No Gluehwein and missing it already

Sigh

Yesterday I was working on the computer and to brighten a dull moment I streamed radio from Bayern 3 live - one of my more favorite radio stations while I lived in Europe. (Do not let my sister hear that)
The radio jockey from the morning show announced that he had his FIRST gluehwein for the season and then proceeded to tell on how and where and commented on the yummmmm-iness.
And here is me sitting - admittedly in a cold southerly - rather then the supposed to be warm spring -- and drooling and MISSING it. I still can remember every occasion we went and had gluehwein last year during our trip!!!! There was a definite zing on the old heart strings.

We do have access to a g.-wein concentrate - just chuck boiling water at it and you get the almost real thing. ALMOST!!! It is not the same thing is it. Then I remembered how much weight I put on while over there - and that tempered my enthusiasm for wishing I could drink another one.

hmmm - come to think of it - we still have a bottle left, - ok brb - have to boil some water.

Ok my German and Austrian friends - what is the best way to drink Gluehwein??
Mit Kastanian??? Vor'm Kamin feuer?? Mit Speck??? Oder alle zusammen???

Kirsch schnapps

right - so here is me minding my own business and I get a invite for a fund raising event for one of our teenager friends we happen to know - seems she organized a "taste" evening with an out fit called Prenzels
http://www.prenzel.com/
who amongst many things also sell a Kirsch schnapps - which I have to say is first rate. In fact its almost to good to use in baking / cooking. Still it enhanced the flavor of the Schwarzwald Kirsch Torte made a while ago, which I have to say the rest of the family had NO trouble polishing of rather quickly.

Well the other - urm - liquids where equally divine - and of course in the spirit of things we just had to help the young girl for her trip to - urm - Cambodia!!

I am looking forward to be cooking with one of the rice oils - infused with herbs and garlic - Tuscan Style!
Brilliant!!!

Although the evening was brilliant, I did bring with me 2 mugs in anticipation of a hot gluehwein. Alas no such luck! Non was served - maybe just as well. Still we ordered some bottles so should be set for a wee while yet!
After this we had a leisurely walk back home - didn't take the car as we thought u know - wink nudge - we might get tested after wards . . . . .

another Gluehwein (Mulled!)

wohooooo
went out for a meal - bd for Jonno and myself - so went to a Italian restaurant.
Got home and its jolly cold so we made ourself a mug of traditional Gluehwein.
Yummmm

That sure warms your cockles!! Now we just need some Roasted chestnuts and a decent helping of Dark Tirolean Speck.
mhmmmmmm

Mission Failed

After the turkey and a lazy afternoon we went to the Salzburg Christkindl market. For the first time the Market was allowed to be open till Dec 25th - 6 pm. Usually they close up on the early afternoon on the 24th!! Mamabear had her last "official" Gluehwein at a Christkindl market for a looooooong time. Which is probably a good thing as her work collagues already think she needs to attend a detox clinic once returned to New Zealand!!! Much to shed - weight she has.


Broom, Brush, Spade -

I am very sorry to say - I have FAILED in my (Secret) Mission to spring Li'l O'l Smiley from her Majesties Hospitality!! Seems the security measures at Old Blighty is rather strong and hard to crack! I'm sorry but it would appear that our comrade in arms will have to endure yet another winter in the Tower of London!!
Smiley, we miss you, and we would have loved to see you!!!!

Freezing Prague

Had nice long sleep, got up and ate and decided to head out and explore. Day started cloudy and stayed low cloudy with freezing temp's. Walked into the center of town - lots of old buildings. Came across yet another Christkindl market - yet this one was diff to all the previous ones. Notice the Nutella Pancake?? I did resist having just had breakfast - i know such a strain!!!


The sold special damper (scouts should know what they are) coated with cinnamon and sugar. Many other different things were sold too.
These kids where so well behaved and had a ball watching the bloke multi -task and get completely lost in smoke. Wonder if we would be able to to this in CHCH - probably not - to much smoke!!!!

