Austria

Here's the second part of the trip to Europe - Austria! We were so lucky to have wonderful friends, Miguel and Gaby, in Vienna that hosted us and were excellent tour guides. We also spent some time in Salzburg. Highlights include the Sound of Music Bike tour (my favorite movie), cheese sausage, lots of misprounced German, ribs, palaces, cathedrals and cheese sausage (as you can see by the four photos devoted to this scrumptious pork delight).


Dinner at Grunspan Beer Garden

Schonbrunn Palace

Schonbrunn Palace - notice the beer in Spanky's hand - you could drink everywhere in Austria (yea, Spanky was pretty darn excited)

Shopping Street in Vienna

St. Stephen's Cathedral - they had some pretty awesome crypts below that we toured but no photos allowed :(

So, we got to attend Europe's premiere AIDS Ball - Life Ball (sort of) - it took place right by Gaby and Miguel's house so we wandered over to observe the spectacle when they opened the gates and let in all the poor by-standers - we got to see Bill Clinton, Eva Longoria, Pam Anderson, and performances by Katy Perry - it was pretty crazy - they didn't let us in the actual ball though :(

Spanky finished off two racks of ribs - they were huge (see below for the before picture)

Spanky in action

Before the ribs were devoured - I couldn't even finish off one, but lucky for me, Spanky finished his two racks and the rest of one of mine

Stopped by the Opera Toilet after the beers consumed during sightseeing - I didn't go into the bathroom, but apparently its just a normal toilet - not as elaborate as the entrance with the music

Cheese Sausage - Spanky couldn't even wait until I took the picture

Cheese Sausage without the bun

The first of many cheese sausages in Vienna - they were a little hot - see Spanky and Miguel's expressions in the next two photos

Yep, Miguel, it's hot

Spanky enjoying a beer at a little cafe in Salzburg

View of Salzburg from the fortress

Fortress above Salzburg

Beautiful mountains surrounding Salzburg

We took a Sound of Music bike tour - it was awesome (well, I loved it) - can you identify the places from the movie in the next photos?

I am sixteen going on seventeen...

Front of the Von Trapp family house

Back of the house with the lake where the kids fell in while wearing their play clothes (ie old drapes)

Door to the monastery

Our hotel in Salzburg

Ireland

Get ready for some pictures - we went to Ireland and Austria for two weeks and had a fabulous time - here's a few photos from Ireland and there are even more on the websots page: http://community.webshots.com/user/emosto14 (and about 200 more on our computer :)). The main highlights include drinking lots of Guinness (tastes better over there), driving a tiny car on skinny roads on the wrong side, beautiful natural scenery, lots of churches and castles, and fabulous Irish music.

Enjoying a Guinness at the Guinness Factory in Dublin

The view across the River Liffey from our hotel room

The newer part of the jail in Dublin - has been featured in several movies, but not thinking of the names at the moment

Spanky in a jail cell in Dublin

Traditional Irish music session in Doolin

McDermott's Pub in Doolin

McGann's Pub in Doolin

View of Doolin from boat to Aran Islands Cliffs of Moher

Cliffs of Moher

B&B in Doolin - wonderful food!

Kilkenny Castle

Climbing down the tower at St. Canice's Cathedral

View of Kilkenny from top of Tower

St. Canice's Cathedral

B&B in Kilkenny

Rainbow on road to Glendalough

Very skinny roads - the GPS saved us!

Our beloved little Micra

Glendalough

View of Lower Lake at Glendalough from B&B

B&B close to Glendalough