers au. vacation au.

Park Jimin:

I want to be with you | pjm - oddinary4bts

☆summary : moving to Seoul has always seemed like a good idea, until the bubble bursts when you realize your new neighbor is Park Jimin, and he's not the sweet angel you've always imagined him to be. Will the reality of Park Jimin forever be a nightmare, or will he turn into a sweet dream?

100 km/hour - chateautae

➵ summary : what exactly happens when you and your friends have to pile into one car for the ride home after an insane halloween party, and you find yourself sitting in park jimin’s lap? especially when he's dressed as an angel, and you're in the sluttiest devil costume ever?

love like this - ppersonna

↳ summary- Jimin wants to make sure this birthday is your favorite one yet.

Kim Taehyung:

Paper Cranes | Kim Taehyung (M)- aquaminwrites

DESCRIPTION: It is said that if someone folds 1000 paper cranes, they will receive one wish. Kim Taehyung has been folding you paper cranes since he was six years old. He won’t tell you what he’s going to wish for once he reaches his goal, but even into your twenties, all you know is that he’s been wishing for the same thing every time.

tales of broken hearts - taegularities

Summary: “Love has become a noun again.” When a work trip brings you back home, you don’t expect for anyone to await your return or remember you. But despite the time apart, Taehyung still does – still looks at you the same way he used to five winters ago.

Money is success - peachypinkygloss

Summary: Son of a powerful business owner, Taehyung rules the society, strictly surrounding himself with rich people. Money is his success, his greatest pride. Too immersed in his work, he doesn't realize the love story he's missing on until it's gone.

sundae (kinda love) - alphabetboyluvr

premise: you always thought kim taehyung's lips would taste like chocolate sundaes, but when you learn -through a friend- that he tastes like watermelon chewing gum, the illusion shatters. so does your heart. in time, so will his.

long black - jamaisjoons

⟶ 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦: you knew exactly what you were getting into when you decided to tease taehyung at his best friend’s wedding. what you didn’t expect was what came after. establish relationship au.

High tide - Kookslastbutton

✑ Summary: Due to Taehyung's job as a cruise ship Captain, you are constantly miles away from each other. Weekly phonecalls help and this one gets a little nasty and a lot sweet.

Our last summer - strawberrynamjoon

– summary: in order to rescue your failing relationship, taehyung tries to fight for you one last time and flies to paris with you to relive some of your favorite memories – desperately hoping that the city of love will remind you of how much you love him again.

Jeon Jungkook:

GoneGirl - izjeon

Venom - nochukoo97

summary: after a nasty breakup with your ex, who was a boxer, the person who introduced you to the sport, you decided to make life easier for yourself and switch clubs. little did you know that your club leader, also known as ‘venom’ in the ring, would eventually spark your interest. no matter how much jungkook interests you, you can’t bear to risk another failed relationship, you’re still hurt and traumatised from the inside. but will jungkook manage to crawl his way into your heart?

Never go to sleep angry - just4koo

summary: one of the most important rules of your relationship was to never go to sleep angry. when the rule was ignored, it led to an argument and a huge misunderstanding.

horizon - sokook

Summary: The way you approached life had started to break down Jungkook's emotional barriers. Jungkook couldn't deny that he was drawn to you in a way that was entirely new and unfamiliar. You had become more than just an assignment; you had become someone he genuinely cared about. It was the way you made him feel. With you, he felt more human than he had in a long time.

Despite his best efforts to remain detached, his heart had other plans.

this love - daegustae

summary ; you shouldn’t feel uneasy whenever his best friend is mentioned, after all you are his wife right ? 

nowhere with you - 13lov

summary: in which your father owns an auto repair shop and hires jungkook as his newest employee, who’s willing to assist you in more ways than one.

tethered - 13lov

Love notes were slipped into your locker on a daily basis. Variations of messy, boyish handwriting on yellow sticky notes stacked upon themselves by the end of each school day. Every Friday night you were invited out with the promise of "You'll have fun, just give it a chance."

You could have any guy you wanted, no doubt about it. Yet somehow, the only one you do want is the tattooed, gothic one that lives a few doors down from your best friend.

lost cause - kooksbunnnn

Summary: You always wondered, how would your life turn out to be if you and Jungkook had a baby? So, when you finally conceive and decide to tell your husband, that you are pregnant, you didn't expect him to drop this bomb on you. You never would've thought that the surprise you planned would end up in agonized tears because of the shock your husband brings you. 

attachment: 1 image - 1kook

summary; But for Jungkook to initiate some sexting, nevertheless sexting at 1pm on a Saturday, when you were at work and you were almost positive he was supposed to be on stream right now? Unheard of, you had to mark this down somewhere.

cool with you - kooktrash (everything of her!!!!!!!!)

summary: your break up from kim taehyung sent you spiraling into what felt like a midlife crisis of tear stained cheeks and tubs of half eaten ice cream with a broken heart. after finding out that your neighbor, jeon jungkook, was eavesdropping on your meltdowns and came to find out that your ex was his old friend, he found himself wanting to comfort you. he knew the kind of guy Taehyung was and he didn’t want to see you beat yourself up over a guy who wasn’t worth it so in the end he helped you through it and was unable to ignore the growing attraction you felt toward each other.

Blizzard - curly-bangtan

Summary: When a blizzard hits your town, you and your shy awkward roommate are forced to spend time together, not being able to leave the house due to the strong snowstorm. To make matters worse, the power gets cut in the middle of his shower. Which also means no heating.

cornflower blue - just4koo

summary: nights were your favorite time with your boyfriend. the nights where you laid in bed together, tangled up in each other without any thoughts of the real world.

reminder - dollfaceksj

⇝ summary: Whenever he flies back into town, your doorbell is the first he rings. When he has to fly out again, your bed is the last he lies in. However, you’re not stupid. You know your ex-boyfriend, that also happens to be an up-and-coming professional boxer, Jeon Jungkook, doesn’t come to you only. Unfortunately, you have no right to be jealous, not when you’re the one that ended the relationship.

love alive - jamaisjoons

⟶ 𝑠𝑢𝑚𝑚𝑎𝑟𝑦:〝 a year after you and jungkook break up, the two of you meet at your brother’s party. 〞post break up au. exes to lovers au.

Jealousy Ink - Kooktrash

summary: you can’t help but seem a little jealous about your boyfriend doing tattoos on women when he doesn’t even let you talk to guys without him being around. you tell yourself you’re just mad at the unfairness but when he brings you pleasure with his head between your legs you seem to forget all about it.

Too late to dream - kookslastbutton

✑ Summary: You did it. You married your college professor. You even bought a house together. Against all odds, everything had fallen into place. But after two years of marriage, you begin feeling something was missing. You want a baby but your husband can’t say the same.

all mine - jeong -gukk

summary: getting your heart broken meant you no longer wanted anything to do with love. your heart couldn’t take the pain anymore. but, of course, life had other plans.

Could´ve been us - sparklingchim

summary: two years after breaking up with jungkook you meet again. and things get very naughty... you're sure he changed a lot in these years, but you didn't expect THAT twist when thinking about his new gained maturity.

naughty pictures - sparklingchim

summary: perhaps you've gone a little too far with teasing jungkook with naughty pictures of yourself after he was done with the concert.

oops... - sparklingchim

summary: a quickie in the airport restroom was all it was supposed to be - not suddenly the whole world finding out about your secret relationship with jungkook.

champagne problems - sparklingchim

summary: sometimes you just don't know the answer 'til someone's on their knees and asks you.

forever heart - Sparklingchim

summary: after leaving jungkook you thought you'd never see him again, but here you are, visiting hometown after three years, and back in his arms.

Grapejuice - starshapedkookie

summary:At 24, your life was lined up to be perfect; talented, nice apartment, amazing boyfriend, and a dream job. Working as an art apprentice for Kim Seokjin was the exact opportunity you needed to kickstart your art career. However, after you’ve hit a creative wall at full speed, you feel more lost than ever. It’s not until one person shows up with no brakes on in your life that not only changes your entire perspective, but takes your breath away in the process.

pick & roll - xpeachesncream

♛ summary: being one of the most popular players in the nba, jungkook takes absolutely no shit from anybody. he could give a fuck about the press, what people think about him, serious relationships. it’s a personal hell getting wrapped up with jeon jungkook— and you can’t help but fall into the same trap as every other woman who crosses paths with him. the more you fall, the more you realize that you will never be able to change a man who doesn’t want to change his ways.

You´re losing me - sparklingchim

summary: jungkook is late from work yet again. but he shows you just how much he missed you.

love is gone - jeonbunnie

summary: Jeongguk tries to let you down easy.

[switrusholidays]

Discover the Magic of Europe with Switrus Holidays

Embark on a journey of a lifetime with Switrus Holidays' meticulously crafted Europe tour packages. If you've ever dreamt of exploring the rich history, breathtaking landscapes, and vibrant cultures of Europe, now is the perfect time to make it a reality. Switrus Holidays, renowned for delivering unforgettable travel experiences, offers you the chance to discover Europe in a way that is both seamless and enriching.