Decided to head across river and up to castle. Mamabear not to keen on the 1000 odd steps to get to the top, but was worth it. Entered the local church on top and was promptly told by a zealous old guard to remove beannie hat.
Funny that woman are allowed to wear theirs but men have to disrobe! Old sexist attitudes die hard. I would have thought that in a church where everyone is equal and equally reverent same rules should apply. It would seem not so.




Mamabear having photo taken with local guard. What is it with woman and man in uniforms? And why does my scout uniform not work in same way??? Hmmmm these things are worth pondering??!!
Anyhow walked 1000 odd stairs back down and by that stage were so cold we jst had to have a hot gluehwein. Decided to head back over bridge (again) and bought a pressie for Jade in Aussie. (Belated xmas 4 u)
By that stage we were hungry and very cold and we looked for a meal. Found a Italian pizzeria that looked promising, food was really great but rather expensive. Around NZ $160 for one entree/ 2 pizzas and 2 drinks.

Of note should be that while the old part of town is charming, the tourist shops are overloaded - about 4 types selling the same stuff and there are dozens of them - overkill really. Mamabear did the maths and we realised we had to take out some money from bank to pay for the car park - another $100 NZ for the weekend. After this we headed back home early evening-ish - having walked the better part of 20km plus. On way back came across the christkindl market - which was still going strong. Lights started to come in their own and the food stands did a roaring trade with the locals. Arrived back home tired and cold and decided to take a easy evening off reading. Will have to pack up tomorrow and look for a way out of town (no map and cant use Google) - Dresden and beyound and stay a night somewhere in Germany before we find Radar and Dees.
Be good.

Second time lucky

okies - after we arrived home yesterday night - Mamabear had this real urgent craving for McDonalds. So Wilfried stayed at home and the two of us braved the Vienna streets. Saw some more decorations - a whole length street with blue balloons. Brilliant. Found the Golden Arches and settled in for a meal. Not much diff food on offer compared to NZ. Had to bring my burger back as the meat was not cooked properly.
Then we took the strassenbahn back home and settled in for the night. Wilfried watched the movie 'Pearl Harbour' - us oldies decided by 11 pm to go to bed - we knew how the movie finished.

This morning we went back to Schloss Schoenbrun and the Christkindl market was pleasantly half empty. One could actually walk around and see the goods on offer. However the weather was terrible and sleety. Naturally we had to warm ourselves up with yet more gluehwein, then rung Doris to see if she was home to see our pics. She was and after we bought some gifts for folks back home, we made tracks to her place again. Unexpectantly she had cooked a meal for us (lunch) so we fore-went a meal in a typical Vienna restaurant (that we had planned to visit) and set down with my cousin and her children. After that we showed some of our NZ pics and I think we have convinced one of her daughters to come and visit us.

Sadly after a good and warm meeting it was time to come home - and take a breather before we go out and see the play "Charlie's Aunt" - I will let you know later how it went.
2morrow we head into the unknown of Prague. The town has 350 Hotels listed via Google - so I'm pretty sure we wont miss out on a decent bed.

Walkabout

Wohoo - first we left Wilfried home alone and took the U-bahn to the former and now fully restored house of Johann Strauss. Lots of pictures there and we duly bought a CD. Funny - but Wilfred has yet to visit there. Then on to see the now not-so Blu Danube - in drizzle. There is a big man made canal that stops the flooding and provides a great outdoor sports play ground for many a Vienna resident. After that we went and met my cousin and her family for a lovely lunch and catch up.



Later in the afternoon we went for a decent walk through the former summer residence of the Kaiser.
Schloss Schoenbrunn
Reason for the walk was to earn yet another drink of Gluehwein! Hicks. Of course we visited here last time we were here with our boys. Wilfried is a very able tour guide (complete with Umbrella)



Here is a look down from the Gloriette to the former Palace.
Not bad for a summer ranch??!!

All bright and beautiful

Well we couldn't get tickets for the play so
we ended up going to "The Graben" - a Vienna inner city street where the local council puts up a lot of decorations. A small sample enclosed. Amazing decor, and this is not the time to think of the local powerbill. We did get tickets for Monday night though - so that will be interesting.



