Home sweet home

Hey everyone! I know, I know, I haven't blogged in over a month! The post on Paris and Greece is in the makings, but I wanted to take a break from it, so this post is about coming home!

Once again the airplane ride was boring, and we were all pretty jet-lagged, but it was great to see the familiar face of my grandmother when she picked us up from the airport! In the car ride home we shared our adventures, and when we got out of the car the sweet, soft, adorable little cats that I missed so much, were rubbing up against our legs. Then our friends burst out of the house giving us big hugs! We all ate the snacks on the table, and shared more stories! Then, of course, all of us kids retreated into my brother’s room, and talked. By that time it felt like 2 am in the morning for me, so I don’t know what really happened and what was a dream (or just my imagination) but I do remember the weirdest feeling coming over me. It was as if I was from a totally different world than everyone else. How I was so tired, yet the sky outside was light, the people in the room were wide awake, and I was in that small room with these friends of mine. It was really weird; I don’t know how to describe it very well.
It was otherworldly to be so different, yet so alike.


The next day was the first Friday of the month, for us that means gallery hop! Going down town, and running around with lots of friends, while our parents hang out in a bar, or restaurant!
We were all feeling up to it (thankfully our jetlag wasn’t too bad) so we drove down! Our parents leave us to go find our friends, and as I am walking up I see 4 or 5 girls who go to my school who are close friends. Imagine five girls running at high speed and suffocating you in hugs!
So I spent the rest of gallery hop hanging out with them!

Another weird thing kept happening. Every one sounded like they had a thick country accent. When I was with my friends it was like talking to them as usual, same old people, but hearing strangers talk was as if they were all really southern. I guess I just got used to the German/Austrian accent.

Now most weird sensations have stopped and it feels great to be home! But Sometimes it feels as if I was never gone, like nothing ever happened, but I have this blog to remember. To remember St.Stephandom cathedral, and the Kunst Historisches Museum. To remember Doc.O, Gunter, and Herb. To remember when we played ping pong, and build an IKEA dresser with Annie. To remember when Sarah and I got painted purple by the Lennon wall. To remember the barbeque we had on our porch, when John and my dad made burgers. To remember my art lessons with Rachel. To remember when we went sledding in Turkenshanz Park. To remember all of our adventures in Europe!
Now I want YOU to remember one thing; my adventures don’t stop just because I am back from Europe. I’m sure lots of interesting thing will happen here, so keep checking my blog; I haven’t stopped writing on it yet!

Sehr Schön Schönbrunn (very beautiful Schönbrunn)

Today, with our grandparents (the Whitakers), we went to Schönbrunn, pronounced shoen-broon! Anyway, it is a big palace! Schönbrunn means beautiful fountain or beautiful well. There is a big fountain outside with great statues!

Maria Theresa lived in Schönbrunn. If you don't know who Maria Theresa is, you might know her daughter better. She had sixteen children, eleven daughters, one of whom was Marie Antoinette, who had her head chopped off be a guillotine during the French revolution.

 So we went inside, and it was cool. There was lots of really interesting stuff, but they didn't set it up very well. There were things like beds, couches, portraits, and we got free audio guides. My favorite parts were the outside gardens and stuff though. They had three labyrinths! A couple were small, and you could see over the top, and if you kept walking in one direction you would reach the exit, but the first one we went into was awesome! The bushes were high up so you had no clue where to go, and there were lots of different ways to choose! We reached lots of dead ends, but finally made it to the lookout perch that was at the end!!!

The last time we went to Schönbrunn it was raining, and cold, so we didn't go inside, or do much. This time we spent a long time there, and it was really fun!!!

                     

Go with the Flow of the BBQ

the day after biking (see post: liking or disliking biking) we had a flow house barbeque! my dad and John made burgers and sausages, my mom made drinks, we all put out salads, chips, sodas, dessert and more! we invited Doc.O, our art history teacher, and we partied! they were delicious burgers, and wonderful desserts! it was fun to hang out on the back porch with all the students!!!

liking or disliking biking?

 On Friday the 26 of April, we went on a Long bike ride. my dad and I rode a tandem bike, because he was worried I would get tired biking for about 3 hours, and that I wouldn't be able to reach the petals. I could barely reach them! Anyway, I got a helmet, which you can see a student decorated, and we rode on! enjoy the pics!

the monastery, Melk! this is in the town Melk, that we trained out to, and rented the bikes at!

Me and my decorated helmet. the yellow on top is dandelions that Sarah put in!

the Danube! we saw many sights on our bike ride, this one one!

the next few photos are sights seen on our ride!

here is Gabe, or as some call him Maximilian, gibber, or Gabuh!

Brooke! the one who made it all happen!

here is John on his bike!

And George!

This is John Roberts, my moms godfather.

the sign says Willendorf. this is where the Venus of Willendorf was found! and here we are passing through! if you don't know about the Venus, then check my post about the natural history museum, called NaturXocolat!

And another beautiful view!!!

we have decided. did we like it or dislike it? you tell me! it would seem like it! all the wonderful views! but there was one problem... the next morning. all of us waking up, barley able to move our legs! we were all so sore! despite that, I think we can all say that it was totally worth it! I hope the students would agree; WE LOVED IT!!!