Why Choose Switrus Holidays for Your Europe Tour?

At Switrus Holidays, we understand that a Europe tour is not just a vacation—it's an experience that should be cherished for a lifetime. With years of expertise in curating travel itineraries, we ensure that every aspect of your journey is thoughtfully planned and executed. From the moment you embark on your adventure to the time you return home, our goal is to provide you with a hassle-free and memorable experience.

Diverse Destinations, Unforgettable Experiences

Europe is a continent of unparalleled diversity, and our Europe tour packages are designed to showcase the very best it has to offer. Whether you want to marvel at the architectural wonders of Rome, stroll through the romantic streets of Paris, or explore the fairytale landscapes of Switzerland, our tours cover a wide range of destinations that cater to every traveler's interests.

With Switrus Holidays, you can choose from a variety of itineraries that include iconic cities such as London, Amsterdam, and Vienna, as well as hidden gems like the charming villages of the Austrian Alps or the scenic beauty of the French Riviera. Our Europe tour packages offer a perfect blend of must-see landmarks and off-the-beaten-path experiences, ensuring that you get a comprehensive taste of what Europe has to offer.

Expertly Guided Tours

One of the key highlights of traveling with Switrus Holidays is our team of experienced and knowledgeable tour managers. They are passionate about Europe and are dedicated to ensuring that you have an immersive and insightful experience. From sharing fascinating historical anecdotes to providing insider tips on the best local cuisine, our tour managers add immense value to your Europe tour.

Comfortable Accommodations and Seamless Travel

Comfort and convenience are at the heart of our Europe tour packages. We handpick hotels that offer not only comfortable stays but also easy access to major attractions. Whether you're relaxing in a cozy boutique hotel in Florence or enjoying the luxurious amenities of a Parisian five-star hotel, you can rest assured that your accommodation will enhance your overall experience.

Additionally, we take care of all the logistics, so you don't have to worry about a thing. From airport transfers to intercity travel, every detail is meticulously planned to ensure a smooth journey. Our Europe tour packages also include guided city tours, entrance fees to popular attractions, and some meals, giving you the freedom to enjoy your trip without any unexpected surprises.

Tailored Itineraries to Suit Every Traveler

Switrus Holidays understands that every traveler is unique, which is why we offer both group tours and customized Europe tour packages. Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple on a romantic getaway, or a family looking for an educational adventure, we can tailor an itinerary that suits your preferences and interests.

Book Your Europe Tour Today

Don't let your dream of exploring Europe remain just a dream. With Switrus Holidays, you can turn that dream into reality. Our Europe tour packages are designed to offer an unforgettable experience, combining iconic sights with hidden gems, all while ensuring your comfort and peace of mind. Book your Europe tour with Switrus Holidays today and embark on a journey that you'll cherish for a lifetime.

Experience Europe with Switrus Holidays—where every tour is a masterpiece.

[tyroladis]

A Winter Wonderland Retreat: Unveiling the Charm of Tyroladis for Your Chalet Vacation

Winter is a magical season, and for those seeking a perfect blend of adventure, tranquility, and breathtaking landscapes, Tyroladis stands as an enchanting destination. Nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, Tyroladis comprises the charming villages of Fiss, Ladis, and Serfaus. This idyllic region is renowned for its picturesque chalet vacations, top-notch hotels, and cozy apartments, making it a haven for winter enthusiasts and those yearning for an unforgettable escape.

Chalet Vacation Tyrol: A Winter Dream Unveiled

The chalets in Tyroladis are more than just accommodations; they are gateways to a winter wonderland. Whether you’re an avid skier, a snowboard enthusiast, or simply someone seeking solace in the arms of nature, Tyroladis has the perfect chalet to suit your needs. Indulge in the warmth of a crackling fireplace, sip on a cup of hot cocoa while overlooking snow-covered landscapes, and relish the serenity that only a chalet vacation in Tyroladis can provide.

Hotels in Fiss, Ladis, and Serfaus: Your Gateway to Alpine Elegance

Fiss, with its quaint streets and traditional architecture, houses hotels that seamlessly blend modern amenities with Alpine elegance. Ladis, a village steeped in history, features hotels that offer a glimpse into the past while providing the comforts of the present. Serfaus, known for its family-friendly atmosphere, boasts hotels that prioritize both sophistication and a welcoming environment.

From spa retreats to family-friendly accommodations, the hotels in Tyroladis ensure that every guest experiences the epitome of hospitality against a backdrop of snow-covered peaks.

Apartments in Fiss, Serfaus, and Ladis: Your Cozy Retreat Amidst Nature

Apartments in Fiss are strategically located, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the charm of the village and easily access the ski slopes. Serfaus, known for its pedestrian-friendly streets, hosts apartments that provide a peaceful retreat after a day of winter activities. Ladis, with its medieval charm, offers apartments that blend seamlessly with the historic surroundings, creating a unique and cozy atmosphere.

Prices in Fiss, Ladis, and Serfaus: Crafting Your Winter Escape

The prices in Fiss, Ladis, and Serfaus vary based on the type of accommodation, the proximity to ski resorts, and the amenities provided. It’s advisable to plan ahead and explore the diverse offerings to find the perfect balance between cost and comfort.

Conclusion: Tyroladis — Where Winter Dreams Come True

In conclusion, Tyroladis emerges as a haven for winter enthusiasts, offering a perfect blend of chalet vacations, luxurious hotels, and cozy apartments. Fiss, Ladis, and Serfaus each contribute to the unique charm of Tyroladis, ensuring that every visitor experiences the magic of winter in their preferred way.

Whether you’re carving through powdery slopes, sipping mulled wine by a crackling fire, or simply relishing the beauty of snow-covered landscapes from your balcony, Tyroladis invites you to create memories that will last a lifetime. As you plan your winter escape, let Tyroladis be the canvas for your winter dreams, where every moment is a brushstroke painting a masterpiece of serenity, adventure, and Alpine allure.

[davidmalcolm]

Ghosts

Thinking is a chain process of endless cause and effect. One though can give rise to another contingent or completely unrelated one but the chain is not broken.

So what prompted me to write ‘Ghosts’ as the title for this piece? It was an ‘external’ thought - a piece of writing, by the American Lore Segal, in her short story ‘Dandelion.’ It’s a reminiscence of her last holiday in Austria as a child. This, a country that, in the late 1930s, strongly encouraged jewish citizens to leave Austria as part of their 'Aryanisation' programme. subjecting them to confiscation of their businesses, money, property and subjecting them to significant personal harassment and violence, eventually leading to forcible arrest and deportation to the death camps during the Holocaust.

Her family holiday was in the Austrian Alps, and she is describing the qualities of landscape and light much as JM Turner might have done in paint. Her phrase, ‘light like a mist’ struck in me a resonance which provoked a ‘memory’ thought of a visit to Haggs Castle in Glasgow when I was, possibly a similar age to Lore (10) when she was on her vacation.

My cousin, Hugh, and I, went into the castle grounds which had been closed off for renovations. Whilst exploring the castle interior, which was small-scale and bare of any objects or decoration. After we split up, I was in a small room when I felt a presence to my left. As I looked into an adjacent room through a bare doorway portal, I saw, and felt, a woman staring intensely belligerently at me, dressed in Elizabethan costume, gliding past the door aperture. The quality of what I saw was a bit like carved crystal but very intense, as if the air had congealed to form a ‘pattern’ if the translucent woman. It was less ‘light like a mist’ and more like ‘congealed light’ which obscured the background yet still let it through. One reads in Dante’s Purgatorio that Spirits do not block sunlight, and cast shadows as does human form. Another difference from a mere image engraved in crystal, apart from its gliding animation, was the sense of a being inhabiting the form giving a very powerful sense of presence.

My daft cousin, who had ventured down into the pitch black dungeons, yelled that he’d seen a ghost and we both legged it out of the castle and scrambled back over the site perimeter fencing.

Now I’m a sceptic, so tend to view such experiences with more than a pinch of salt. The sense of taboo in being in a place I was not supposed to be, getting separated from my cousin and being alone in a ‘creepy’ place contributes to a heightened sense of anticipation. I’m also minded of the Buddhist tale of the man haunted by the ‘ghost’ of his recently deceased nagging and shrewish wife who says she will be ‘keeping an eye on him,’ and taunts him, relating all his actions and thoughts which convinces him she really is a spirit. It’s only when a priest instructs him to ask her three questions. The first two: “What did I do yesterday? What am I thinking right now?” ‘she’ answers correctly, but when he asks “How many pebbles am I holding in my hand?” ‘she’ struggles to answer then disappears, never to return. Experiments with psilocybin and LSD clearly demonstrate the power of the mind to create alternative realities, and this power seems clearly linked to development within the human species (read Merlin Sheldrake’s ‘Entangled Life’ chapter 4 for more on this).

