Our Guest Book: February through June

Our daughters returned to America mid January and following their departure our Hanson BnB, as we affectionately call our little apartment, was fully booked through June.  I had lengthy posts planned for each and every visitor that "signed" our log but I have come to realize I don't have that in me.  In the moment I created somewhat of a guest book on Instagram, one photo, or maybe a few to capture the essence of our guests and their time here in Vienna with us.  You can check that out at the this link for a briefing of each of their agendas.  For this space, I thought I would share photos of the last six months, our travels and adventures together.  So here goes, a photo essay at it's finest.  Or something like that.

Up first: The Horels.

Salzburg fortress... and our next album cover!

Jeff, living his best life at the Alpen Hut, apres skiing! 

Becoming acquainted with Viennese coffee culture.

The Alps!  

Rapid match with the fam, and the first live European match for the Horels!  

The best dinner in Schladming.

The garden in Bratislava.

Again, Viennese coffee culture.

Bowling with the boy! 

Ubahn shenanigans!

Up next: Uncle Tony and his new fiancé, Cindy! 

24 hours in Budapest.

Last dinner together!

Käsekrainer and champs! 

Ruin Bar: Budapest.  

Learning the routes of Vienna's public transport!

Family dinner from That's Amore, our favorite.

Fisherman's Bastion, Budapest. 

Super fans at Thing 4's match!

Stephansdom, North tower.

Next: The Ericksons, or more accurately, Christine and James of the Erickson family.

Not a great picture thanks to the lighting but the only one of us altogether, at Figlmüller, no less! 

James ready to attack his first schnitzel. 

I joined the two of them for a tour of the Opernhaus, it was majestic.  

On to April's guests: dear friends, Daniel and Minette Martin.

Soviet memorial in Bratislava, massive.

Ruin Bar, round 2, Budapest.

Learning the ways of the European breakfast at Cafe Eiles, delish! 

Adjusting to daily life with public transportation.

I see you: our hotel rooms in Budapest. 

Day trip to Rax mountain and the gondola, a day spent amongst the clouds and peaks. 

Communist statues confiscated from the city of Budapest after the iron curtain fell at Memento Park, quite eery.  

Alpen lunch, Daniel style. 

Super fans for "Billy"!  

City tour, Vienna, first impressions.  

Welcome to Austria dinner at Schweizerhaus.  

Me and my friend, in the mountains, together, love.  

Nightcap at the hotel.  Also, how stately do these two look?

Cafe in Bratislava, day trip on the Danube. One of my favorites of our friends! 

Memento Park vehicle, and me! 

And for May: Pop and Nan, the grandparents. 

Maribel Gardens, Salzburg. 

My first escape game!

Traditional Austrian fare at Figlmüller, but of course.  

Melk and Wachau Valley, day trip.

Acclimating to the Viennese way of life in the MQ.

Super fans for Thing 4, they also witnessed his first goal with the first team!  

Rock climbing and hiking at Durnstein.

Melk Abbey, some kind tour guide offered to take our photo.  A nice break from the selfie.  

Lounging in the vineyards, living' the life! 

Rainy walk home in the city on Mother's Day.

Hallstatt and all its beauty.  And tourists.  

Salzburg, horse fountain.

Fancy sausage after a visit to the Albertina, yum!

Consoling Thing 4 after his match, he didn't see too many minutes on the pitch.

Hiking Kahlenberg.

At the Belvedere, taking in all the art.

Mütter tag with Nani at, Zum Weißen Racuhfangkehrer, a special dinner with special people.

In the kitchen for Mother's day brunch, Pops and Will.

Cards, all day and all night! 

Family bowling and dart tournament, I only remember that I lost, badly!  

Super fans, again.  It was so cold and windy, we weren't prepared. 

Mom and I at the ballet.

Hallstatt views.

Classic Sacher torte experience.

Welcome drink, Zerben schnapps, Prost! 

For June, there were two sets of guests at the AirBnB, first was Cousin Eliza, traveling abroad to Europe for her first time!  

A new to me cafe and Eliza's first Viennese coffee.

Hike in the Wienerwald and a view from the tower at the Nature center.

Night out at the Prater!

Ruins at Schonbrun gardens, exploring new areas on the grounds.

Public transport smiles!  

Adjusting nicely to the European lifestyle and sightseeing! 

Day at the Donau.

Cousin day trip to Bratislava.

Bike ride on the Donau Insel.

We had planned to paddle board today but the place was closed, nonetheless we made do and sun bathed on some sort of flotation device.  Then we swam with the fishes!  

These two had an epic card battle going on for the two weeks Eliza was with us, in case you're wondering, she won it all!  

Tour of the Fiaker stables and then a carriage ride around the city.  

A must have: the apfel strudel, delish! 

We shared our carriage with a French couple who spoke limited English, the gentleman was kind enough to take our photo.  Although his finger is covering the lens, this moment will always bring a smile to my face.  

We met a friend of mine and her daughter at the Hundertwasser Museum and then had a coffee in the cafe.  Delightful.  

To round off our summer, cousins Kayla and her wife Mailee made Vienna the first stop on their European tour:

Perusing the shelves at Shakespeare and Co. bookstore.

Pretzels bigger than your face at the Donau Insel Fest! 

Family escape game, we did it!  

Scary rides at Prater Amusement Park, no thank you.

Stephansdom at night, show off!  

Introducing the ladies to Hugos at Palmen Haus, prost! 

Mailee's super mango drink at Donau Insel Fest.  

Paremi, of course.  

That concludes our photo essay and first six months of house guests.  What a year thus far!