Mom and Jared come to visit!!

There was never a dull moment during mom and Jared's visit. I think the first photo sums up the theme of their visit... lots of fun! We were silly, ate lots of good food, and I introduced them to Vienna. One of my favorite things about their visit, was watching their reactions to all things Vienna...mouths open, yet speechless. We walked more than either one would have liked, though we did get to see almost all of the city in the 10 days they were here. Jared loved Vienna so much that he even changed his major to international studies ( I knew you would once you got out here!!). 

We took a train ride alone the Danube River and visited a small town called Durnstein. This town is famous because Richard the Lionheart was held captive here 1192-1194 by Duke Leopold and was later set free by Henry IV, the Holy Roman Emperor. The castle and it's walls stand in ruins, as it was destroyed several times. Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun romping around the ruins!

We thought this would be a fun picture...and it was, but...

I got stuck and mom had to help me up, so we are all laughing...at me...

Before we hopped on the train to head back, we had my favoritest soup in the world--pumpkin soup! It is a regional specialty and i love it! Well what we didn't know is that this was no ordinary soup. It turned out to be evil soup, because I had a terrible allergic reaction and within  1 hour, I was decorated with hives! It was definitely not my best look...and it was unpleasant.

Mom and I amuse ourselves by throwing up the peace sign when we take pictures together. We are waiting on our train back into Vienna, notice my skin is normal and not all rashy here!

Jared is decorating our super sized cupcakes. We had some extra batter over and decided to do the "ho-cake" version of cup cakes with the extra--still trying to think of a clever name though... 

...apparently I'm super excited!

One day we ventured to Klosterneuberg, which is the largest private winery in Austria, and happens to be a monastery. They got to taste the most delicious apple juice in the world (not exaggerating!), and tour the monastery, which houses one of the most famous religious works in Austria. It is a large alter made of enamel and gold hat details 36 events from the old and new testaments...it is really really beautiful. I don't know the significance of the building behind Jared, but it made for a nice picture!

 

Mom is scared of ferris wheels, but she always rides them anyway. This ferris wheel has cups that spin, but mom was not interested in the spinning...even though Jared and I tried to convince her to let us...we failed. 

Jared in front of Schoenbrunn Palace-summer palace of the Habsburg family

Mom in front of the main fountain at the palace

Cakes from Demel, which was the bakery that empress Sisi loved and I also happen to love! 

They are know for their marzipan creations. The horse below is completely edible and made of lots and lots of marzipan!

LAST NIGHT IN GENEVA...WOOHOO!!!!

So, as you might have guessed, tonight is my last night in Geneva. I'm heading home tomorrow! It's been an interesting 8 weeks. I've worked my butt off at times and just sat on said butt at others. And no, Geneva didn't get anymore interesting after my first 2, and only posts (yes, I know I said there would be one every week...but we all knew that wouldn't happen). Linz came out to visit the first weekend of November, so that was nice. We had a chance to go out to Chamonix, France...which is where Mont Blanc is. Mont Blanc meaning the highest peak of the Alps...not the pen. It was quite amazing, and honestly, was worth the other 7 weeks of boredom here. Actually, I went there twice. I went with Dottie the weekend before Linz came, and then Dottie took me again when Linz came out. You'll see the difference a week can make in the pictures. There was a lot more snow the second weekend. Anyway, here are some pictures of the Alps and a few others from Linz's visit. I would post a little more, but my wireless account here in Geneva is about to expire. I'm afraid I may not even finish this sen

this is a view of the town of Chamonix from the cable car. you have to take two cable cars to get to the top and it takes about half an hour. this was taken the first time I went without Linz.

and here's what it looked like the next weekend...

and here's us...just chillin' in the Alps. no biggy....

i just like this pic


and here's Mont Blanc....4,807 meters up (which is about 15,770 feet)

i have a lot more pictures of the Alps.....but we'll move on. here's m'lady sitting on the shore of Lake Geneva

and this is Jet D'eau (which is "water jet" in French...aren't they clever). it is the most well-known landmark in Geneva. it shoots streams of water 460 feet in the air. you can see it from all over the city....you can even see it when you're flying over Geneva!

and here's us!!!

this is the Red Cross Museum/HQS

and this is the side entrance to the UN. i ate lunch there a couple of times, and this is where i had to enter. food was ok. wasn't really united enough....

and last but not least....



FLAMINGOS!!!!!!!

And I've collected all these thoughts....

Ok, so I know I've been slacking. I should be posting about Geneva...and believe me I do have some things to post...but I just don't feel like it right now. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, or maybe when I get home. (I have less than 2 weeks left.) Anyway, Aaron and Jenn have posted this on their respective blogs and I feel I must follow suit. I was going to wait till I got home since I don't have all of my music with me, but what the heck. I have my iPod with me...and granted it only holds about 1/10 of my music collection...but there's still something like 2,000 songs on it. I think that should be enough for this game. So here we go...

Rules:
Step 1: Put your music player on random.
Step 2: Post the first line (or so, some are hard) from the first 20 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing the song.
Step 3: Post and let everyone you know guess what SONG AND ARTIST the lines come from.
Step 4: Italicize the songs when someone guesses correctly (No lyric hunting! That is cheating!)
Step 5: After doing the 1st 20, listen to one more random song and post it as your title.

1) She turns like the ocean. She tells no emotion. She's been gunning down the fight.
2) She said good day boy. Are you ready to shake? I said I love noise and this life that it makes.
3) I've given up on giving up slowly. I'm blending in so you won't even know me.
4) The guy who put his hands on you has got nothing to do with me.
5) In the throws of young love, Leroy didn't think to think and in the blink of an eye tied the knot not knowing how to not know.
6) Some folks like to get away, take a holiday from the neighborhood.
7) We should get jerseys cause we make a good team.
8) It's getting late. Ma have you seen my mates? Tell me when the boys get here.
9) Desert sky, dream beneath a desert sky.
10) Be my light in this darkened room. I'm on face and I'm calling you.
11) I've never seen you look like this without a reason.
12) Here I am Lord. Take me as I am. Take me in my weakness. I am just a man. (if you get this...God bless you)
13) Don't wanna wait 'til tomorrow. Why put it off another day?
14) Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. (and no...it's not the obvious answer)
15) When it's my moment in the sun, oh how beautiful I'll be.
16) There was this boy, and his name was Jerry. He had a girl, and her name was Sally.
17) Please take me by the hand. It's so cold out tonight.
18) I'm a one-way motorway. I'm the one that drives away then follows you back home.
19) Close the doors, put out the light. You know they won't be home tonight.
20) Come and go now as you please. Your actions write the melodies to the songs that we sing.

and who can guess the blog title song?? i honestly don't see anyone guessing it, but here's a hint...the band is one of my all-time favorites and was featured twice in the above list. in fact, my favorite song lyric comes from the title song:

'Cause sometimes when you're trying to sleep, and all your doubts and your faith don't agree it's cause sometimes the hardest thing to believe is the truth.

Bonne chance!!