Tuesday, October 1, 2013

In Detroit

We made it to Detroit! The picture is the fall color in Maine. It is
good to be back in Michigan.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Arriving in Amsterdam

We left Vienna this morning and had a good flight into Amsterdam.

Just Relaxing

And back at the hotel another group was just relaxing.

Last Dinner in Vienna

Many shared their last dinner in Vienna at the Restaurant Mall a few
blocks from the hotel. Good times were had by all!

Flowers Everywhere

There were flowers everywhere throughout Austria and Germany. I wish I
could pack these.

Pasta for Dinner

Joanne is having pasta for the last dinner.

Liz Getting Dinner

Most of the group walked down to the restaurant mall for dinner. Liz
is making a selection for her dinner.

Shower is Way Too Small

We stayed at the Artis Hotel in Vienna. Some of us had smaller rooms
including a very small shower (about 2 foot by 2 foot). It was a
frightening experience to rake a shower here!

A View of Vienna

Vienna is a beautiful city.

Electric Cable Car

We were dropped off in the center of Vienna. We had the option of
walking or taking Cable Car 71 back to the hotel. We walked back and
took in the additional sights.

Guys In Front of the Fountain

Tom,Marv,Tom,and Bill in front of the Russian War Memorial Fountain.

The Karlskirche

The Karlskirche now houses a museum dedicated to Mozart.

Watching

Watching the guys taking pictures of the girls!

Enjoying Vienna

Barb and Stan enjoy the scenery around Vienna.

Music Everywhere

A reminder on the wall of the great music that was performed in Vienna.

Lunch for Tom and Ann

Tom and Ann ate lunch at the same cafeteria with the painted picture
of Vienna buildings.

Eating Lunch

Bill and Betty ate lunch aga fancy cafeteria. The picture behind them
is painted picture of Vienna buildings.

A Picturesque Corner in Vienna

Closer Up to St. Stephen's Cathedral

St. Stephen's Cathedral

Habsburg Palace

Opera House in Vienna

Countryside Outside of Vienna

Convent Chapel

This is a picture of the Convent Chapel.

Mysterious Hunting Lodge turned Convent

A mysterious occurrence at a Hunting Lodge where a Habsburg family
member probably killed his mistress (16 yrs old) and then killed
himself (30 yrs old). The building was renovated to be a convent.
Dan and Maridel are about to go see the convent.

Gustav Klimt

This one is for you Jason. Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) lived in Vienna so
we saw copies of his paintings everywhere. This is a very artistic
city with many artists and musicians.

Underground Boat Cruise

We loaded up for an underground boat cruise. Just before this we were
in Cave area that had great acoustics. We sang 'Happy Birthday' to
Bill and then Ed gave us the the best yodeling we have ever heard! The
guide asked Ed if he was from Austria.

A Boat from Years Ago

This is an d time boat in the river in the gypsum mine.

An Underground Lake in the Mine

There was a beautiful underground lake in the gypsum mine.
The Gypsum mine was open from 1848-1912. Gypsum was used for
fertilizer. They took out 3000 kilos every day. In 1912 there was a
water break disaster with 20 million liters of water letting loose.
The mine was then closed down.
It was reopened in WWII with a Concentration Camp built right above it
with the prisoners working in the mine for a year.
The mine is now used for visitors and local events.
There is a festival hall in the mine where they have events such as
musicals like 'Man of LaMancha'.

Gypsum Mine

We walked about 1/4 mile underground to get to the gypsum mine that
was a few miles outside Vienna.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Salm Brau

Salm Brau is a brewery. They made 6 kinds of beer.

Lunch at Salm Brau's

We travelled to Vienna (Wein) today by train. We ate lunch at Salm
Brau's. Almost everyone enjoyed their lunch; Tom and I shared ribs.

7 At the Table

We ate at a little restaurant down the road from the hotel. They
offered a shared plate of food for 7 Euro/person. Lynn and Ann
contemplated their choices: salad, ribs, grilled chicken or pork,
grilled veggies or sausage.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Side Altar

The Administrator pointed out that the side altar contained food of
thankfulness.

Inside of Church

This is the inside of the Church we attended. We had been told that
they had a 6pm Mass on Saturday evening, but it turned out it was a
prayer service. We stayed and followed along in the hymnal for the
hymns sung in German. The administrator (I think she was a nun) ran
the service but the priest ( I think he was a Msgr) also took part.
The administrator had a lovely voice; it seemed a bit like vespers.
The administrator thanked us for staying and following along with the
singing. I think there were 40 of us and about a dozen Austrians, but
theistic made was beautiful!

Saturday Night Church

This is the Church we attended tonight.

Walking To Church

We walked about 3/4 mile to church tonight.

Thelen Sisters

The Thelen Sisters (Janet, Cindy, Elaine, and Janice) stand in front
of the gazebo as Floyd is singing 'I am sixty going on seventy'!

Gazebo

Diane and Bill stand in front of the Gazebo used by Franz and Leisel
in 'Sound of Music'.

VonTrapp Home

The back-side facing the lake of the home used in 'Sound if Music'.
Also remember the children boating on this lake? Well, this home was
used in 'Sound of Music' but it was not the real VanTrapp home.

Caught Lynn Kneeling

Lynn was kneeling outside the convent. This probably coincides with
calling her Mother Superior all day!

Close Up of Convent Altar

This is a close up of the Convent Altar.

Convent Chapel

This is the chapel connected to the convent. Do you remember seeing
Maria not paying attention at Mass or when she married the Captain?

View of the City

Floyd and Cindy enjoy their view of the city.

View of Cathedral and More

This was a view from where we ate lunch overlooking the back of the Cathedral.

Ready for Lunch

We (Frannie, Ann, Tom, Marv, Barb, and Marlene) are ready for lunch.
Lunch was pumpkin soup, weinerschnitzel, roasted potatoes, and
chocolate cake and whipped cream.

Leaving the Cemetary

Barb us ready to leave the Cemetary and go to lunch.

The Cemetary

Back to 'Sound if Music', this is the cemetary Hollywood modeled the
cemetary for the movie.

Looks Like Trouble

These 4 guys (Dick, Tom, Skip, and Ken) are usually figuring some
diversionary tactic.

St. Peter's Monastery

This is the inside of St. Peter's Monastery. It was built in the 12th century.