So, the question is, are ghosts simply concretized thoughts? hallucinations? The Dharma points out that nothing is, of itself, self-existent. Answers on a postcard address to… onself.

[seanklingelhoefer]

Großglockner Hochalpenstraße, Heiligenblut, Austria 2018. iPhone SE

[pepper-up-potion]

Chapter 9: I know (Sirius Black x Fem!reader)

Summary: Your family invites Sirius to join your winter break vacation. Moments are shared, feelings are had, things start to get spicy.

Warnings: definitely spelling mistakes, I didn’t proof read so…. I tried to avoid mentioning Christmas but it does take place during that time (I think the only time I use the word is when referring to Christmas lights). Some angst?? (Nothing more than other chapters tho). Maybe some underlying hornyness??? (Hehe sorry, it just sort of…happened idk) I don’t remember all of this cuz I wrote some parts a long time ago. Please, please tell me if I missed anything!

Word count: 2235

A/n: ummmm okay so this was way too fun to write. I cut out some bits so I could post this sooner but like let’s just say they’re on vacation for longer than two days lol. I really really hope you like it! I would love to hear your thoughts cuz some pretty big things happen here hehehehehe. Happy reading my lovely sunshines!

It’s been three months that you and Sirius have been pretending to date. Schools kept the both of you busy. You haven’t been seeing each other as regularly as you were at the start of the relationship, if that’s what you’d call it. You’re grateful for the distance. The less you see him, the less you think about him. Or so you thought. He somehow still manages to cross your mind. A lot.

You’ve limited yourself to sending Sirius one letter a week to slow down your inevitable process of falling in love. You can feel it slowly creeping into your chest, sneakily making its way to your heart. It's the worst case scenario, and yet you crave it.

You might have limited yourself to sending one letter a week, but Sirius has not. He sends you letters every day, sometimes more than once. You’ve rationalized that it would be impolite to leave these unanswered and you therefore must answer.

So you and Sirius update each other every day and you hate it. You hate it because it’s your favourite part of the day. You hate it because it’s something you long for. One minute you’ll be reading about underage magic wizarding laws and the next you’re wondering what funny annectodt Sirius will share in his letters today. Your mind easily drifts from Sirius’ letters to Sirius and suddenly you’re thinking about him and his pretty smile and his pretty hair and his pretty hands and-

The last thing you need is to spend a long period of time with him. So, of course your parents invite him to join your winter break vacation. Every year your family goes on a trip during the holidays. This year you’re going to a wizarding world spa in the Austrian alps. No, correction; you’re going to a wizarding world spa in the Austrian alps with Sirius Orion Black.

Your stomach is brewing up a strange concoction of stress, excitement, fear and joy. At every little thought of spending time with Sirius, your stomach lurches with anticipation. A moment later it drops with anguish and ties into a multitude of stress as you nervously imagine what this trip could be like.

You hear the knock on the front door from your bedroom. Next thing you know you’re rushing down the stairs to greet Sirius. He smiles graciously at you, a duffle bag in hand. He is wearing a long black wool trench-coat jacket. A maroon knitted hat is covering his head and ears. He’s sporting a dark grey scarf that he’s flung loosely over his shoulder. His cheeks are a little rosy from the cold. You suck in a breath, admiring just how beautiful he looks.

“Do you think they will have alpine skiing there? I read about it in a muggle magazine. I was sort of hoping we could try it out.” Bubbles Sirius as he steps past you and into your front entrance.

Your parents rush in to greet him, giving hugs and kisses and praising the quality of his coat. Finally Sirius makes his way back to you, pulling you into a tight hug and whispering in your ear. “I can’t wait to spend all this time with you.” And squeezing you a little tighter.

You and your family apparate to the resort where the concierge then guides you to your rooms. As you step out of the magical elevator and into the hall, it is immediately apparent that your parents splurged for this trip. The furnishing shines from frequent polish, there are expressive flowers on every table and lavish armchairs at every six steps.

The concierge walks the four of you to the end of the hall where there are two doors. You immediately assume it to be one for you and one for Sirius. They’re probably just dropping the two of you off before they go to an even fancier room for themselves. Your heart skips a beat as you slowly put it all together. The concierge gives Sirius a key, and then gives your mother a key. You frantically look at him, praying there’s another key, but he’s empty handed.

Sirius unlocks the door to the room on the left, stepping in. You quickly turn to your mother, grabbing her arm before hissing “We can’t possibly share a room, mother. That would be inappropriate.”

Your mother huffs. “Please, you think I don’t know what you do when you don’t come home until morning.” She waves a hand before entering her own room. “You can thank me later.” She adds before shutting the door.

All that proves is that she has absolutely no clue what you do when you don’t come home. Normally you crash on Sirius’ couch or spend the night at a friend’s. You accept your fate with a sigh before heading to your room. Well, after you tip the concierge that your mother so kindly left for you.

You drop your bag on the floor and kick off your boots and slip out of your jacket, stuffing your scarf into the sleeve. “So? How does it look?” You call out into the suite. No response.

“Sirius?” You try again, hanging your coat in the entrance closet. Still no answer. You hastily walk around the corner, continuing to call out Sirius’ name. You quickly glance around at the absolutely stunning place. Even though you’ve seen your fair share of expensive places, this… well this is really something. A kitchen that conjures anything you can imagine, a living room with heated armchairs, a bathroom with more mirrors than you can count…

Your thoughts are interrupted when you bump into Sirius, who’s standing frozen in the doorway to what you would presume to be the bedroom. “Sirius!” You huff, rubbing your forehead upon impact. “What’s the matter with y-” You cut yourself off and suddenly stand frozen next to Sirius.

Oh. Right. One bed. Why that hadn’t clicked until now is beyond you. The signs were all there. First your mother thinks you're a couple. Second, you find out you were sharing a room. In your defense, hotel rooms with two beds do exist. Third, your mom hints about thinking the two of you share a bed most nights you’re away. This is probably where it should have clicked that you would not be granted the privilege of two beds. Yet here you are absolutely stunned.

To your relief, it would appear Sirius is feeling the same way. Well at least that’s what you think is going on. Neither of you have moved or said a word in minutes. Quite some time passes, yet the two of you continue to stare at the king size bed you’re supposed to share.

“I uh- heard they have uh- a Nordic bath.” He clears his throat. “Do you wanna go for a swim?” His enthusiasm sounds forced but you appreciate him trying to defuse some of the tension.

“Yes.” You immediately answer because you want nothing more than to get out of that room. You spin on your heels to retrieve your duffle bag in the front hall.

“I‘ll change in the bathroom.” You call out, quickly slipping into the loo and closing the door behind you. You lean your back on the door and cover your face with your hands. Your cheeks are burning. You mumble soothing words to yourself as you fan your face frantically.

You finally emerge from the bathroom after splashing cold water in your face, pointing at yourself in the mirror and giving yourself a pep talk. Sirius is pacing in the hall. He snaps around when he hears the bathroom door click open. There’s a loooong moment where Sirius is looking at you, and you’re looking at Sirius. It’s long enough for the both of you to know that you're both checking each other out.

Sirius steps forward and you practically jump back in surprise. He raises his hand in a surrendering apology as you both mumble your sorrys. Wow the both of you are a mess. You throw him a robe, putting yours on too.

“Let’s go.” You clap your hands together loudly, looking forward to some fresh air.

***

After the sun has long gone and the starry night has settled, you and Sirius finally make your way back to your room, noses frozen from the cold, hands pruny from the water, and cheeks sore from smiling.

You quietly get ready, before sliding into bed next to Sirius. Sirius raises his arm, never looking away from his quidditch magazine, indicating you to slide next to him. You scoot over and rest your head onto his chest and wow this feels right. Your head rising and falling with his chest, your legs tangled with his…

Neither you nor Sirius objects when you close your eyes and drift off to sleep as he massages your scalp.

***

Saying that was the best night's sleep in your life would be an understatement. You wake up late morning wrapped in Sirius’ arms. There’s a sliver of sunlight filtering through the curtains, just enough to make out the shadowy outline of Sirius’ face. You quietly observe his features. The pointiness of his nose, the thickness of his eyebrows, his high cheekbones, his slightly parted plush lips.

Without thought, too mesmerized to think, you gently slide your finger across his lower lip. A weak tilt of his head pushes his face out of the light and into the complete darkness. You pout to yourself, losing your source of entertainment (and admiration).

The arm loosely spread out over your waist tightens before it pulls you into a warm and solid chest. You sigh sweetly as you cuddle Sirius and you just can’t help but think again how right this feels. You. Sirius. One bed. Imitating each other’s breathing.

