Virtuo-Euro Trip 2020 - Day 11 - Our Last Full Day in Europe

These trips take a lot out of me.  Long days followed by sleepless nights, but there is never any regret for giving up alone time to see the world with others.  I find myself at the end of our last full day in Europe looking back at the past 11 days.  It took forever for them to arrive and then time slowed down and sped up at the same time.  It is a strange feeling, but it is the only way I can explain it.  

We woke this morning and had a hearty breakfast.  We gathered in the lobby of our hotel and met Franzzzzzzz, Karl, and Gina.  Our morning was another bus tour of the city. As we drove through Vienna, Gina explained many parts of this amazing city.  Every once in a while, we were able to get off of the bus for some photo ops and a coffee.  Our first stop was the Hundertwasserhaus.  The best way to describe this place is that it is an artists' village.  The designer was a philosopher and he believed people should be able to live in harmony with nature.  There is green everywhere and it feels like the trees have taken over.  

We then went to the summer residence of the Imperial Empress Maria Theresa.  We had visited briefly yesterday, but we were excited that the Easter Market was open and in full force.  European Easter Markets are amazing and having missed the one in Prague, I did not have confidence that we would see one...but this one was amazing.  The markets are typically filled with food and fun.  There was a little stage here and we caught the end of a puppet show and the beginning of a family of young singers.  Even though it felt like we just had breakfast, most of us partook of the food available to us.

 Some of the kids and I bought pancake bits mixed with a sweet sauce and apple.  It was very tasty.  Others enjoyed pretzels and hot cocoa.  There was cotton candy, popcorn, and meat, lol.  I think it was beef, but I did not order it and I don't think any of the kids did too. It was probably amazing!

We left the market and continued on our tour.  It is hard to describe the architecture here in Vienna.  The city contains amazing cathedrals and much of it looks and feels very old, but it is also mixed in with a bustling metropolis.  In the heart of Vienna, we broke into small groups to explore.  Most of us started with the Cathedral (which I am only just realizing I didn't photograph) and its clock tower which overlooks downtown.  Others walked to the Mozart Museum to learn a little more about the famed composer.  Some just walked through the square window shopping in the many boutiques and others grabbed a coffee and watched the crowd move through.  Every once in a while, a street performer would stop the crowd and earn tips and applause.  A few of the kids risked spoiling dinner to have a piece of Chocolate Cake.  

We took a carriage ride around the main square and became the envy of everyone else

Eventually, we gathered up and met with Gina, who took us to our restaurant for dinner.  It is funny that we only seem to eat on days like this, but we are constantly walking and burning off calories...so the many meals and snacks aren't that big of a deal.  After dinner, We continued to explore the neighborhood.  Gina had worked long past her scheduled visit, but wanted to show us one more amazing site.  Not too far away, there was a circus-type plaza with a giant Ferris Wheel.  The kids, well most of them, hopped on and took it for a spin.

Saugus kids are in all three cars!

We returned to the hotel at about 8:30pm.  The kids are all packing up their belongings.  We have an early wake-up and we head home pretty early.  I have my suitcase scale going around to make sure that no one will have to pay a fee on the return trip.  I am in the lobby and I fully expect the kids to come down and hang out for a bit before lights out.  

I am so very lucky to have these experiences.  These kids have been great and we've thoroughly enjoyed our travel.  Time has come, however, for us to come back to reality.

Mr. Lavoie, this has been a fun experience, but writing the blog and doing my remote learning was tough yesterday and today...too much screen time.  






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