Last Stop on the Christmas Market Run- Vienna

After our time in Nürnberg, we took a 5-hour train ride to Vienna. Olaf had business to do on Monday and Tuesday, so we snuck in the Christmas Market on Sunday. 

We were pretty Christmas-marketed-out by that point, but we went anyways. We didn't stay for long, but we did enjoy it. On Tuesday we went to another, smaller market in a different area of town, at the suggestion of friends of ours. We thought the second one was much much better than the main market in front of the town hall. 

As we were approaching the market, I noticed that a handful of trees were decorated with very unique lights. When we finally got close, we realized there were hot air balloons, lit up and floating in the trees. So pretty! I know Grandma and Papa would really like these :)

The other trees were decorated with different things. Below is a picture of a tree decorated with massive red hearts, which looked more like blood platelets from below. 
 

My treat was a candy apple. These were one of my favorites growing up. I remember having one at the rodeo. I think that was our last year, because one of the riders got gored. 
 

The Vienna city streets were really beautifully decorated with different, massive formations of white lights. Sometimes they were draped in panels, and other times they were huge chandeliers.

 

 

We saw this unfortunate lady standing in a window of the Schwartzen Kameel:

Obviously the baguette is the superior specimen in this window.

Olaf and I will be in India until before Christmas, so there probably won't be any new posts until then. We're going on a tiger safari! 

 

Nürnberg Christkindlmarkt

A long time ago I read somewhere that the best Christmas Market in the world is in Nürnberg. I knew it would be commercial and cheesy, because every American on a "Christmas Markets in Germany" tour would be there. That was fine, I still wanted to go once in my life. 

Now that I have been, I never need/ want to go back. It was so commercial, crowded, and massive that we didn't enjoy it.  Especially after experiencing the Christmas Market in Olaf's hometown, which is sweet, special and unique. 

Nice, Italian choir

"The largest Feuerzangenbowle in the world!"

There it is- that big kettle is full of Feuerzangenbowle

I did find one new treat- homemade neopolitan coconut candies. I've always liked the Brach's kind, and these were good too. 

Coconut candies

See, they're good!

We left after an hour an had msg chicken and fries from Kochlöffel. That food should have a warning label on it. For your protection, I am not posting the photo of the food. 

Olaf is the picture of class here- standing outside the crack chicken fast food restaurant, carrying my Christmas decorations and other crap from Nanu-Nana, which Olaf insists is a cheap store (I disagree).

Well at least we can say that we have been to the Nürnberg Christmas market. Check.

Christmastime in Munich

Olaf and I jetted off to Germany and Austria the day after we got back from California. Olaf had business and we both wanted to visit at least one Christmas market this year, as we will be spending Christmas with my family in Folsom. 

First stop, Munich. The first day was a wash. Olaf was in meetings and I was nauseous from lack of sleep. These are the kind of days I say slow down and focus on the basics: finding food, drinking water, and making sleep a priority. 

Day 2 was a Friday, so we got to spend the evening together. First we went to Käfer, a gourmet grocery store outside the center of town. 

Me outside of Käfer

After wandering around the store, we headed back to the center of town. I went into a few stores, found a Christmas gift for my brother, and then we started searching for a good Christmas market.

The main market was on the main Marienplatz, and charming with the surrounding old buildings, but overly stuffed with people. 

Christmas Market on Marienplatz

Closer to the Viktualienmarkt we found a more charming, less busy market. The decorations were tops- detailed and very Christmassy :)

Ornament stand

Feuerzangenbowle (mulled wine with hot sugared spicy rum) stand- yum!

Happy it wasn't too cold

As you can see from the last blog post, Olaf has a new obsession with gold. My dad started it by taking him to the old gold mines when we were home for Thanksgiving. 


Imagine Olaf's excitement when he saw this sign:

"Attention, New! Currywurst with Gold flakes, 23 karat"

He started singing his song, all Rumpelstiltskin-like, "All that shines is not all GOLD!!!" 

People stared. I didn't care. He can do as he likes, it's his country.

Crack. Head.

Besides selling Currywurst for 7 euros, this stand was notable in other ways.

One, it was situated underneath a giant German Christmas pyramid, which might be called a "Drehturm" (Something which ALL Americans love and want in their homes, no exception.)

Also, they had the largest mayo and ketchup bottles/ udders I have ever seen.

Check those out

Olaf likes Currywurst, and I like Kartoffelpuffer. 

