Like the Griswolds, the Tyvands believe in European Vacations. For only the 2nd time in our overseas adventure we did not travel home for Christmas, but chose a tour of European Christmas Markets instead. For those of you who know us well, yes, indeed, we did the same thing 3 years ago. We chose one familiar stop, Salzburg, and two new choices, Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic, and Ljubljana in Slovenia (though we had been here on prior trips). We wrapped up our 18 day vacation by visiting friends in Sarajevo and then seeing our good friends the Steinackers in Vienna.
We wanted to visit a smaller city and Christmas Market this time around and chose Cesky Krumlov as our first stop. It's a UNESCO castle town and has a great little Christmas Market.
Talin and Alma, taken from the castle overlooking Cesky Krumlov.
Our best photo of the castle, taken from the castle.
The rather quaint Christmas Market in the center of town.
Next stop Salzburg. Our favorite city and Christmas Market from our first go round, this time we stayed in the center of the city and visited the 3 main markets in the city. Our hotel had the oldest pub in the city located in the basement.
A return to the rink where Alma first ice skated. 3 years ago she skated with the aid of a penguin, now as a confident 7 year old, all by herself.
One of the markets was located just outside of town, with a large park adjacent to it, we played on this same swing on our first visit.
A view of the old town (where the largest Xmas Market is located) and the castle that overlooks the entire city.
A pedestrian bridge where the tradition is to inscribe a message on a padlock and then lock it to the bridge. We purchased a Tyvand family lock and took part in the tradition.
From Salzburg, Austria to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Though we had been to Ljubljana a couple of times prior, this was our first visit during Christmas. This may be our new favorite. The city has an extensive pedestrian zone that was entirely illuminated.
An iron scaled model of the city that served as a perfect pony land. The girls would spend hours here dreaming up adventures. For Jim and Rose, there were 7 hot mulled wine vendors within 50 meters.
This is the scene from the 3 bridges area of downtown, steps from our hotel and steps from pony land city.
Rose and the girls one morning from the center of the city, and Talin and Alma leaping from the dragon bridge.
The microbrewery craze has come to Slovenia. The first IPA since August (not a chance in the Kaz)
From Ljubljana back to Sarajevo, a short 7 hour drive. When we crosssed the border Alma commented that it "smelled like Bosnia". Not sure why, but we took few pictures.
As we rolled into town, we stopped at our favorite restaurant, Imidz. If you visited us in Sarajevo, we took you here, nestled along a creek close to where we used to live.
A shot of Alma from Pigeon Square.
From Sarajevo a short 9 hour jaunt to Vienna to stay with our friends the Steinackers, who just happen to have girls that same ages and Talin and Alma, and who went to school together in Sarajevo. They live in a small village 20 minutes or so outside of the city.
Just outside their door is a sledding hill. A sled has been constructed by Hannes using skis, wood, and a small mattress, perfect for 4 girls. And later for 4 adults.
An absolute treat, tickets to an ensemble symphony arranged by the Steinackers. Members of the Vienna Philharmonic perform a smaller show on December 30, a prelude to an internationally renown New Year's Day performance.
New Year's Eve had us on a new adventure, spending a night in a mountain hut. While Hannes and Jim hiked in, the girls rode in the luxury of these all mountain vehicles.
An Austrian New Years tradition of melting tin, dropping the molten tin in water, determining what it looks like and then interpreting your future.
How does one (or 8) get off the mountain? By sled of course. In the morning we took to sleds to get off the mountain. A mostly safe 20 minute ride down the mountain.
Happy New Year 2015 from the Tyvands