I suggested to Pam that we are now entering the red light district - not.
However the lights continued for many a streets. We also run smack into a emergency operation by police / Fireengines / and 2 ambulances. No idea what was what but our walk had to be diverted.








Well "Old Nick" was newly added to the family and straight away initiated into the local customs of late night walks and gluehwein. Another mug to be added to the collection. By this stage we had seen the 8th Christkindl market. Having walked the better part of 2 hours around town admiring all the lights and sights we were ready for a hot drink and then the return journey.

Speed demon ???

ha - u wish. Although I have to admit there is something about autobahns that is tempting. Yesterday we had a real leisurely morning. I read the second book and Pam ended up helping Margit make some rum balls. Had spag bog for lunch with almost all the family, only Thomas missing. Poor guy had to be up and at work by 10 am and he slept till 9.30 am. So he took his mum's car to get there in time. He does Civil service with the Red Cross. After lunch we saw some photos from Margit and Harald and then packed the car and drove toward Vienna on the Autobahn. We covered 330km in three hours BUT - yes But we did cover 95 % of the road in just under 2 hours and spent much more time (about 45 min) getting into the big city trying to find his place. There were times when we could cruize in the left (fastest) lane at 150km/hr or more. :)
Imagine getting from CHCH to Picton in 2 hours!! Wohoooo. Im so gonna miss the autobahn when we return. Then after we found Wilfrieds place we had a stroke of luck and got a car park right outside his place - most unusual for Vienna. Expect normally to walk for miles for a carpark.
After we settled in we went to the Viennese Christkindl market. Got the pics to prove it - but cant acces the lappy to trasfer pics so that might have to wait.
Still no snow - might have to wait for that too.
Be Good

Another Christkindl market

Another stunning shot. Shame we could not stay on the autobahn and further admire the scenery





Snowangel - this one is just for you. As you can see I did make a angel as requested. You can also see the depth of the snow and believe me - it was hard walking in it.





Today we picked up Oma and Margit and went to yet another Christkindl market. When I was a little boy we ever only had the one Market in town. Seems everyone decided there is money to be made and the markets sprung up in lots of locations some bigger then others. And we haven't even gone to Vienna yet. Anyhow this shot - taken from one of the locations of the "Sound of Music" film - Schloss Hellbrun, also known for its quirky water games, which you can only see during summer. Mamabear bought a rainbow scarf to keep her neck warm - and it matches her rainbow socks!!!! Naturally we had to have some more Gluehwein to keep warm. I'm so gonna miss that when we come back to NZ.


Interestingly enough there are at least 3 scout groups who have stalls at the Christkindl markets selling hot fruit punch. That hot drink has no alcohol and is geared for children. Of course for the grown ups you can get something a little stronger. It was good to see them wearing their scarves.

Rezepte

just in case you are energetic and want to do some research, here are some websites to look up!

gluehwein
Bosna
Mozartkugel
Maroni
Kastanie

Snow or lack thereof

hideho
Had a long sleep in, just as well - I think I'm now over the jet lag.
Had a leisurely Sunday morning, and in the afternoon drove up to the snow line - over 15oo m above sea level. There has been a warm wind in the last few days and so all the snow on the low laying areas has melted away again. So we drove up into the "Rossfeld" and stomped round in there. We had a snow ball fight and yes Snow angel - I made a Snow angel just for you!!

Then in the evening we walked round the Christkindl market. LOL we had dinner there - Bosna, Hot maroni, gluwein, and for dessert some Mozart Balls. Even got the glasses to proof that we had the hot and spicy red wein - yummmmm.
Well we did'nt quite make it all through he market, and we will have more opportunity for more later. I would have to say - we could have spent a lot more dollar, apart from the various Christmas teddybear's we bought.
Snowangel = i got you a little something and will post it later

Here you see Salzburg's smallest shop - selling Bosna's. This is the most famous shop and the sausages are delicious!!!! There is always a queue.
The shop itself is no more then 2 m x 1 m.