24 days until my return to Canada!!

How fast has 5 months past, eh?
It's funny, when I think back at all that I've done, it seems like I have been gone forever, but at the same time it feels as though it has gone too fast. When I think about being in Paris, the first day I arrived... whew its like decades ago. As soon as I think about saying goodbye to all the fantastic people I have met here, it has gone too fast.


I can say that I have now been to some 30-50 cities and towns, and 9 countries, and tried everything from moussaka to paella. Some food journey this has been. BUT I am not done yet, so I will not go around talking like I am. 


See you in 24-ish days Canada.

In the grapevines by the Kahlenburg 'mountain'.

seriously, someone is crossing the line.

China gets human milk from cows

Yeaaa.. just found this article today. Just for interests sake, thought I would share. 

pack your picnic basket!

I think I will have to go ahead and say that it is summer here in Vienna. The days are long, the sun is out, the humidity is making my hair frizz and the thunder storms are frequent. They weren't kidding when they said pack a raincoat for travel to Vienna. Between the thunderstorms though, it is the perfect weather for picnicking.

This past week in Vienna, I joined Julie and Lauren for a journey up to the Kahlenburg and to the Leopoldsburg mountains just on the outskirts of Vienna. They are described as mountains, but they are more like large hills, we took public transportation right to the top. Even though they aren't quite the Alps,  both offer excellent views over some Viennese vineyards and the entire city. We took the bus up to the top, and found ourselves wandering our way down tiny roads through fields of grapevines. Halfway down the 'mountain', we stopped for our picnic within the vines. After this I am seriously considering purchasing one of those wicker baskets they sell at the Naschmarkt here in Vienna. 

Cheers! To picnic's in the grapevines. 

By the time we reached the bottom, in a small town called Nussdorf, we stopped in at a small family owned Heurigen  sampling white wines and sampling apple strudel and eggplant lasagna. 


Our intentions at the beginning of the day were to catch the sunset on top of the Kahelnburg, but after hiking down, hiking back up was unlikely... especially after the heurigen. Settling in a small green space at the river's edge, we had a good view of the sunset for about 15 minutes when a storm started brewin' and we made our way back into the city. 


Even though it feels like the thunderstorms pop out at any second here, the weather is finally perfect for exploring those tiny towns outside of the city, surrounded by vineyards and 'mountains'. And, with Vienna's public transportation system being as amazing as it is, it is easy. I hope to get out there again soon!

Until then, I am participating in a week-long sketching class. From 8:45 to about 5 everyday this week I explore through the city and sketch. Even though I really have no idea what I am getting into, and no erasers are allowed, I am extremely excited and ready to get going. Lets just say its been a while since I have had class at all, and thats even counting the random un-related ones I somehow signed up for. Wish me luck! I will probably need it :P