You cuddle shamelessly into the early afternoon. You’ve run your hand through his hair more times than you can count. He’s run his hand up and down your arm for so long that his arm feels like an extension of yours. You’ve become two bodies entwined into one. Sirius’ forehead is pressed to yours as you whisper and giggle to each other. His lips are inches away. You could simply tip your head forwards and your lips would touch his. You can’t get the thought out of your mind. It looms there the whole time. Lost in the moment, you almost do connect them, forgetting you’re not meant to. Forgetting this is all fake.

Finally dragging yourselves out of bed, you start the day. You and Sirius make plans to go walk around the small town and explore the local shops.

The whole thing has a winter wonderland feeling to it. The roofs are sprinkled with fluffy snow, Christmas lights border windows and store doors. Some instruments have been charmed to play festive music. The day flies by as you pop from store to store. With the fast setting sun, the cold sets further into your bones. Surrendering to the cold, the two of you head back inside for the night.

***

Your parents have planned a special dinner at the resort restaurant to finish your trip on a good note. Upon entering the restaurant, arm intertwined with Sirius’ your mother lets out a little yelp. You freeze, utterly shocked that she would express such a reaction in public. You look at her as she points upwards and mouths ‘look up’.

Slowly, both you and Sirius drag your eyes overhead.

“Oh.” You whisper.

“Oh.” Sirius whispers back.

Above you hangs a sprig of mistletoe. This is it, this is your moment. You want to yank Sirius by the lapels of his blazer and desperately smash your lips together. You actually consider doing it for a second but when you look at Sirius it all feels so real, so overwhelming that you get shy.

“Are you okay with this?” He asks cautiously. “We don’t have to. We can find an excuse.” He adds.

“I want to.” Is all you answer before he’s moving forward and you tilt your head and connect your lips with his.

Just like a moth and a flame, or a honeybee and a flower, your lips and his, belong together. Any shred of doubt that you didn't love Sirius fades in that moment because this kiss just screams love. It’s like a shared promise. An assurance that you are his and he is yours. This kiss is the raw and terrifying confession that your heart is for him to take. And the way he’s kissing you back is a promise that he’ll handle it with care, he’ll protect it with all his might.

When you pull away and your eyes connect you almost let the words slip from your mouth. ‘I love you. God, I love you. So much.’

Sirius grabs your hand and squeezes it. You weirdly feel like he’s trying to say ‘I know’.

Your leg bounces impatiently over dinner. The kiss was soft, sweet, affectionate, but you could sense the burn of passion you both withheld. You want to taste it. The smokey, intoxicating taste of passion.

You clear your throat, “I think I’m going to call it a night.”

Sirius quirks his brow at you. You nod slowly communicating that you want him to follow.

A mischievous thrill runs through your veins as you stand and walk to your room, Sirius closely following suit.

General taglist: @pottahishotasf, @cupids-crystals, @oliverwoodmarrymepls, @the-mighty-bookworm

“Charming Pureblooded Boyfriend” taglist: @iamabeautifulperson18, @my-belooveded, @youcantbesirius, @whattheforks, @hogwarts-1d-drarry-stan, @siriuslyfearless, @pinkcloxds, @gabitanaka47, @blackbirddaredevil23

[a-really-bi-girl]

Edelweiss - Chapter 4

Twins

Chapter 4 - Twins

The old man waved at the family of six as they exited the store. The door closed itself after the marked one. When the door closed itself behind you he picked up the telephone horn while selecting a telephone number. 

The phone rang for just a view second before the woman on the other side picked it up.

¨What!¨ she hissed into the phone

The older men sighed at her tone, afraid to tell her the news he had for her.

¨I told you to only call me when it is done¨ The woman continued.

¨It is, It is done, miss. But there is more¨ The old men told her while opening a drawer. 

¨Well then, tell me¨ The woman asked curiously

The men looked on the picture he held in his hand and then over at you. While you took one look at the small town before entering the car.

The men swallowed and placed the picture back into the drawer. While closing the drawer he spoke.

¨Its her¨

————

¨FUCKING HELL¨ John cursed as the cold water hit his body. While cursing at the cold shower he rid himself of his clothes, not noticing that his tie was missing. Every piece of his bloody clothing he removes and then he tossed it into a corner on the ground.  

When the water turned warmer he started replaying what happened on site. A metal flower exploding and leaving everything covered in blood. 

‘Sara was bloody right this is freaky. But how is this connected to the missing families, nothing makes sense.’ John taught.

When he removed the final sock, he started scrubbing his body clean of the blood. ¨Missing families, no records, no body’s, metal edelweiss flower, blood, a lot of blood, pure, latin¨ John mumbled. He continued to mumble these words while cleaning the blood of his body. 

When most of the blood was of his body, he decided to write the words onto the glass wall of the shower, ¨Missing families, no records, no body’s, metal edelweiss flower, blood, lots of blood, pure, Latin.¨ he wrote on the wall with his fingers.

While washing his hair he looked at the words he just wrote on the wall. While staring at the words and thinking about them he saw something interesting. Some moisture formed a water droplet and it slowly slid over the glass. 

The drop traced itself over the words missing families, then the words no record it skipped the words no body’s to lots of blood and it connected itself with the word pure and at last the word Latin.

¨Bloody h… ¨ John wanted to say before another drop formed itself, connecting the words metal edelweiss flower, blood and Latin together. This must be someone trying to trick him or hint him.

He quickly removed the shampoo and the blood out of his hair and the rest of his body. he turned the shower off before picking his clothes up and tossing them into the sink.

He dries himself off before walking out of the bathroom only wearing a towel. 

He walked over to the desk and on the back of the now bloody folder, he penned down the two-word connections.

                   Missing families                       

                   No records                     Metal edelweiss flower

                            Pure                              Blood

                                             LATIN

John started circling words out, but before he could think about the connections he just made he was interrupted by a warm voice.

¨I think this is yours¨

——————————

After listening in the car to do a deer from the time of music for a way to many times. You ran out of the car as soon as it stopped. ¨FINALLY¨ You said while stretching your body. The (TERROR) Twins have been singing it ever since we left.

You didn’t hate those two they are like family to you. But in a moment like this, you wish you had duck tape to shut them up.

¨DO, A DEER¨ Tim began ¨ A FEMALE DEER¨ Tara finished. 

‘Here we go again’

¨RAY!¨ Alex joined.

¨A DROP OF GOLDEN SUN¨ Their parents joined. 

¨You are all plotting against me!!¨ you laugh out while picking up your backpack and walking towards the hotel. 

¨Aila join us, I know you know the lyrics¨ Alex yelled at you while you turned around to face them.

¨ME¨ the twins said while running at you. You tried to run away but it was too late. “Sing with us” Tara begged. “Then we will let go of your legs” Tim added.

¨A name I call myself.” you started singing and then the twins and Alex joined.

 “Far, a long, long way to run.

Sew, a needle pulling thread.

La, a note to follow sew. 

Tea, I drink with jam and bread. 

That will bring us back to Do do do do¨ you sang while the twins clung onto your legs.

¨KARMA¨ Alex laughed at you while you slowly entered the Hotel.

“Please, Alex remind me, Why did I agree to support you during this vacation” you laugh out while you leaned against a wall.

¨Guys lets leave Aila her legs alone¨ Carlos laughed out loud.

The twins let go of your legs and ran up the stairs towards their room. While walking upstairs we decided to meet at 19:00 for dinner, so everyone had two hours for themself.

When arriving at the third floor your eyes fell on a red bloody tie. ¨What the…?¨ you mumbled while picking the tie up with one finger. 

You studied the tie and the trail of blood drops which made a path past your door towards room 312. 

You followed the blood towards 312 while Alex opened your door. A smile appeared on your face when you realised that the tie in your hand, was John’s. 

¨U coming?¨ Alex askes

¨Yeah in I an minute, got to return this¨ you respond while holding the tie up.

Alex entered your room smirking while you knocked onto the door, accidentally opening it. 

You looked into the room and saw John writing something down while only wearing a towel. ¨I think this is yours¨

John turned around and you checked him out while smiling. John smiled back at you while walking over at you.

“ Here to tell me your name, Lass?” He asks while he stretched his body in front of you while he leans against the doorpost.

You smirk at john while holding his tie up. ¨I’m here to return your tie.¨

¨How thoughtful?¨ John said while gently grabbing the tie from your hand. Your hands touched and you locked eyes. His eyes were dark but so warm at the same time. While pulling the tie towards his body he smirked at you. ¨Here to give me something else love¨

¨You wish¨ You say to John while you let go of the bloody tie. You felt your cheeks turning pink so you quickly change the subject.

¨So what’s up with the blood?¨ You ask while looking at your hand blood-covered hand.

John’s smile fades

¨Do not worry your pretty little head about it, luv¨ he said while he enters his room again.

¨Whatever you say detective¨ you reply while smiling at him while turning around to walk back to your room.

¨Where did you get that¨ John asked while stepping back into the hallway. 

You turned around to face him. “Get what?” 

