a bit more on christmas

This past weekend I day tripped to Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It was quite charming in the evening, especially because of the Christmas markets. I also saw the market at the Rathaus (the local government building) in Vienna. This market is huge and incredibly decorated.

The Rathaus decorated for Advent with the market in the foreground.

Cedric in front of the president's house in Bratislava.

Cedric with some Slovakian money. This currency will be exchanged with the Euro on the first of January.

The little bit of snow we had last week in Salzburg.

Snow on the Festung.

And the latest column: Noisy (former) Yugoslavians and odd expressions

Advent-time in Austria

So I thought I'd make an update since I can't sleep thanks to the super-loud Serbian dance party happening two floors below me. Since Venice, I've been to Berlin, had Thanksgiving, bought the Cardiac Move single and went to a soccer game. Fortunately, Cedric survived a near-death experience at Thanksgiving.

Here are some photos:


Salzburg Red Bulls soccer game


At Media Markt buying the Cardiac Move single


Kathi was still hungry after our gigantic Thanksgiving dinner, so she contemplated eating Cedric.


With some pumpkin pie


At Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin


At the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe


On top of the Reichstag


And here are some links to my latest columns:

Column 11: Venice: Glass, museums and not as costly as you'd think
Column 12: Burgers, fries and World War II history in Berlin
Column 13: Remembering the past, living in the present

more oktober columns and pictures and some from november, too!

Since my last update, Cedric and I made a second trip to Vienna for a Cardiac move concert, visited his gnome relatives in Mirabell Gardens and went to Venice, Italy, where Cedric had a small stay in prison. Check out the photos and read the columns to hear about all of those adventures and more!


In Piazzo San Marco

At one of Venice's many canals

The second night's sunset


In prison in the doge's palace in Venice


The sunset from Murano our first night in Venice


The Cardiac Move kitchen


Gnome buddies!





Column six: Oktoberfest: the first of many adventures

Column seven: Cupcakes, Oktoberfest and other Austrian fun

Column eight: Slow down you crazy child, Vienna is waiting

Column nine: Getting the sniffles in Austria

Column 10: Train rides, rock shows and elections abroad

photos!

So here are some pictures of my recent adventures with Cedric. I'm not sure why they are in reverse order, but nevertheless, here they are.


At Schloss Schoenbrunn in Wien, our final destination on our trip.


At Schloss Belvedere, where the Klimt paintings are.


At the restaurant Centimeter, where we ordered a sword full of meat. Fantastic.


At Neuschwanstein on a beautiful, fall day.

At the Alpensee near the grounds of Neuschwanstein.


On the highest point of the Untersberg.

After getting off the gondola, way above the clouds.
On the Monchsberg, in front of the Dom.

columns and pictures

Finally, I'm getting some pictures and columns up on the blog. The Internet wasn't working the greatest last night, but it's better today!

This first picture is of Cedric on the train when we finally got seats. We are on our way to Salzburg for the first time.

Here we are at Oktoberfest in the Hacker-Festzelt tent.


This is at our second journey to Oktoberfest on Sunday, 28. September. Behind Cedric are the masses of people.


On Monday Cedric and I went for a walk down Hellbrunn Allee and found Frohnburg, the palace that was used for the front of the von Trapp house in "The Sound of Music."


Here is Cedric at Mirabell, with the Festung and gardens behind him. This was after our first big bike ride.


We continued our journey across the river and stopped for another photo.



And here are some column links:

Column three: Packing the essentials; books and snowpants

Column four: Final auf wiedersehens have been said, Austria here I come

Column five: Six days to Europe and a computer meltdown

the columns continue for austria

After a couple weeks off, school began again, which meant it was time for me to starting writing about Austria. The first few columns are about my preparations for studying abroad. My column on Sept. 26 will be the first one live from Austria. As for Cedric's well-being, he is anxiously waiting for me to leave, so his life's purpose can continue to be fulfilled. His bags are packed, his shoes are tied and he's ready to have his passport stamped.

Column one: Prepping for a semester (well, year) abroad

Column two: Overcoming Euro culture shock

the rest of the new york city columns (10 and 11)

Column 10: Ways to see NYC on a budget

Column 11: Leaving the hustle and bustle


At IKEA in Red Hook, Brooklyn, at the new park at the Navy piers


At Trinity Church in the Financial District



On Liberty Island with the Financial District in the background


Visiting the Statue of Liberty


At the Top of the Rock looking south