New Year's in Vienna

The (Upper) Belvedere, home to the Hapsburg Dynasty

After a low-key Christmas spent at home, we met up with some ex-pat friends in Vienna. You know they're true friends when they're willing to combine ten people in an apartment for a week. Did I mention it had three bedrooms which were adjoining and in a row? True friends.

Mission Impossible: navigate art museum with three kiddos and three toddlers

Outdoor bistros everywhere. I love the way the Viennese don't let the cold weather prevent festivities.

Viennese coffee houses really live up to their reputation.

A nod to Athens.

Classical sculpture aplenty.

Impressive Gothic.

Living in a developing nation you become keenly aware of all the things you typically take for granted in the west, like well planned, funded, and maintained infrastructure.

The girls couldn't say enough about how clean the streets and buildings were; I was impressed with the smooth wide sidewalks; and we all made good use of the efficient and user-friendly public transport. Also it must be mentioned: the drivers are extremely polite and law-abiding.

Merry Christmas!

Santa Lucia

 

We had the incredible good fortune of connecting with the Swedish Embassy for their annual Santa Lucia celebration. As Swedish Americans we've been observing this yearly festival in celebration of light in our home for many years now, but this was the first time we got to do it with actual Swedes (!).

The girls learned ("learned") eight songs in Swedish and sang them in a concert at a gorgeous recently renovated historical landmark called the Funicular. To reach this special restaurant you take - you guessed it - a ride in a funicular to the mountaintop. It was a magical night.

Kazbegi

This dramatic and lofty peak is Mount Kazbek and the accompanying town Stepantsminda, but everyone just calls it all Kazbegi. We hied away to a distant mountain valley to celebrate ten happy years of marriage.

It's the third highest mountain in Georgia.

Naturally the drive up was full of adventures.

We stayed at The Rooms Hotel, which we highly recommend, in part because there's really no other place to stay. We got a cozy room with an incomparable view.

The meticulously designed interior (modern Georgian rustic), the view (the view!), a fantastic restaurant, a veranda with comfy seating, fresh mountain air, a sauna and an indoor pool all contributed to a delightful stay. Maybe next time we'll bring the kids.

But in truth, we went a few weeks early, because on our actual anniversary hubby was out of the country. So I did what any self-repecting girl would do in my situation . . . culinary therapy . . .

. . . with an extra special one for hubbers. He was delicious dipped in chocolate. Happy 10!

Poetry in motion

I pass this fountain nearly every morning as the sun breaks above the crest of a nearby peak. After months of good intentions, I finally remembered my camera, and it turned out to be the last day the water was on before winter. Lucky me. Enjoy.

Thanksgiving fête

This was the first time during our marriage that we missed Thanksgiving in America; and so, perhaps in compensation, I agreed to head a Thanksgiving feast at our school, à l'Américain.

We pressed the leaves from our Telavi trip and used them as decoration throughout the canteen.

It was, as one could imagine, a tremendous amount of work. We planned far in advance to order turkeys, cranberrys, and the correct herbs and spices. I selected tried and true recipes, as well as a few newbies. We also spent more than a month teaching harvest and Thanksgiving-themed vocabulary and history to our English classes, to culminate with the big feast.

And it went off beautifully. I was so pleased to be able to introduce American cuisine to the children (& adults) that didn't include hamburgers and pizza.

We arranged to have a US Marine join us from the Embassy. He handed out dessert to the awestruck children. We were also fortunate to have the US Ambassador dine with us.

Family and friends were invited; we served lunch to a full house.

All the Americans associated with the school (a grand total of 4) were in the kitchen the night before and morning of, getting the job done. And thanks to their contribution and the incredible full-time kitchen staff, I think it may have been the best Thanksgiving meal I've ever tasted.

Telavi Fizzle

We wanted to get out--a day trip or bust! The nearby ancient city of Telavi was our destination, but after a late start, pouring rain, massive road construction, no map, a citadel closed for renovations, and a disappointing restaurant, we wondered if we should have yielded to the deterrents after all. The one redeeming factor was probably the winding drive through the mountains.

After the rain passed, the forest was a copper-carpeted wonderland with rich green interludes. The fresh spicy air was rejuvenating as we climbed the wet slopes in search of worthwhile specimens of fall beauty.

School Days

School resumed this year without a hitch. It's been something like a miracle to witness these girls convert to fluid French. I'm not whimsical enough to say it's a dream come true, but if I were, I might put it that way.

And overall we've been very pleased with their school, which also happens to be my place of employment. The cultural atmosphere is diverse, the curriculum is hands-on and includes lots of physical activity, the lunches are healthy and delicious, and the building is bright, modern, and conducive to enlightenment.

And, as a teacher, I have the opportunity to point out all the beauties that the world has to offer . . .

. . . and bring them into the classroom.

The girls patiently wait in my classroom each day after my classes.

We are on this wonderful odyssey of learning together, and it fleshes out a dimension of parenthood and life that I find vastly fulfilling and interesting.

Happy Halloween

Specialists in 5-minute costumes

We pulled these together at the last, but luckily our little vampiress really knows how to get her creep on; she snagged an award for scariest costume (her heart's greatest desire) at the American Halloween shindig we attended.

An explanation is due...

self portrait #1

self portrait #2

self portrait #3

Although I will date this entry in October, apologies (from February) for the four-month hiatus. We've had ongoing technical difficulties that finally resolved themselves yesterday with the arrival of! A new laptop! Life is good.

The Village, part 3

A few odds and ends from a nearly perfect day.

 

The locals (1)

The locals (2)

Rotten apple throwing (1)

 Rotten apple throwing (2)

Temptation

Indulgence

Regret

Labor

 Completion

Contentment