Happy New Year!

I had a great year. Hope you did too.
See you in 2010.

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Christmas in Azores

December 21st.
Angra de Heroismo
Hamburger in a café, then fried sugary, flat donut. Then I wandered through the city, looking for the Municipal Gardens. I would up at the Memorial with great vistas and down through the gardens. I went back by way of the fort and was surprised to find a sign with Hebrew writing. I happened upon the Jewish Cemetery. Then back to the hotel for a good dinner and nights rest. Fly to Pico tomorrow.
Pico
December 22,23, 24, 25, 26.
I am staying in a basalt house in Pico. It is quiet, except for the humming refrigerator. It is cold and beautiful. Spent the morning drive the coast, old winery in Lajido, to the port Madalena. I caught the 13:45 boat to Horta on Faial Island. There was a rainbow as we left. The ride was rocky, but I could be outside and it only takes half an hour. In Horta I got a map at the tourist office and started walking. Lunch in a Chinese restaurant, coffee and a palmeira at 4, back to the boat by 5 for 17:15 boat back. The ride back was like a roller coaster. I hate roller coasters. The rain started as we took off and the ride back was thankfully just a half hour too. Guess I wouldn’t make it on the open seas.
Next day, I drove around the island. Too many awesome wave photos but I kept trying to capture the turquoise. Lunch in Lajes, good pizza, all of the whale museums are closed and most shops and restaurants too. I expected Christmas to be like that. I had planned to just walk tomorrow. I hear the rain is not going to stop. So I’m in the middle of the Atlantic but warm and dry in my cute little house.
Back to Angra, rented a car and drove around the island of Terceira. Looked at the Air Force base, great location. Had a great lunch at a restaurant called Caneta. Green, and lovely and rainy. Hotel in Praia de Vitoria, pouring rain from 6pm on. After 4 hours in the airport the next day, our flight was canceled. They put us up in a nice hotel in Angra and we got an extra day, the rain stopped in the afternoon. Got out and made all my connections the next day. Even had my luggage at the end! A restful and beautiful trip.

October 2009

October started out with a lovely walk with staff inKorneuburg. We went from the Gruber’s house to a heurigan, winery/restaurant, and back again. Ten of us from school, two dogs, about an hour each way, delightful! There was an “art walk” the Path of Life, on the way back. A sculptor that lives nearby and other artists from around the world, created outdoor art, depicting the stages of life. Interesting stuff. The Path of Life does end at the village church. This is Austria.
We had some staff development days and Parent/Teacher conferences so I had some time to catch up on the behind the scenes library work. I’m learning a lot, PYP, primary library programming in the library, the workings of VIS. Then…
Midterm break. We word hard at international schools but I love the breaks. Mary, another American staff and I went to Wabi, www.wabi.hu. We checked in, then checked out the nearby town, pictures attached.

The next morning, we took a drive , first to Lake Ferto, probably more fun in the summer, and found a winery on the way back. Harvest time in Hungary.
We went back to Wabi for lunch and our spa day, full body massage, manicure with wax, pedicure with wax and a facial. Lovely!
The next day we drove to Budapest, sort of. Even with a GPS, I managed to get lost. We typed in Gyor and would up in Gyoro, who knew? About an hour out of the way, but it was a beautiful autumn day. We stayed at the King’s hotel. I took a long walk that night, safe and happening Budapest. Beautiful and crumbling, both.
Toured the Budapest Synagogue, then walked to Margarit Island. Dinner at Hotel Astoria. The next day we went to the Flohr Market/Flea market. We spent hours searching for treasures. It is like hundreds of garage sales in one place. Drove home that evening, about two and a half hours.

Autumn

These pictures are taken near my apartment.

Tonight, on our walk, I was looking forward to snow. The area I live in has a park nearby with large meadows. I was imagining it covered with freshly fallen snow. There is a chill in the air that makes me think of winter. Autumn is my favorite season as I get older, without the extremes of temperature. The light in the fall is also special.


These were taken in the ninth district, on the day I went to the Austrian equivalent of the DMV. I am in the process of getting an Austrian drivers license and registering my car. I also have to get snow tires by Nov. 15th.

Early I commented on how calm Vienna was. Well since the end of summer it has filled back up. The trains are crowded in the morning. I live almost at the end, so I always get a seat. I take two trains, about 20 minutes each. It is still not a frantic city. The pace is fast but not crazy and mostly people are friendly. There is also an amazing variety of people. People of all ages and classes ride the trains, Curly is allowed on all the trains, trams and buses.

