Conquering the Alm

Austria is a land of high mountains. No, it’s true. And at this time of year, those high mountains tend to be covered with snow. That is also totally true, I am not making it up. In the summer, ordinary people like you and me can drive our cars up to high parking lots and …


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Opening Day

Okay, really, yesterday was opening day, but that was on snowshoes. This is the first time since last March that I’ve been on skis, so today felt more like opening day. It was -8c in the sun when I headed back up to the Pyrnnpass. Yup, that’s a minus. The terrain up at Pyrnnpass is …


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Bread and Butter

Most Saturday mornings, my husband Julius gets up early and runs into town to the bakery. He goes to buy kipferl, the crescent shape rolls that Austrians insist are the predecessor to the croissant. (This should not be confused with a vanillekipferl, which is a ground-nut-and-butter shortbread crescent shaped cookie.) Kipferl come with and without …


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Window Shopping

Salzburg really is so pretty, especially when the Christmas markets are open. Click through for a slideshow.

Book ’em Dan-o!

Last week I read a little blurb in the paper about a “bucherbazaar” or used books sale up at Schloss Trautenfels. The Schloss is a former palace turned museum and it’s just up the road from us. We got in the car and drove up there where our minds were promptly blown by the incredible …


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Diplomacy starts with a smile.

This morning, I am off to the dentist. I hate going to the dentist, even when my teeth are totally fine – which they are. I’m seeing the dentist here because I don’t have any US dental insurance right now. The contract agency I worked through wouldn’t sell me dental and optical only and I …


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