“Your Jacket” 

¨A small store in a town over up north, the man in the store gave it to me. Said that it would protect me or something, Why?¨ You asked while opening the door.

¨Nothing Lass,¨ John replies when walking back into his room and closing the door.

´Weird´ you think to yourself before you shut the door behind you.

——————

Time flew by when John and Chas were researching the possible leads.

“ The families are I think some kind of sacrifice, but for what?” John mumbled as he flipped through the pages of a dusty book.

“Maybe something of roman origin, Austria was part of the roman empire,” Chas suggested as he opened his laptop.

John nodded as he grabbed a book about the roman gods out of his backpack. “Chas do you have more off those facts for me Mate?” John asked while he opened the book to a painting of the gods and their relatives.

“Sure,” Chas said while looking on the internet for some facts.

“Okay here we go; The name Austria derives from a Germanic word ‘Austro’ which means ‘east’, The Austrian flag is one of the oldest national flags in the world, Approximately one quarter of the population of Austria lives in Vienna, Austria is known for its mountain railways and trains such as the Giselabahn, The people of Austria are masters in creating objects with iron, Former Hollywood actor Arnold Schwarzenegger grew up in Austria, 62% of Austria is covered by the Austrian Alps.”

“Stop,” John said while pointing to one of the gods.

“What, o John your not saying that the terminator is involved are you?” Chas jokes.

“No of course not you idiot, the iron, the metal,” John said while walking towards him. “Also known as Hephaestus in Greek mythology, Vulcan came to be considered as the manufacturer of art, arms, iron, jewellery, and armour for various gods and heroes, including the lightning bolts of Jupiter. He was the son of Jupiter (Zeus) and Juno(Hera), and the husband of Maia, Aphrodite (Venus) and Aglaia.”

“So you are saying that is must be connected to this ugly fellow, explains the flower,” Chas said while he entered the names of the names gods and deities into google. 

John looked back at his notes “ So we know about everyone who is probably involved, we might also have to look into diverse rituals” John said while placing a cigarette in his mouth.

“Outside,” Chas said, to which John replied“Yes Mum” 

John steps outside to clear his head while smoking one of his cigarettes. “Bottoms up you idiot, your in the bus” John heard you laugh. “Alright Alright,” a male voice replies. For a second the two of you were silent before you burst out in laughter. 

———–

“Good Morning Sunshine!” You say as you open the windows. The summer sun shined into the room and on Alex’s face. He slowly sat up before he ran towards the bathroom. 

You wanted to check on him, but the noises he was making told you exactly what was happening.

You grabbed your bottle of water and your medicine strip. When Alex exited the bathroom you handed it to him. 

“Two pills and the whole bottle, and hurry up. We are late for breakfast” you tell him teasingly. 

You quickly washed and changed into your clothes. While pinning your hair back with some Bobby pins you walked over to the balcony. You took a picture of the view and sent it to your Dad. 

“ Hi Dad, lots of love” you mumbled while typing in the words into your phone and sending him the text.

“I need food” Alex mumbled which caused you to turn around.

 "Well let’s get some!“ You reply while walking through the room towards the door. 

You opened the door and locked it with your card when you and Alex left the room. 

While walking downstairs you heard Alex mumbling about wanting to go back to bed. 

‘That boy can’t handle his liquor’ You laughed to yourself.

While entering the restaurant you noticed that the twins were not already at the table. 

"Good Morning,” You said to his parents.

His parents responded with morning and the two of you sat down at the table.

 "Have you seen the twins? They are never late for breakfast.“ Jane asked you two.

"No, we haven’t, if you want we can check their room?” You suggested while wondering why the twins were not at the table. 

Jane nodded “ I would like that, I will make you something to eat while you get those two. We don’t want to be late for the tour”

You quickly grabbed two pretzels on your way out and you handed one to Alex. 

While walking up the stairs to the twins their room you ate the pretzels.

When arriving at their door you knocked on it. “Guys wake up you are late for breakfast!" 

No noise. 

"Tara, Tim wake up” Alex added while banging harder on the door. 

Still no noise. Nothing. You could see Alex getting worried. 

“Aila, what if?” Alex asked desperately and your eyes got bigger.

“You are not suggesting..?” You reply. 

“ I am,” He told you. 

“No not on my watch,” You said while squatting down to pick the lock to there room.

You slid two of your Bobby pins into the manual lock on the door. 

“Alex when I say now I want you to kick against the electric lock”

Alex nodded and stepped back. 

“What’s going on here,” An angry Manager said as he walked over to us. 

You ignored the manager and simply spoke “3” as you unlocked the first tumbler.

“Just getting to my siblings” Alex said while getting into position to kick the door open.

“2,” You said when another one opened itself.

The manager looked at the two of you.

“Why?” He asked.

“1,” You said while hearing the last click of the lock.

“They were late for breakfast, their never late for breakfast” Alex replied.

“Now,” you said as you ducked, still holding the Bobby pins in place. 

Alex kicked the door open and stormed into the room. You ran in after Alex into the Twins their room.

Alex dropped down onto his knees and looked at you.

You just froze.

“Get his Parents” 

————

Taglist: @sirkekselord

[survey--s]

45.

FACEBOOK’S “DID YOU KNOW” QUESTIONS (3/5)

On my nightstand, there’s always… Books, my glasses case, a light and my phone charger. If I could relive one day in my life, it would be… I really don’t think I’d want to do that as I’d be too worried that the reality didn’t live up to my memory. The best way to release adrenaline is… Dance to loud music, run and play on the beach with the dogs. My biggest inspiration in life is… I don’t really have any specific inspirations.

Do you know how to change a tire? I do know HOW to do it - like, I know the mechanics of it, but I’m not physically fit or strong enough to do it on my own.

If I decide to get a tattoo, it would be… I want to get the Deathly Hallows tattooed on me at some point. If I could be famous for anything, it would be… I wouldn’t want to be famous. Something I regret is… No regrets. The most impressive thing I know how to do is… I don’t think I know how to do anything particularly impressive, to be honest. The sport I’d choose to be a professional athlete in… I would absolutely hate to be a professional athlete, BUT I wouldn’t mind being an expert in downhill skiing. I’ve never been able to correctly say the word… There aren’t any words I really struggle with all that much. One of my favorite cookies is… Chocolate chip cookies from a place called Ben’s cookies in Covent Garden, London. I’m not sure it still exists, though. If I had a billion dollars to spend… I’d give a good amount to animal charities (especially Beagle Welfare), buy a house or two, upgrade the cars and give a good amount to our families too. If I could invite anyone over for dinner, I would invite… I don’t really have any desire to have dinner with a stranger, so probably all my family in Australia. If I could choose any job imaginable, I would choose… What I currently do is great, but maybe training instead as it’s less physical and more financially lucrative. What do you value in a friendship? Loyalty, honesty, a good sense of humour. When I was a child, my favorite bedtime story was… Bollygum which is an Australian kids’ book. I also liked all the A.A. Milne poems and the Enid Blyton books too.

My dream vacation looks like… Either skiing from a private ski in/ski out chalet in Switzerland, or a nice tropical beach holiday somewhere like the Maldives. The last time I tried to meditate, I… Fell asleep, I think. My soap opera/actress name would be… Why would you not just use your own name? An interesting hobby I have is… I don’t really think any of my hobbies are especially interesting to other people. A color that suits me is… Burgundy. The best dance move of all time is… I don’t dance, lol. Something I love about going shopping is… Browsing bookshops and finding something that appeals to me. A sign I was an adult was… When I first went drinking (legally) with an actual, genuine ID lol. If I could, I’d go on a spiritual retreat to… I would hate something like that. The best compliment I’ve received… That I look happier and healthier than I have done in ages. A friend who always supports me is… Mike. Whenever I need to know specific information, I consult… The internet. I love eating junk food when… ..ever I can? lol. What’s a scent you like? Freshly baked bread. If I could visit another planet, I’d choose… Saturn. Since I was a child, I’ve dreamed of… A house by the sea. A place I like to go trekking is… Kitzbuhel and the Austrian alps. The type of books I like to read are… Fantasy. An author whose work changed my life is… C.S Lewis, J.K Rowling and Neil Gaiman. Between ice cream cone and a cup, I choose… A cup. Do you prefer online classes or going to school? Online classes. A good piece of advice is… Do what makes you happy. Emojis that best describe me are… None of them, really. My greatest accomplishment is…. Setting up (and running) my own successful business. If I could pick an age to be for the rest of my life, I’d pick… I really wouldn’t like that at all. My favorite tropical fruit is… Mango or pineapple. My favorite superhero is… None of them? If I could learn any new skill, it would be.. Being able to sing perfectly in tune. A good cause I like to support is… Anything dedicated to adopting animals/animal shelters.

The best book I read without skipping over anything was… Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass (and what Alice found there). One word that describes me is… Animal-mad. I can say hello in these languages… English, French, German, Spanish, Italian. My best dance move… None.

