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!