The X-Mas Markets of Europe - Part Two

Last weekend it was off to Budapest, to experience another weekend of the Christmas spirit with the locals of the city. We had a Saturday afternoon flight and arrived at about 8pm for a 24 hour sprint through the city! We don't really mind the quick weekend as we really just walk around the historic district and the christmas markets and 1-1.5 days is all we need!

We stayed at one of the first easyHotels, a super-efficient room that looks like the inside of their airplanes. It is all we needed with a really comfy bed for €30.
That first night, we wandered around the town and market, took some pics, had some mulled wine, and ate at a winery who recently opened a cool cellar restaurant in the city.

The markets were very local and we were some of only a handful of american's we saw in the market, so it was cool to get the local flavor. Also, compared to Prague's slightly commercial market, the goods sold here were all certified by a board for handcraft and locally made; so we naturally picked up a few trinkets for our place.

The next morning we walked to the Buda side of the river up to the castle, visited the museum, and walked back to the market. It was a very pleasant day.

After visiting the market again, we learned the airport was on strike and we were worried about our flight and getting to work the next morning. We were a bit nervous that we'd miss the week of work if the airport was closed, but we found out we were okay, so went back and enjoyed some more mulled wine to stay warm! It was another great weekend, but if we had to choose again, it would be an easy nod to Prague, whose history, colorful buildings and architecture, and cheaper prices take the cake! Off to Munich tomorrow! Yippee!!!

Merry christmas everybody! We miss you!

The X-Mas Markets of Europe - Part One

Merry Christmas to all!!!!
Last weekend, Erin and I started a whirlwind adventure that will span the next several weeks celebrating christmas, probably the longest christmas celebration we'll ever have...you just have to seize the opportunity. Unfortunately, the weekdays are for work (myself trekking back and forth from Galway), while the weekends are for travel! Don't feel too bad though....I know you don't.

This past weekend we visited Prague on one of our now-infamous Saturday-Sunday trips that cost the same as a weekend on the town in Dublin. I had visited Prague with Jordan, Dann, and Dylan while traveling after our french program, but those were hazy college days (dare I say 7 years ago), so this would be a bit more cultural. And no better way to experience culture of a city than experiencing the christmas markets.
We arrived at about 11am on Saturday and hit the markets, where there are four very central markets in Prague's old town (creeping into the new town). We walked around with our first glass of mulled wine and mead checking out the food and trinkets for sale. The square was absolutely beautiful and we did a great job soaking up the atmosphere. The stalls themselves were a bit commerical, but it didn't deter from the ambiance. There is a massive tree in the main square and a stage where carolers from all over the country would come and sing in 30 minute intervals. It was very cool to hear the Czech christmas songs (many like ours just translated, many in english too:) The best pics we took were on the first night, when we went to the top of the old town tower and took pics of the market from above (like in the first pic). During the day, we stumbled upon a famous bar that has its own microbrewery and produces one of the world stongest beers at 12.6% (they say the strongest, but I didn't want to disappoint any other brewers reading this out there). U Medivicku (sp) is the name and the pub was founded in the 1400's....it was a really cool place with great beer. Erin had a cult favorite called Oldgott. We then wandered across the Charles bridge for a view of one of the coolest sights in Europe.Bridge at night with Prague Castle in the background.
The next morning I got up early while Erin slept and took a few shots of the bridge pre-tourist craziness. Erin and I then went to the castle and toured it, as well as St. Vitnus cathedral, an impressive church that dates back to the early middle ages, with the current structure dating to the 1400's. After wandering around Mila Strana (sp) and getting lunch at an amazing restaurant called Bar Bar, we were back to the christmas markets for some treats before heading home.

Only 4 days till Budapest!!!...and 10 till Munich/Austria/Kitzbuhel!!!!

Hop-Scotch Across the Atlantic

It has been a whirl wind month for us with trips back and forth across the Atlantic. I flew to DC for work for a few days and was lucky to be able to spend some time in Clarendon catching up with friends. Tear. Tear. Then the following week it was on a plane to MN. Lou was in Galway for a week, Dallas and MN for two and then back to Galway for another week.

So while we have no European adventures to report of late (stay-tuned December is jam-packed), we have had a great time seeing old friends, visiting family and exploring Dublin. I flew into Minneapolis and headed up north with Jamie and her boyfriend and was surprised to find Linsey had flown in from Palo Alto for the weekend. We celebrated my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary and took it easy, eating, sitting in front of the fireplace and catching up. Then, my mom and I went to Minneapolis for a night to visit new babies in the family and do drive-by house hunting.

Lou and I have decided that instead of dealing with the upkeep of a dog when we move back to MN next summer, we are going to live close enough to Meaghan and Ryan so that we can just borrow Bella when we want to go for a walk.

Lou joined me in Minneapolis for the weekend and we had nice family feast at Alissa and Jeremy's house. We threw a few steaks on the grill (brrr.....why do Minnesotan's love to grill even in the winter?) and Jeremy made a nice little coq au vin. It was Lou's grandparent's anniversary so they came over to celebrate along with David, Lisa and Jake, and Anne and Doug. It was great to see all of them as it had been over a year.

We both had to return to Ireland just a few days shy of Thanksgiving. Last year, we were distraught to find out that marshmellows, turkey and pumpkin pie are hard to come by in Dublin. Thanksgiving just wasn't the same without eating yourself into a food coma. So this year we swore we were not going to make the same mistake, talking to our families via long distance and drooling at the thought of football and leftovers. So I filled a suitcase with Thanksgiving goods from Trader Joe's, we special ordered a turkey and cooked a feast with our American friends Katie and Rob, and Katie and Pierre.

Lou carved the bird.

The gang.