Alt Aussee Salt Mine

Today was a rainy day so we decided to visit the Salt Mines in Alt Aussee.

In the mines visitors have to wear the traditional miners' outfits.

Here we are during the tour. 

700 meters into the mountain is the St. Barbara Chapel.

 We slid down the big slides like true miners. 

During World War II artworks like Michelangelo's Bruges Madonna,

 or Vermeer's "The Art of Painting" were hidden in this mine.

Then we walked around the Ödensee, a small lake near Bad Aussee.

Lakeside is a nice restaurant called the Kohlröserlhütte. We ate a late lunch. 

At night we watched "The Monuments Men" to get the story of the art in the mines.

Strechau Castle

On our way to the mountains we stopped at Strechau Castle.

This castle is 1000 years old, heavily fortified and 

was never taken by an enemy army.

We started on the left with the Hunger Tower where prisoners were kept. 

Thomas and Conor in the Hunger Tower where the soldiers stood watch. 

Here they are at the very tip of the fortification overlooking the valley.

Then we drove to our farm house. Conor and Thomas saved this kitten.

It had fallen down an open pipe and was trapped. 

Conor heard it and Thomas got help. Here it is!

After saving a life we went to Gabi's Mostschank and ate

a pork roast with dumplings.

Albertina

On what is left of the old city walls, right behind the Opera building,

and next to the Imperial Palace is the Albertina.

It was the home of Archduchess Marie Christine, 

favorite daughter of Maria Theresia, 

and sister of Marie Antoinette.

She married Albert von Sachsen Teschen,

an avid collector of the arts and founder of the Albertina.

 Albert owned the "Hare" by Albrecht Dürer,

which is out of the vault on on display for the first time in many years now.

 We found a sphinx,

 and another hare,

and then we had a sausage.

Military History Museum

We went to the Military History Museum today.

They have big cannons. 

At Meixner's we had a nice dinner.

Imperial Summer Residence Schönbrunn - The Gardens

We visited Schönbrunn Gardens this afternoon.

While hunting the Emperor had come across a beautiful fountain.

This is what it looks like now. 

He decided that this was a good place for a castle.

The boys explored the maze.

It is still a good example for the Austrian way:

The path to success is always the middle one.

We found the Roman ruin.

We had a sausage at the Tyrolean village.

Our first day

 

We peeked into St. Stephen's today.

A trip to the ice cream place was a must.

Then we had some Austrian-style sandwiches.

Yes, open faced ones.

This is the plague column in the heart of the city.

We said hello to Herr Mozart.

Then we went to Bernhard's birthday party.
Above this are Bernhard on the left and his friend Michael on the right.

He got a lot of presents and money for a new bike.

 This is what Fred looks like now.

 We were tired and went home to sleep off out jetlag.

Graduation!

 Today was Thomas' graduation from Middle School.

 What a handsome group of students.

 Grandma was there, too.

 Here are Thomas, Charlie, and Conor.

 We went out to dinner and then to Baskin Robbins for some ice cream.

 Laura's friend Gina was here too with her kids.

Here are Thomas, Zack, Tyler, Jake, and Cassy.

8th Grade is Behind Us!

Hello all to the Summer Blog 2014! We are starting the blog this year with a perfect-hair-day! This year Thomas will bring his friend Conor as a companion on our adventures. We can't wait to show him around. Thomas has finished 8th grade and he and his friends are ready for High School. But first we will explore Europe. Stay tuned for news from our travels!

But first a little recap of the last school year. In August of 2013 we came home just in time for Thomas' birthday. He was happy to see his cousins. 

 Thomas got some great presents.

After Labor Day Thomas started 8th grade.

Thomas and his friends went out trick-or-treating on their own. No more Mom in tow.

Captain Andy took Grandpa and his friends on a spin with the USS Chancellorsville.

Thomas played Winterball.

We celebrated Thanksgiving with our family.

In the night from December 13 to 14th my Mom died
and I went home to be with my family.

But I actually remember her like this: always busy, great at math, giving people her last shirt, and most of all the kindest heart in the whole wide world. That's her on the right.

Mom died during the same night as my best friend Christine 23 years earlier. 

I believe they share a cloud and are watching out for us.

 That was us at 17!

But as life has it, while I was home in Austria 

my little cousin Susanna had a big healthy baby boy:

Fred!

 I can't believe she's a Mom now!

In February Thomas and I went skiing to Big Bear.

On the way home we stopped at Huntington Library in Pasadena 

and checked out their wonderful gardens.

 Then Andy and Thomas went to Spring Training in Arizona.

Finally Baseball Season started!

For Thomas this year's baseball season was cut short when he broke his wrist.
He did make the play at first base, though. 

 He wore his cast for 5 weeks.

 Guess who found the golden egg at Easter?

Aunt Joni came to visit!

 Jake had his first communion.

Brett had another birthday.

The kids decided to pose for a photo or two.

 We got new "old" windows on our house.
Hey, we're bringing it back to 1927!

Thomas went on his class trip to Yosemite.

And Tyler graduated from 5th grade.

It was a busy year.