[dinosaurchurch]

Morning fog lifting over Salzburg.

August 29th 2023.

[offtheisland]

Skiing in Austria

Frohes Neues Jahr 2018! (even though it’s a bit late)

For Christmas vacation, my host family and I spent two weeks skiing in the Austrian Alps. As you can probably guess, it was an absolutely incredible experience! My skiing abilities have improved drastically, and every single day was an opportunity to take in a new and breathtaking view. I don’t have too many pictures from my actual camera because I did not want to take it on the slopes with me in case I fell down. Nevertheless, enjoy some (hoepfully decent) smartphone photos of our wonderful ski trip!

Instead of the slopes being concentrated on a single mountain like they usually are in the US, the area we skied at was composed of multiple mountains with slopes that interconnected by means of lots of chairlifts and gondolas. One had the ability to start at one end of the slopes, ski "diagonally" across them all, and then come back, a process that took quite a few hours. Here’s a link to a larger version of the map above.

Particularly charming were the Almhütten. An Alm is a small house (usually made of wood) often with a barn next to it. They are the quintessential old-timey mountain cottages that one sees in pictures of the Austrian Alps, and there are many that are situated directly next to the slopes that have been converted into small restaurants. One can stop next to the building, take off one's skis, and go directly inside to eat something warm and delicious, ranging from soups to schnitzel to hot chocolate and pastries. I really enjoyed them, in case you couldn't tell :) Here’s the Wikipedia page about the origin of Alm houses, which I found interesting enough to share.

I of course must describe the weather a bit, because if there's one thing I've learned about Germans, it's that they like to talk about the weather. (This is the only sort of small talk they make!) So: The weather the first week was generally pretty good, outside of one day where it was so foggy we couldn't see very well. The second week, we only had two days of really good conditions, the other days were either very windy and snowy, very foggy, or a combination. On these days, sometimes we skied for an hour or two, then headed back in, or we spent the day relaxing inside. And one day, when it was super foggy, we went sledding! There is a trail near where we stayed that had a designated sledding path, so we walked up and sledded down.

Hope you’ve enjoyed some of these pictures! I certainly enjoyed taking them.

Thanks for reading! Tschüss!

[katemarley]

fanfiction: krampuslauf

Fandom: Hetalia - Axis Powers Pairing: Austria/Prussia Characters: Austria, Prussia, Kugelmugel Rating: G

Summary: Austria, Prussia, and Kugelmugel are on vacation in rural Salzburg when Austria gets talked into participating in the local Krampuslauf, a traditional parade, as a fill-in. He doesn’t like the idea—Krampus runs are loud and rough and sometimes violent. Since he agrees nonetheless, someone needs to look out for Kugelmugel during the parade.

A contribution to the @pruausadventcalendar. Also available on my AO3 and fanfiction.net.

Some notes before the story begins:

The city of Salzburg is the capital of the Austrian federal state of the same name, colloquially called Salzburgerland. This story refers to the latter (the rural part of the federal state). Sankt Johann im Pongau, where the story is set, has about 11,000 inhabitants.

In Austria and some other regions of the eastern Alps, the Krampus is a horned figure with (at least traditionally) a long tongue and one cloven hoof reminiscent of the Devil. Several of them traditionally accompany Saint Nicholas (feast: 6 December) who brings presents to nice children. There is also the tradition of the Krampuslauf (“Krampus run”) on 5 December (“Krampus Day”) in which several groups of Krampus with Saint Nicholas (Passen; singular Pass) parade through the streets, wearing clanking cowbells. Sometimes, children and adolescents try to pester the Krampus without getting hit by their birch rods (a tradition called Kramperltratzen or Kramperlstauben). There are increasing complaints about the Krampus becoming too violent. Indeed, people can get injured during Krampus runs, resulting in broken legs and the like. (I wonder if they’ve actually become more violent or if people are just more sensitive towards violence occurring during folkloristic traditions nowadays than a few decades ago.)

Friedl (short for Friedrich) is the human name I use for Kugelmugel (after Austrian artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, 1928-2000).

Sankt Johann im Pongau, 4 December 20xx

“It would be much appreciated if you agreed,” Mrs Schneider said. “My husband has a touch of the flu, and the performance of his Pass is arranged so all Krampus parade parallel to each other in groups of two, performing a certain combination of steps. When Saint Nicholas gives the signal with his staff, they dash to the sides, rattling at the barriers where the spectators are. Then, they get back into formation.”

“I don’t know,” Austria said doubtfully. “Shouldn’t they ask someone from Sankt Johann first?”

“On this short notice, they need someone who has a certain sense of rhythm and who actually knows how to dance,” she explained. “That’s why the boys asked me to ask you.”

“Why don’t they ask me directly if it actually matters to them?” Austria was still putting up defences. Prussia could tell he had no intention to agree.

“Because you’re my holiday guest for this week, and because I know you better than them.” Mrs Schneider, on her part, had no intention to give up.

“Please, Mr Edelstein,” Lena, Mrs Schneider’s eight-year-old daughter, begged. “I was so looking forward to seeing Papa in his Krampus costume. Please let me at least see his costume tomorrow evening.” She looked at Austria with beseeching blue eyes.

Prussia could see how his lover’s resistance melted like snow inside their holiday home. He understood. There was hardly any means to resist against a pair of wide children’s eyes.

“Fine,” Austria sighed. “What do I need to do now?”

“There is a final rehearsal this afternoon,” Mrs Schneider explained. “Wait, let me show you where they meet…”

Lena turned to Prussia, raised an eyebrow—See? That’s how you get what you want—and rushed out of the parlour in order to play in her room.

“Looks like Roderich has quite the task to fulfil now,” Kugelmugel commented dryly. The micronation sometimes sounded far too worldly-wise for his physical age. Prussia snorted. He knew what Krampus were from his previous experience of his lover’s lands in the Christmas season.

“I have a hard time envisioning him participating in a Krampus run, to be honest.”

“Who knows.” Kugelmugel shrugged. “Maybe the old man is going to surprise us by actually being cool once in a while. —Well, sort of,” he added after a short pause. “As cool as you can be when you’re wearing fur all over.”

“So, how was it?” Prussia asked when Austria returned from the rehearsal.

“Exhausting,” Austria replied, flopping down on the wooden corner bench where Prussia already sat. “I didn’t expect the fur, the mask, and the cowbells to be so heavy … Well, I actually did,” he corrected himself. “But it was still strenuous to wear them during the whole of the rehearsal, and the fur smells strange too. The good thing is I probably won’t be cold during the Krampus run tomorrow evening.”

“Yes. About that.” Prussia sniffed. “I can smell it was exhausting. You should take a shower.”

“And you are, as always, Prince Charming,” Austria grumbled, boxing Prussia lightly against the arm. Nonetheless, he rose from his seat, heading in the direction of their room and the bathroom. “Did I already mention I’m not exactly fond of sweating outdoors in winter when it’s not for skiing?”

He hadn’t, but that wasn’t exactly news to Prussia either.

5 December 20xx

“…and pay attention to what Friedl is doing!” Austria said for what seemed to be the hundredth time. “I don’t trust the boy not to do something stupid during the parade!” By something stupid, Austria referred to the tradition of leaping over the barriers in order to pester the Krampus in the parade without getting hit by them. Prussia had seen that before. He had to admit it did look dangerous, especially if he imagined a lank person like Kugelmugel in that situation.

“Yes; yes, I will,” he mumbled once again. “Even if I doubt Friedl would do anything like this.”

“I know you doubt it, but he would,” Austria said in an exasperated tone. “That’s why I keep repeating how important it is that you pay attention!” He paused. “Friedl isn’t Ludwig, you know. Ludwig has always been a responsible boy. He’d never have done a dangerous thing such as this. Friedl, however…” Austria sighed. “Friedl would do—and has, in fact, done—many a stupid thing in the name of art. Please don’t have me worry for his safety while I can’t look out for him.”

“Okay,” Prussia finally said. “I will. Promised.” Austria nodded.

“Good,” was all he said before he left in order to morph into a scary beast for the Krampus parade.

The spectators of the Krampus run crowded around the barriers, waiting for every Pass to come close. Kugelmugel and Lena had managed to gather right behind the barriers. Mrs Schneider didn’t appear to be worried, but Prussia felt a little queasy when he saw how close some of the Krampus came to the crowd. A few of the scary-looking figures in their shaggy fur even jumped against the barriers, causing the startled crowd to draw back a little … but never for long. So far, however, none of them had joggled the barrier right where they stood.

Then, the next Pass emerged from the darkness; a group of figures coated in fur prancing closer, making noise with the cowbells around their belts. When the Saint Nicholas who lead them raised his staff, they dashed to the barriers, growling at the spectators. This time, one of them appeared right in front of Lena and Kugelmugel.

“Hello,” the girl cried cheerfully, extending a hand towards the Krampus, patting his fur. Kugelmugel took that as his cue to grab the fur around one of his arms, pulling.

