Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I can't believe 2015 is almost over, so much in my life has changed since January and every day I feel lucky for all the wonderful experiences I've had this year. So, if you're reading this: thank you! You all are a big part of the reason I feel as lucky as I do, I'm grateful for each and every one of you.
I stayed in Europe for Christmas, and although it was a little bit strange not to be home (since this is the first time I've ever been without my family for the holidays) I had a wonderful time here. I spent the Christmas holidays with my friends Christina and Martin, spending the first few days with Martin's family in Eglofs in Allgäu, a region in southern Germany and then the next few days (including today) with Christina's family in Niederndorf in Tirol, a region in western Austria. It was so nice to spend the holidays with friends and their families, and it was also fun to see some parts of Germany and Austria that I hadn't been to yet!
And now: pictures! (Christina took quite a few of these as well with the camera she got for Christmas!)
This is Allgäu, where Martin's family lives. Still very green even though it's December (although normally there would be snow), and the hills and meadows there are very peaceful--a very relaxing place to spend Christmas.
I also made some new friends here; Martin's family keeps goats! I'm sure you've all seen the photos from Facebook, but I can't seem to stop posting more because I think they're so cute!
My new friend Heidi smiling for the camera.
The lovely Christmas tree.
This nativity scene was built by Martin's father, and the figures were carved by his uncle.
Here we are after opening gifts: (from left to right starting in the back) me, Martin, Christina, Moni (Martin's mother), Theresia (Martin's sister), Rudi (Martin's father), Peter (Martin's brother) and Geli (Martin's twin). In Germany presents are opened on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas morning and are brought by the Christkind, baby Jesus. So after we got back from Catholic service on Christmas Eve (which was hard to follow not only because I was raised Protestant, but also because it was in German!) we came back home and opened presents. I hadn't expected anything, so I was surprised to be given a wonderful book of German recipes from Moni, a book about the history of a little town called Wangen that I fell in love with when we went for a visit, and a voucher for a tour of the city as well. It was all so kind of them, since these were all very thoughtful gifts.
On Christmas Day after some more delicious food cooked by Moni (see the apple strudel above!), Martin, Christina, and I left for Christina's house in Niederndorf, Austria. This is yet another little town just a few minutes away from the border with Germany and quite near to the Austrian Alps. The dialect here in Austria is quite difficult for me to understand, it's definitely been a chance to improve my practical German by learning a bit of dialect!
Overlooking the neighboring town of Kufstein is an old military fort dating back to 1200 which we visited on the 26th, and it goes without saying that I was completely thrilled by it. So much fascinating history! It was besieged by the Bavarians 1703 and once held accused witches and revolutionaries in its prison.
The protected pathway leading up to the fortress.
Towers and fortified walls. The walls in the prison are as thick as 7 meters!
I may have been born in the wrong century to be a knight, but I can certainly pretend to be one using a cutout intended for children.
A book of herbs and a cauldron belonging to a convicted witch in the 1400s.
I also had a little cooking lesson from Andrea, we made Griesbrei, a porridge-like meal from flour, milk, and butter. Very easy but very delicious!
Cooking.
Our finished product.
Yesterday we went on a hike in the Kaisertal, a valley close to where Christina lives with picturesque views of the Alps and of Kufstein below.
On the path--it looked like a postcard, I still can hardly believe it was real because it was so beautiful. Christina pointed out that I spent most of the hike gushing about how beautiful everything was, but we don't think that's a bad thing. I used to think that everything had to have a purpose, had to have some kind of greater philosophical meaning, but one thing I've begun to learn during my time abroad is that sometimes beautiful things are just beautiful, and that to notice that beauty and enjoy it is enough.
Me with the spectacular Austrian Alps. The peak on the left is called Elmauer Halt, just in case anyone was interested. Our goal was the Antoniuskapelle, a tiny church in the valley with the peaks behind it built in 1711.
Yet another post card picture. It looks like something from a movie, so beautiful I could hardly believe it was real. I couldn't help but think of The Sound of Music.
Here I am in front of the Kapelle with a new friend we made, this beautiful white dog who wanted to play with us! He came right up and put his nose to my hand, very friendly and sweet. Such a beautiful and lively dog fit right in with this wonderful and peaceful and very alive place. It's hard not to fall in love with beautiful Austria.
A sunset of view of our journey back out of the valley, the building below is Fortress Kufstein, yet another reason why it's easy for me to forget that i'm in Europe as a modern university student and not as a character in a fairy tale.
It seems that everywhere I go I leave a piece of my heart behind, and Allgäu and Tirol are no exception. It was wonderful to spend Christmas here with friends, and I'm reminded daily that my life is mine to enjoy and to live, and the fact that things are beautiful and I get to see them will always be more than enough.
Happy New Year, everyone, and I hope you all find something beautiful.
