2009 CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRIA

Stephansplatz at night


INNSBRUCK TRIP

The angel statue that we caught smoking
(not exactly my picture of an angel!)

A German Santa complete with organ

Beautiful decorations

GATHERINGS IN OUR HOME

Greg reading Christmas book to the kids

Greg's German class (UK, Italy, and India represented)

What would the holidays be without cookie making?

We were honored to have Greg's parents for a week

Well here it is, almost Christmas. After so much anticipation I can't believe it's almost here. We have loved being able to leisurely stroll down the streets of the various markets in Vienna (also Salzburg and Innsbrück), buy Christmas gifts, and have hot punsch (pron. poonch) and tasty treats. The Christmas Markets are coming to an end and families and friends are preparing for their time together. Everything shuts down tomorrow (Christmas eve) at noon and re-opens Tuesday, December 29th. That's right, no day after Christmas sales! So, four days of no shopping (including groceries.) Actually, I'm looking forward to not have to be out there with the mobs.

20 NM expats in our home making tamales

In the last few days I have made numerous trips on ubahn, strassenbaum, and bus to the commissary and stores with my trusty little pull cart. This evening as I walked home I decided to pick up some pine greenery. I guess I've turned into quite the bag lady!

Tomorrow is Greg's birthday (he will finally be as old as me!) and I am planning to take him to lunch at an Indian restaurant. We will have several families over tomorrow evening for a little celebration and some Posole (a NM tradition.) We are planning to sing Christmas carols in our park for whoever would like to listen.

Christmas Day we will go to a friend's home for brunch and then on to have dinner with another family. It's good to stay busy on Christmas so as not to have too much time to think about missing family and friends in the US and Canada.

CHRISTMAS MARKTS 2009
Karlskirche

People from church

Rathaus

Schönbrunn

Spittelberg

Wishing all of you a blessed Christmas!