“Friedl!” Prussia exclaimed, snatching the micronation away from any potential whips with the birch the Krampus had put under his belt.

Instead of the birch, a cool and slightly reddish hand appeared from under the fur, stubbing gently against Prussia’s nose.

“Very good,” Austria’s voice said from under the fur. “That’s what I asked of you when I told you to take care of him.”

Prussia felt himself blush regardless of the cold. Even if Kugelmugel didn’t seem particularly impressed at Austria’s costume, Prussia couldn’t help thinking that his lover fulfilled his Krampus role better than he would have given him credit for. He had only left said role in order to reveal himself to Prussia who seemed to be the only one not to recognise his lover in the first place. Then Krampus-Austria pulled back, re-joining the formation as it trod past.

Austria as Prussia knew him returned to their holiday home shortly after Mrs Schneider had left in order to put Lena to bed. Kugelmugel had gone into his room in order to paint Austria in his Krampus costume before he forgot how his brother had looked like.

“Didn’t you stay with the other guys in your Pass?” Prussia greeted him, realising he sounded almost reproachful even if he didn’t intend to. “Mrs Schneider told me all of you are supposed to be drinking beer now.” Austria shrugged.

“I told them I’d prefer spending the evening with my partner because I don’t see him as often as I’d like.” He smiled a tiny smile.

“And what did they say?”

“They mocked me for being domestic but let me go.” His smile grew broader. “I take it you realise they knew who I actually am?” Prussia nodded. 

“I didn’t know, but I suspected. They wouldn’t have let you participate in their Pass if they hadn’t known you’re Austria, right?”

“Exactly.” For the second time within one day, Austria sat down next to Prussia on the rustic corner bench. “I don’t think they know who you are or who Friedl is, but they did realise we’re … well. Sort of a family.” He rested his head against Prussia’s shoulder, taking his hand.

“On holiday with my little brother and my loved one,” Austria whispered. “I’m happy now. And if that means I’m domestic and a bit of a bore, so be it.”

“You aren’t boring,” Prussia said, squeezing Austria’s hand in turn. “You’re actually pretty cool as a Krampus.”

“I love you, too,” Austria said, leaning forward in order to kiss Prussia on the tip of his nose this time.

[djseaward]

a year of life & travels: 2017

today is new year’s day and it’s time for a recap of last year! it was another great year of being based in southwestern czech republic, feeling like home both here and back in my home country (and realizing that “home” is just a construct), and going to some magical places.

let’s revisit them, shall we? i changed the title of this year’s post to “life & travel” because, as i learned last year, travel isn’t everything and it is also important to capture what else was going on in one’s life. although for this post, it still remains the focal point. (don’t worry) so without further ado....

in january, we had the coldest and snowiest month that i have ever experienced with low low temps that froze over all of the ponds in south bohemia. you know what that meant? checking off my life-long dream to ice skate on a frozen pond! i ended up getting a cold promptly after that day, but it was so worth it. now i am too much of an ice skating elitist to ever skate on anything man-made ever again! (kind of joking, but...)

i also cooked a several course vegetarian dinner for burn's night! (why? we are hopeless "scot-ophiles” who love any good excuse to drink an islay malt and celebrate the the works of burns on a cold, dark winter’s night) that veggie haggis was definitely worth coming back to this month... ooh, i hope i can remember the recipe. it was actually make-again delicious.

in early february we took the first of what would be many many days in the big city (prague). we brought ferdie for his first ever trip on a train, he stayed with a dog-sitter while we saw the vaclav havel exhibit at dox, and generally had ourselves a perfect holešovice day, trudging through slush to get to our favorite cafes and enjoying brunch near the marina. (did you know holešovice had a marina?) i feel like i know the district quite better now!

we also had a very memorable valentine's day tea at born in london and i introduced my favorite students to the british tradition of pancake day -- what better than a lesson where you're making pancakes?!

in early march, my mother-in-law came for her first ever trip to europe and we were so excited to travel with her and take her to all the best spots in prague, český krumlov, and crossing the border into germany to visit bamberg! i had been in bamberg ten years ago during my studies in germany and it just does not disappoint for a low-key trip with excellent food and beer and historical sights. we may have brought two kegs and a few bottles of rauchbier home with us....

april first is always a strange day as the weather is usually quite wacky -- sure enough this year it brought our first forays into summer temperatures, if you can believe it. we marked that day by visiting the beautiful terčino údolí right here in south bohemia - a valley full of blooms, trails, a waterfall, and loads of other cool things to explore. we ate schnitzels while sitting on the terrace of a chateau, because we are in europe. and it was grand.

in mid-april for our long easter weekend, we rode the train into the šumava mountains to the train station with the highest elevation in the country! there we spent our time in a cozy mountain-style house, hiking and relaxing. we couldn't believe our little ferdinand walked 22km in one day! i think this trip is when we realized hiking with him (off-leash) is one of our favorite things to do.

glorious may brought beautiful cherry blossoms, garden parties, and outdoor festivals. i spent my birthday in český krumlov, staying the night there for the first time in over ten years and realizing how magical the town is by night... and how we miss out when we go back home to budejovice before dusk falls! it was brilliant to do all those tourist things like take a coffee in the square, walking around with an ice cream, and doing a bit of shopping in shops i don't usually even bother to set foot in. with our sweet accommodation south of the center right on the river (above), i truly never wanted to leave.

we spent a nice day in june in prague's vinohrady and vršovice districts to celebrate our wedding anniversary with the best mexican food in the country and doing all those big city things. sometimes it's just nicer to avoid old town altogether! (although sometimes i do quite the opposite - there's a time for everything)

at the very end of the month, we shrugged off the long spring and school year with a night in mariánské lázně - a beautiful town in the hills of northwest czech republic that is well-known for its spas and hosting many a famous guest over the past hundreds of years. we danced to jazz in the colonnade and took a hike the next day in the rain... because when you only have a limited time in a new place, you're not going to let a little rain dampen your plans!

at the beginning of july, we woke up and found ourselves in karlovy vary again for our fourth film festival. this time we took it way easier than in past years by staying directly in the center of town and felt so extremely spoiled! it was a great festival, albeit a bit cooler in temperature than every other year. when we got back, we stayed for a weekend with friends at a cottage deep in the wilds of sobo (erm, south bohemia) to have a nice rest before summer camp ramped up.

at the end of the month, we bid czechland goodbye and said hello to chicago! what a city -- i planned to do so much and ended up doing none of the things i thought i would, but instead discovered a whole new side which ended up being one of our favorite parts of our united states trip.

we were in michigan at the beginning of august visiting family and attending a wedding before flying to portland and staying with my dear friend, megs. i can't tell you how good it felt to have landed in the northwest after so long! i felt so at home immediately in that airport terminal. we rented a car and took off for central oregon to be based out of bend for the wedding of another dear friend, julie. we floated the deschutes river, visited many local breweries, and just generally enjoyed that central oregon high desert vibe.

the second half of the month was spent back home in washington -- i was so pleased to make it to my brother's birthday party at his new house as well as a family camping trip near mt. baker, much-needed karaoke nights, hikes, and of course, visiting all the beaches and eating seafood whenever possible... i even learned how to shuck an oyster! we enjoyed our time so thoroughly that it was almost as though i forgot i had to leave again...

(but i missed this little guy quite a lot)

the beginning of september was a bit rough going, but there are so many fun things happening right in budejovice that it is hard not to enjoy being in south bohemia. we spent some lovely, lazy afternoons in český krumlov, our first czech wedding, and then at the end of the month took a "wine vacation" to south moravia -- znojmo, to be exact! staying right on the square in a spacious apartment and hiking through podyji national park to a winery was a highlight, as well as checking off another thing on my "life to-do list": drinking wine in a vineyard. 

we even moseyed on down into austria for a morning (as it was just across the border from znojmo) and hiked up to a famous windmill as well as toured a huge underground wine cellar. it was a beautiful weekend!

the weather was absolutely gorgeous here in october. we popped off to prague to spend time immersed in the beautiful old town as well as stop at some farmer's markets and get the obligatory annual pumpkin spice latte. we walked to the very end of the street we used to live in (in malá strana) which leads directly up petřín hill -- a fine time of year for a walk amongst the changing colors of the leaves, clear views, and good weather.

november was about "home" in south bohemia if i had to give it a theme -- we focused on home improvement -- we got a new couch, as well as other appreciated upgrades and went to two big dinners: our first st. martin's dinner as well as hosting thanksgiving for the second time. 

on the first of december, we found ourselves in prague yet again for a farewell party of the last of our fellow TEFLers still left in the country -- i can't quite believe that we are the last ones still here of our group from five years ago! it was an emotional time but it's was so good to reconnect with our prague buds. i visited some of the christmas markets there including an attempt to visit old town square, but y'all -- the tourist situation is out of control compared to five years ago (when it was still quite heavy). although there is something special about the market there during advent time... i will probably continue to return despite the crowds!

for christmas, as you may have read, we were in southeastern bavaria (near the austrian border) in the heart of the bavarian alps -- a fantastic and memorable time.

the top five most popular posts on adventurings this year...

