Vienna

On Monday, I met up with two friends from church (Amanda and Alli) and DeAnn at the train station. They all teach together at the International Christian School of Budapest. The train left at 7:24 am and were in Vienna at ten. 

We did some walking around and saw:

St. Stephen's Church

Opera House

and many stores along the way.

We stopped for lunch for some traditional Austrian food. 

Vienna Sausages with sauerkraut and fried potatoes  

Salad with sauerkraut, potatoes and dressing on the bottom.

I have never been a fan of sauerkraut but it was quite tasty at this restaurant. (We ate it today at RH and I wasn't a huge fan.)

We went into Julius Meinal, a gocery store with items from all over. There was Campbell's Soup, every kind of cheese, chocolates from Africa to Switzerland and much much more. 

Amanda, Alli and DeAnn as we rode in the elevator

Walked around some more and saw the Schönbrunn Palace

Then we went to the summer house. You could literally spend three full days here. There's a zoo, museums, a labyrinth, gardens...

Map of it all

DeAnn has some friends through her mission agency that we met up with for dinner. On our way to dinner we saw the Austrian clock, 

Holocust memorial for the Austrians that died

It is a symbolizing a gas chamber with books turned outwardly as untold stories of the people who died. There are no door knobs or handles suggesting the possibility of coming and going but, they obviously don't open. 

Here is the place we ate and a picture of all of us. 

They served homemade pretzels

I told my waiter gluten free and he went to tell the cook and here came my delicious dinner 

Then it was time to catch the train back home. 

The day was absolutely wonderful and the company was even better. Hard to believe that I am capable of going to another country just for the day. 

Other events of my long weekend: 

Saturday

A walk through the park with Amanda. I can't remember the name of it but, I will be going back!! The views were beautiful that overlooked the city, there were many trails and cross country skiing in the winter. 

Suzcrazda- A coffee and sweets shop. Amanda ordered a cherry pie and I ordered a honey coffee. Mmm! We enjoyed it outside with blankets.

Sunday

Church at Danube International, lunch with friends by St. Stephen's Basilica and then off to the zoo! I wish I had my camera with me but I sadly didn't. 

Tuesday

Hungarian National Holiday = Free Museum Day! 

Visited the Art Gallery and Hungarian National History Museum. 

Stopped by my neighbors, the Gibsons, to help Debbie with a visual for her presentation. She left for a mission trip to India on Wednesday.