Archive for the ‘Austria’ Category

Voyage’s End

Saturday, July 21st, 2012

River cruising is wonderful; you unpack once, wonderful food, impecible service, interesting people, fabulous scenery, educational, lots of exercise exploring our stops, many choices on what to do or not to do, and we had good weather on top of it!

We ended in Vienna, where if you chose, you could add on to your trip by a 3 day stay in Vienna with guide, or a 4 day side trip to Prague. We had thought about Prague but then realized the British Open was happening near our England stopover. Decision made…golf here we come.

The last night of our cruise we did get dolled-up and attended a concert of Strauss and Mozart music; home-town boys. A great way to end a GREAT cruise.

A New Chapter

Tuesday, June 19th, 2012

Front Desk At Focus On The FamilyThe experience at Focus on the Family was PERFECT; just what the doctor ordered. It forced me to get my stamina back with the schedule we kept, we made some great new friends, and enriched old friendships. It was a wonderful April!

Now we look forward to a whole bunch of anticipation to our “Rivers of Europe” river boat cruise.  From Amsterdam to Vienna on a ship that holds 150! I am trying to learn about the area, mostly Germany — Castles, middle ages, war trials etc. It’s kind of my “Jubilee” and victory trip over the trials of 8 months of Chemo and Radiation.

From Vienna we head to Barnoldswick,  England to see friends and family and from there to a family reunion in New Jersey.

So hold on to your hats, here we go again.  God is so good, and it is sooooo awesome to have my health back and that dark chapter of cancer behind me. The prayers, cards, books, and meals were so much appreciated. They got me through.  Amazing!

Cross At Focus On The Family

On The Road Again, Salzburg To Munich

Friday, June 12th, 2009

paradeWe left early to head to Munich (just one day) but we were held up by a parade!  June 11 is a holiday in Austria and Germany that honors “religion” (that’s all I could get from the many people I asked).  All the church bells were ringing constantly, canons firing, and plenty marching bands and local citizens in their native garb.  All church’s were hanging a yellow and white  banner from their bell towers.  I love the local stuff that makes the area unique!

brittanyAfter the procession , we headed a 1/2 hour away to meet up with our niece, Brittany!  Here is a picture of she and her host family (so her folks see she arrived safely!).

Signs And Wonders Contest Answers

Friday, June 12th, 2009

No one got all the signs right on the last contest, but there will be a prize for the entrants!  The answers to the May15th entry were as follows:

signtraffic

Anticipate Backup of Cars

signblindcurve

Entry into a Blind Curve

signhorn

No Horns

signthink

Pay Attention

signspeedbump

Uneven Road

signgrandparent

Grandparent and Child Crossing

Here are more signs, but just for fun.  These are also known as “Debbie in Europe.”

signa

signb

….and the obvious ones.

signc
signe
sign-d

The Notorious Flower

Friday, June 12th, 2009

edelweissThis is the real Edelweiss.  It is a tundra flower that grows above 9000 feet and is not the national flower of Austria.  In fact no one really paid attention to it until Rogers and Hammerstein wrote a song about it!

Culture By Candlelight

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

mozartdinner1Salzburg is also famous for being the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeau Mozart; one of ,if not THE most famous and prolific composer of his or any time!

We went to a candlelight dinner and concert of his music: it was brilliant.  The food was excellent, the ambiance was amazing, the other people at our table were delightful, and the program of a 5 piece string quartet and two vocalists was inspired.  They did selections from the operas “Don Giovani” and “Marriage of Figaro” as well as songs from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.  This was all done between courses of the meal.

mozartdinner2 And the location was the Stifskeller St. Peter ; the oldest restaurant in central Europe and first mentioned in 803 on the occasion of a visit by Charlemagne, and frequented by the Mozart family in their day. And now Steve and Debbie Morales!

Nancy and Steve Tanner, I thought of you all during this magical evening…we dedicate this evening to you (and I know you can’t have a 5 piece string quartet…just seeing if you were paying attention)!!

The Hills Are Alive

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

soundofmusicbus…with tourists in tacky buses, traversing the city and countryside in search of the vital locations for the filming of “THE SOUND OF MUSIC“!!

I am on the bus.

soundofmsicchurchYes,the movie came out when I was merely 15, and I had a date to the Loma Theater, Point Loma (where it played for 2 years) with Andy Andeck!  Sigh, to picture his arm around my shoulders, going numb scenario…my first big crush.

Flash ahead 6 years, and I have already been an organist for 8 years and played many a “here comes the bride” at weddings , so I chose the Wedding March from the Sound of Music for mine (to STEVE)!

 So, I got to see the Church they used, and they played the CD on the bus, and I was in  “Nostalgic Land”.  Pure schmaltzzzzzzzzzzz and I loved it!

Crystal World

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

swarkovskiIn Watten,Austria, just outside of Innsbruck, we found the headquarters and huge factories of Swarvoski Crystal!

They have a unique (weird) collection of art, as well as how their crystals were used in that art.  It is really too difficult to explain, but it does all end with an enormous gift shop!!!

Mr. Swarvoski created and patented in 1895,  the way to cut a perfect crystal; two years later he had a factory and 100 employees.  Well, I love Swarvoski Crystals, they are in my ears, on KC’s wedding dress and veil, and I think they are as pretty as diamonds without the worry.  But, they were first used in machinery, and for reflective markers on roads, optics in binoculars, and much, much more.

I still did alot of damage in the gift shop.

Moooo…ving On

Friday, June 5th, 2009

cowbellSay “cheeeeeese!”

We found it, in the middle of no where – the Emmental Cheese Factory!  It is a beautiful alpine factory sitting atop a large green pasture and it was quite an education. 

The cows drop off their milk, some enzymes are added, it curdles and it pressed into molds, and aged, and aged.   Bubbles in the curing process seek to escape, and  wa la….swiss cheese (soundscheesetank like Steve)!

We are in Garmisch, Germany now.  Tomorrow we visit King Ludwig II’s crazy castle (think Disneyland on a mountain peak).

Then on to Salzburg.  Mozart, Sound of Music, struedal and beer? We will find out!

Sad Day

Friday, May 1st, 2009

Debbie and Steve leave Montalcino today.  First stop:  Milan.

Where did the time go????  From Milan we go to Bern Switzerland , then Interlochen, then  Garmmesh,  back to Venice , then Salzburg , then Munich , Rottenburg, Denmark , Sweden , home.  We have to make calls to book the military bases that will house us when we are in Garmmesh, Venice , Munich and Rottenburg.