-- what i've learned about language learning after +4 years-- best tips & tricks!

-- slow pace or rat race? -- reconciling the relaxed south bohemian lifestyle with what i think i “should” be doing

-- back from the usa + 10 things i love about home -- i was a bit homesick, could you tell? 

-- the expat's guide to christmas away from home -- so many tried & true tips and ideas here

-- musings on identity and being an american -- what i've made of my national identity after five years away

these happened to also be my favorite posts i have personally written this year. funny, that.

i also posted two delicious recipes: a deliciously autumnal pumpkin miso soup, the perfect springy weekday cake, & i shared my fool-proof meal planning strategy.

so, where will we go in 2018?

i am so excited that we are planning a real, actual vacation this year! not a trip. just a lay by the pool somewhere beautiful, visit wineries, eat bread and cheese from a local market, hike and bike ride through the beautiful countryside... this is likely going to take us to provence, france. i think a week or so of living the provençal life will be just the thing, and perfect timing after the school year finishes. (time to brush up on my non-existent french!)

i am also pleased to say we’re planning to head to berlin for a month this next summer! it will be the longest consecutive time i’ve spent there for ten years, and i’m looking forward to greatly improving my language study (actually being in the country should sure help!) and finally doing some berlin things i haven’t yet managed in the past decade. ‘tis time.

everything else is up in the air, so we’ll see where the year takes us! i feel oddly optimistic and ready for this new year. how are you feeling about it? where are you headed this year? if you have any provence tips, i am really all ears.

thanks for being around this year! i have loved & appreciated your comments, shares, connecting with you elsewhere, and the fact that you are here reading this right now. happy new year!

keep up with me in 2018 on bloglovin, twitter, instagram, or facebook.

this post is part of the january travel link-up.

ps, you might like ‘year of travels’ recaps of past years: 2016, 2015, & 2014.

[enterdavao-blog]

Choosing the Right Ski Property within the French Alps

Choosing the Right Ski Property within the French Alps – Many businesses finish for the Friday, allowing skiers to move for that slopes on the Saturday, arriving mid-afternoon Christmas Eve. With Monday and Tuesday being public holidays, even employees of firms that are open between Christmas and New Year is only going to have to take three days holidays from other entitlement for the weeks Christmas skiing! Sounds good, nevertheless the prudent accountants may be raising two sensible questions now. The first will probably be concerning the tariff of Christmas ski holidays, the second regarding snow reliability. Surrounded by lush rice plantations, this charming resort redefines the actual meaning of comfort and luxury. Whether you are a business traveler or even a leisure seeker, get ready to experience a relaxing remain at this cozy resort. The 153 rooms/suites with this grandiose property are made to perfection keeping in mind the urging needs with the elite travel groups. Residents with this resort could decide among terrace room, family suite, Diwa suite, loft room, amongst others. Each room/suite is often a cocoon of comfort where guests can also enjoy a soothing stay forgetting all of their worldly worries. The rooms include amenities for example king size bed, lavish bathtubs, LCD television, mini bar, plus much more. Yet another is Breckenridge snow resort in Colorado, which covers 2,358 acres, has 155 snow trails. Four O’clock tracks would be the longest one, which can be 3.5 miles long along with the resort extends over a lot more than ten peaks. The Aspen Mountain is easily the most visited by ski professional. It is located in the midst of the Rocky Mountains, Aspen, Colorado. Although it is the among the smallest snow resorts within the Colorado, it’s got difficult mountains which is at an altitude of 11,212 feet. Read Also – Bali Holiday Package Deals Encounter a Luxury Resort There are many luxury hotels and resorts within the Austrian Alps, especially within the federal state of Tyrol, and, to be even more precise, near the community of Kitzbuhel, available 75 kilometers east from the medium-sized capital of scotland- Innsbruck. It’s within this place that “high society skiers” choose to come, because the resorts and also the three-line ski slopes are the most useful with the best, with great services, top-class facilities (spa, indoor pools etc). During summertime, these ski resorts turn into cool golf resorts, that’s just one more factor that attracts business men along with other rich people. Nevertheless, you may be surprised to discover that amounted to are quite interesting with this part with the country, particularly if somebody makes reservations in due time before his/her vacation. Read Also – Choosing the Right Ski Property in the French Alps enterdavao.com – You are able to find some very nice apres ski outfits in the marketplace for those who just cannot picture themselves having to dress ‘ordinarily’. You can obtain jumpers and boots that are practical but also feature elements of fashion in order to feel warm and also on trend. This is the same case for both men and women and after having spent a whole day over a slope you’ll be much less bothered in what you gaze like.

#EnterDavao, #SkiResorts

[natalie2017-scstudyabroad]

4 Countries in 24 Hours

The past week I traveled with my mom through four countries: Austria, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.  First, we took the train from Bamberg to Salzburg, Austria.  We toured the city on our arrival day, hitting the major attractions such as Salzburger Dom (Salzburg Cathedral), Petersfriedhof (Peter’s Cemetery), Schloss Mirabell und Mirabellgarten (Mirabell Castle and Mirabell Gardens), and much more.

(Above: View of the Salzburger Dom and Petersfriedhof).

My favorite activity we did in Salzburg was a Sound of Music Tour.  The 1965 film by Robert Wise, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, was filmed throughout Salzburg and the surrounding towns and mountains.  The tour took us from inner Salzburg out to where they filmed the lake scenes, to the gazebo where they filmed the song “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”, past the house they used for the von Trapp Family home, to the church where Maria and Georg got married, and so much more.  It was fascinating being able to see where a lot of the movie scenes were filmed, and how beautiful the locations were in person.

(Above: Me at the gazebo where they filmed the song “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”).

After Salzburg we visited Vienna, the capital of Austria.  Our first stop was the Rathaus (Town Hall) of Vienna.  Inside the Rathaus is a paternoster, or a continuously moving elevator.  The elevator has a bunch of open compartments (which usually can hold a max of two people), which move in a loop continuously.  One side takes the riders up, while the other takes riders down.  Riders must step into the continuously moving compartments in order to board the elevator and also step out in order to disembark.  The paternoster is probably one of the coolest technologies I’ve seen while abroad.  It is something I have never seen in the U.S.A., and was a fun way to see the history of elevators up close and personal (and grab a ride)!

(Above: Video of the pasternoster in the Vienna Rathaus).

Afterwards, my mom and I did a bus tour of Vienna, because we wanted to see as much of the city as possible in the limited time we had.  It was amazing seeing the city from the top of a double decker bus and the weather was amazing.

(Above: Rossauer Kaserne or Rossauer Barracks in Vienna).

The next day my mom and I took a day trip from Vienna to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.  It is only an 80-km (about 50 miles) drive or about an hour to Bratislava from Vienna.  Bratislava is a unique city in that it is the only national capital in the world that shares its borders with two other countries: Austria and Hungary. The city was beautiful and the narrow streets made me feel as if I was stepping back in time.  My favorite place we visited was Bratislavský hrad (Bratislava Castle), which had a wonderful view of the city and the Danube River. We took a river cruise along the Danube back to Vienna, which gave another beautiful perspective of the Austrian and Slovakian countryside.

(Above: Bratislavský hrad or Bratislava Castle from the Danube River).

Another experience that I had in Vienna, which was really wonderful, was meeting up with my friend Danijela from Bamberg in the city.  She was on vacation with her sister and we met up for a walk around the city.  Along our walk, as we headed to one of the U-Bahn (subway) stops, we ran into another friend of ours from Bamberg, Guada, who we did not know was in Vienna. Running into Guada and Danijela in the city reminded me that the world is not so big after all and gives me hope that we will all meet up again after this semester is over.

(Above: Me, Guada, and Danijela in Vienna).

The following morning, we flew to Zürich, Switzerland.  After landing and settling in our hotel, we took a day trip to the Swiss Alps and the fourth smallest country in Europe, Liechtenstein.  The day was overcast and rainy, but it couldn’t take away the beauty of the cloud touching mountains, rolling green hills, and brilliant blue lakes. We visited the capital of Liechtenstein, Valduz, and it was a very small town of about 5,500.  You could walk the main shopping street in about ten minutes. It was a nice little town with its own unique charm.

(Above: My mom and I in the Swiss Alps at one of the lakes).

The final day of my trip with my mom we toured around Zürich, but spent most of our time along the banks of Zürichsee (Lake Zürich), enjoying the beauty of the lake with houses and buildings lining the shores, and the snow-capped Alps rising out of the background.  It was breathtaking.  We then ended our trip by flying back to Nürnberg (Nuremberg) before continuing to Bamberg.

(Above: Looking out at Zürichsee).