a few of my favorite things

1.  Vöslauer water

This flavored water is everywhere in Austria, yet really hard to come by in Germany (at least where I live).  I got so excited when I passed this advertisement in Salzburg and posing like this in front of it seemed like a really normal thing to do.

2.  Cafe Schatz

Located just off of the famous Getreidegasse, Cafe Schatz is a Salzburg staple (remember?).  When Lindsay, Caroline, Kayla and I went there during this trip, an older man sitting behind us overheard us speaking English.  When he found out we were American, he said, “Well, I’m American, too!  I married an Austrian girl, though, and moved to Salzburg.  Even though I love America –especially California, my home – Salzburg is my life.  I’ll never leave.”  We said something along the lines of, “To say we can relate would be an understatement”.  We then told explained that the day we had to leave Salzburg was the worst day of our lives and that we’d all move back in a heartbeat if we could.  He said, “You know, my wife and I tried to leave once.  We owned a beautiful home in the hills of Napa Valley.  It was a wonderful house, overlooking an incredible vineyard and we thought we should move there to raise our kids.  Well, the day we arrived in California, my wife and I laid on the bed and cried because we missed the Alps so much.  There’s no place in the world like Salzburg.  We moved back to Austria immediately and raised our children there.  I've never regretted it once.  ” …and this is why we talked to him for 3o minutes and then met up for lunch with him later.  We have his business card now, too.  He’s, like, 80 years old and reminds me of Jimmy Stewart.  So….we’re basically best friends.

 

3.  Reyna

I first professed my love for Reyna in this post and not much has changed since.  We celebrated Kayla’s 23rd birthday there last month (complete with Disney Princess plates and cups and napkins we found on sale at “the euro store”) and I’d like to think it the best birthday party she’s ever had.  The best part:  it wasn’t even her birthday!

In related news, I’m kind of done to be glad with that puff coat for awhile.  It did absolutely nothing for my figure…but it was so perfect for smuggling curly fries.