And Feuerzangenbowle.

Santa Barbara

 

Olaf and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary in Santa Barbara last week. Santa Barbara is the most special city for us because that is where we met, fell in love, and got married. 

We stayed at the Bacara Resort and Spa which is near UCSB and shares a similar natural-style coastline. The hotel was purchased by new owners last year, so we were nervous that the place had lost it's California/ Spanish style charm. In fact, the change looks like it will be a good thing because the new owners are investing a lot of money in improving and renovating the resort. The place had a lot more energy this visit, which we appreciated. 

On Saturday we met with Lois and her daughter Kristy, Olaf's first friends in America. When Olaf and Daniel arrived fresh from Germany, wearing their lederhosen and clutching packages of bratwurst, Lois and Kristy welcomed them into their Santa Barbara home with open arms. Lois's sister Alice was Olaf and Daniel's English teacher at university, and had arranged for the boys to stay with Lois until they could find housing near UCSB. 

The view from our balcony

Morning coffee

We were absolutely blessed with the weather! It was 75 degrees the entire time we were there. We enjoyed every moment of sunshine, albeit with protection, as I have now taken to wearing sunscreen all the time (shock horror).

The Bacara does Christmas Santa Barbara style, which is always a treat for Olaf and I when we visit after Thanksgiving. In years past we have enjoyed their remixed Christmas music in the lobby while sitting by a big roaring fireplace. 

This year's Christmas decorations were absolutely the best. The lobby was filled with fresh pine and oranges, with vibrant orange and black monarch butterflies fluttering everywhere. 

Magical Bacara Christmas decorations

Sitting happy by the fireplace

Our new favorite thing to do at the Bacara is to relax. We used to run all around and hit up our favorite Santa Barbara coffee houses and beaches, but since last year we have tried to stay at the Bacara and enjoy their beaches, pool and natural scrub coastline. We went on lots of walks and were constantly scanning the ocean for dolphins and seals. 

 

On our anniversary we sat on the beach and watched the sunset together with a bottle of champagne and a bag of green and red tortilla chips from Trader Joe's. 

 

Happy anniversary!

Thanksgiving with the Obregons

Thanksgiving is always a special holiday that brings our family together for two simple goals 1) eating lots of food, and 2) appreciating our blessings. 

We flew direct to San Francisco from London, on a too-small plane packed tight with American ex-pats anxious to get home for the holiday week. We were in good spirits though, because we were together.  

One of my favorite Thanksgiving traditions is the Sacramento Food Bank's Run to Feed the Hungry, a charity 10k run through some of the most gorgeous tree-lined streets in midtown Sacramento. I've done this run every Thanksgiving morning for the last 12 years (except 2008 when we got married and did the Santa Barbara version instead). The feeling of community is awesome. Everyone gathered for a common purpose (running) with a common mindset (thankfulness). Plus the turkey costumes are great. 

The Run to Feed the Hungry starts at Sacramento State University

We took off at 6:30am- we ate Chinese food the night before so I could hardly see

Thanksgiving dinner is the best. My favorite dishes this year were my mom's (Grandma Annie's recipe) cranberry fluff, and my cousin Angela's sweet potatoes. Olaf really enjoyed the Whole Food's turkey and the brussels sprouts. Actually, just the turkey. 

Serving up dinner

For the last few years our family has used Thanksgiving as a warm-up for Christmas. After dinner we decorates mini gingerbread houses with Skittles, candy canes, M&M's, and frosting. The houses were built by my dad, but judged by little Abigail who said "everyone is a winner" but nonetheless was very upset when Olaf's soccer-themed house was accidentally toppled.

Matt-O and Jamie getting started on their gingerbread houses

Dad mixing up some more frosting

Mom put on her pj's immediately after dinner, as usual. Oh the perks of being a hostess :)

Olaf hard at work

Olaf's fan house

My house, complete with fishing pond for Olaf

My mom does the seasons. The house gets completely transformed in commemoration of every major holiday. Everyone loves coming over because my mom makes the house so warm and welcoming with twinkle lights, extra throw pillows, cozy blankets, and glittering candles. It's a lot of work, but my mom has a talent and 164 Costello court always looks awesome and feels homey. 


For Thanksgiving my mom has a (couple) Autumn trees decked with special ornaments. 

Pumpkin pie ornament

Thanksgiving tree

The three sisters