Home in Austria

As I was walking last night, admiring the buildings and getting to know my neighborhood, it suddenly dawned on me, I’m in Austria. They don’t park on the sidewalk here.

I love the food here, lots of wonderful bread, kaseweiner ( a cheese hot dog), dumplings. I can get sour cream and cottage cheese here. I miss Portuguese coffee and American sharp cheddar cheese.
I’m much more used to German but not ready to speak, still absorbing sounds.


I finished unpacking all of my boxes and spent the weekend cocooning. It feels like home although I still need a few things, an office chair and rug for the living room. I’m set on enjoying the seasons. Right now the air is crisp but it is still warm. Pulling out the sweaters.


Work is busy so I’ve had little time to explore. I went to Schonbrunn, a beautiful castle/estate and have ,checked out some neighborhoods. I’m saving the museums for colder weather. I’m in Austria! Come have a pastry with me.

Week 3

Week 3 is over and I’m not sure how. I am now internet connected and my stuff has arrived from Portugal. All of that is very nice but I went from minimalist to 16 boxes of stuff. Glad to have silverware and my pictures but I wish this had arrived two weeks ago, when I had time to find a place for it, before work started. Ah life, rarely a dull moment. So I had classes in the library all week, getting to know the teachers, getting a feel for the school. The surprise for me is the amount of time I have with the littlies. I have 4 preschool classes and 4 kindergarten (called grade primary here), for 40 minutes each week. I’ve gone from teenagers to toddlers! What do I do? There is a bit of a panic but also a bit of fun. It means I have a lot to learn, strategies and tricks for the littlies and books to read and learn.
My schedule is busy! The library is busy, non-stop. Not the stereotype of quiet, quite the opposite. I have two bright upbeat adult helpers, thank goodness. Last week at the end of one day, as I walked to the subway (U bahn), I was surprised to hear German. I had been so immersed in English all day. Then there is the after work stuff of negotiating the grocery store or…and it all comes back to me. I’m sleeping better still not settled yet still enjoying life!

Work!

"Work!" said Maynard G. Krebs.
I started work on Wednesday, orientation for new teachers. So much information, so many new faces and personalities.
I moved into my new place Monday evening, I took a two bedroom in the thirteenth district, Hietzing, which I have learned is quite posh. Notice my language changing, hanging out with Brits and Aussies etal.

The apartment is far from school, 45 minutes door to door on the subway. It is also on the 4th floor without an elevator. Those are the negatives.





It is furnished with nice furniture, including two televisions, patio furniture and a sound system and DVD player. It has two terraces, one on each side, on the top floor of the building. I have a view of the hills from one side and part of the city from the other. It is a quiet neighborhood, with a grocery store on this street and a bakery. I'm loving it and so is Curly

First week, in August

Sacher Torte is THAT good.
I’ve enjoyed my first week in Vienna! I’m exhausted. I forgot how difficult it is to adjust, not knowing the simple things like entrance and exit, days of the week. The weather has been warm and rainy and humid. Thunderstorm last night, light showers today, hot in between.
I’ve been apt/house hunting, learning the neighborhoods. Beautiful buildings everywhere, hidden courtyards and gardens. I see more tomorrow and hope to be in a new place by this weekend.
I’ve also seen a few highlights, went to the top of the Donastrum (Danube Tower) amazing views, beautiful park around it.




Sat outside with a Sacher Torte, Latte and Curly. Starbucks across from me.
Vienna is a big city but feels calm somehow. I wonder if I will feel that way a year from now. Someone said it is because it is holiday time, August. There are many people in the tourist areas but not crowded other places. I went to a film festival event at the Rathaus.
It was so well run, food booths with a wide variety of food and wine and coffee.
There is so much beauty here, the buildings and the green spaces.
I will rent a two bedroom, come and share this with me.

Transitions

What was I thinking?
When I decided to drive to Vienna, my thoughts were that it would be a good way to transition, I would see many sites and come to Vienna refreshed and ready. Wrong! All I am is hot and tired. The second day out the A/C went. The problem with that is I just paid a lot to have it fixed. So it is 35c or around 100 F and I’m on the road. It is okay when you are going but stop and I cook!

Day one, left Portugal about 1 pm. Made it to Merida, Spain. Found a hotel that accepts dogs, no problem. Had a nice walk around town. Coffee in the morning and on the road.

Day two. No A/C Driving to Toledo. My goal is air conditioned hotel. Followed the signs to the tourist info center. They listed hotels that have air conditioning and take dogs! I went to the Hotel Kris Domenico. It is actually on the outskirts of town, looking over the town. It was too late and too hot to tour any way. I went for a swim, had a glass of wine and tapas at the outside café and was in for the night.
Next day I headed for the coast, with the idea that it would be cooler. It wasn’t! I started out in the wrong direction, 30 miles each way and right back where I started, then on to the coast. It was pretty. I wound up in the town of Benicassim at the Vista Allegra hotel. Very nice people, decent room, a couple of blocks from the sea. I asked about a mechanic but decided to head to Barcelona instead, more of a major city.

Reached Barcelona and stopped in an Opel dealership. They directed me to a Opel repair shop. Only got a little lost getting there. The mechanic, with rough English, told me that I need a new compressor, the one I just paid 500 euros for. Then he checked and said it would be three days for the parts. First I cried. Then I left. I decided to at least see Barcelona. Went downtown and parked. Walked the downtown, got to see the buildings, amazing architecture but a generic feeling to the city. Stores like Zara, Gap, Diesel. I left town about 4, hoping to drive while it is a bit cooler, keeping to the coast. Stopped at a couple of beaches, taking the national roads, enjoying the driving more. Passing fields of sunflowers, finally in France.

Spent the night in Banyuls-sur-Merat the Elms hotel. http://www.hotel-des-elmes.com/ Quite Spartan room but A/C and a bed is what I ‘m looking for and they take dogs. Curly and I are happy.

I head out after breakfast, getting later starts to beat the heat? Figure I will stop for lunch on the coast and then drive to 9 or 10 at night. Driving along the Med is not cooler.Stopped in a small town. Palavas les flots, with a lighthouse, not, a restaurant in the shape of one. I had a glass of wine and looked at the view. The names Cannes and Nice are enticing me forward. Always heard of them, never been there.

Around 9 pm I arrived in Aix en Provence. Valerie went to school there, I knew it had a university and thought I could find a hotel. Everything was booked! I headed out of town about 11 and took the turn off for St. Tropez. It was a winding mountain road. I stopped at three more hotels, all booked. I spent the night in the car! I couldn’t drive anymore. I parked in the lot of a fancy looking hotel, it felt safe. I put the seat back and managed to sleep. I woke at 6:30 and headed to the French Riviera. I had a shower on the beach, with my clothes on and coffee. Then I slept a bit more on the beach. No dogs were allowed so I was asked to leave around ten, the beach was filling up. The traffic along the coast was awful, much like Laguna to Dana Point in the summer and it was HOT. I had lunch in Saint Rafael and stopped in a tourist office. I made a reservation for a hotel in Beausoleil, just across the street from Monaco. No more nights in the car for me!
Spent the night at Hotel Diana, Walked around Monaco a bit but no time to check out the sites. Pretty town, but… Onward to Italy.
Took to the highway the next day, it is cooler with the windows open at 120km. great roads into Italy. At Genoa, I turned inland. I saw Lake Garda on the map, it rang a bell, still don’t know why, except possibly the book Hotel du Lac. Headed that way. Got caught in a traffic jam. Sat for an hour on the highway trying to exit to Lake Garda. It was HOT. I was pouring water on my head. Finally arrived at the lake, got out at a beach spot for a cold drink.


Two ladies took my picture and I asked for hotel recommendations. One suggestion, Hotel Vigne was right on the lake and delightful, in the town of Salo. Hospitality was great, including breakfast. Delightful town and hotel, would like to go back in the spring.



Drove up the western side of the lake to beautiful views, many tunnels, a combination of awesome manmade and natural sites. It was overcast and even rained a bit at one point, a welcome relief. It took three hours to drive to the top, bigger than Lake Tahoe, just as awe inspiring.
Picked up the highway to get to Innsbruck, or at least into Austria for the night. I stopped at an information spot and the woman there suggested the town of Kufstein. It is smaller than Innsbruck and closer to Vienna, where I was due the next day. I smiled as I entered town. It is a site for opera and the home of Riedel glass. I would like to return another day to take that tour. I stayed in the smallest hotel room, I’ve ever seen. From bed to door was 3 or 4 feet. They took dogs, had parking, included breakfast and internet connection for 45 euros, I stayed. Curly was allowed at my feet, as I ate dinner downstairs and he was welcomed at breakfast too. It was the beginning of seeing how dogs are welcome in Austria.
I set out the next morning by ten, with plans to meet Karin at my lodgings at three. It should have been enough time but… Salzburg was hosting a festival and it took me three hours to go 100km, to get past Salzburg. I arrived in Vienna, at the apt at 5pm. Karin was waiting. She had put a bit of food and wine in the fridge, turned on the air conditioning and made me welcome. I have arrived.