Europe Trip, Part II: Vienna.

Onward to Vienna, Austria!

Eager to see Vienna when we arrived, we devised a plan for dinner and dessert/coffee. Dinner was in the Stephensplatz area at a restaurant called Figlmueller, famous for its wiener schnitzel. We got a table right away, even though it was crowded. We, of course, ordered the weiner schnitzel, which was huge and barely fit on the plate it was served on. For sides we got a mixed salad and browned potatoes.

After, we walked a few blocks over to Cafe Halwelka, a Viennese coffeehouse that opened in 1939. We ordered coffee with whipped cream and an apfelstrudel to share. The coffee was dark and creamy, slightly bitter, but perfect when paired with the sweetness of the apple strudel. But what I enjoyed most was the casual, unhurried tempo, which allowed us to linger long after our coffee, dessert, and water were finished.

The next morning we went back to Stephensplatz to see St. Stephen's Cathedral. Exiting out of the metro, the cathedral towers above. The inside is rather dark, even though there are numerous windows and stained glass. It is incredibly detailed, particularly impressive given it was built in 1160!

We walked over to Le Bol, a French cafe, for breakfast. It was an internet find I had looked at the previous day. From what we could tell, it was a pretty local crowd. People seemed to be meeting up with friends and colleagues for a leisurely breakfast. A bowl of fruit and yogurt, a croissant, a cappuccino, and a glass of water later and I was satisfied and ready to explore.

One of the only things on our itinerary for Vienna was going to the Hofburg Palace. We had decided to spend our time in Vienna a little more spontaneously, therefore not much was planned out beforehand. A ticket to the Hofburg Palace admits you to the Imperial Silver Collection, the Sissi Museum, and the Imperial Apartments.

The Silver Collection is ridiculously big and encompasses the Hapsburgs various dining services and centerpieces. One set was commissioned for this, another for that, one was commissioned and never used and one was commissioned for journeys alone, etc. Interesting tidbit, some of the royal dinnerware is still used for state functions, so at least it does more than sit in glass cases!

Micah acting all royal-like.

Chocolate and coffee are two things Vienna is famous for doing well. The wall below is from a chocolate shop called Xocolat. Not only did this place produce their own chocolate goods, but they also gathered and sold chocolate from all over (although I didn't see any from the U.S., Hershey's anyone?).

We also went to Cafe Central, another Viennese coffeehouse. However, I would recommend steering clear of this tourist trap. The space is nice, large, curved ceiling and marble columns. It's fancy alright, but very touristy. Stick to Cafe Hawelka, it is much superior.

We then randomly decided to go to the Vienna Ferris Wheel and take a ride. Micah enjoys being able to have a grasp on the layout of a city and I swallowed my fear of heights to not only go but to suggest it.

We did get some great views of the city, that is when I was not practicing breathing relaxation techniques because the kids that were in our car enjoyed running from one side of the car to the other to have it swing back and forth.

Vienna was beautiful and elegant. It was communal and reflective. In the day and a half I was in Vienna, I drank coffee four times (two coffeehouses, once for breakfast, and once for a nightcap at a bar). Each time a little glass of water was served with it. To me, this tradition speaks of hospitality and offers the encouragement to stay a little while. As with dining experiences in Europe, customers aren't pestered to leave. Customers ask to leave instead of the other way around. And in this atmosphere, community is created and fostered. Experiences such as these seem to be more than just eating food or drinking coffee, there is an element of enjoyment in shared time and space with others.

Next: Prague!

Europe Trip, Part I: Budapest.

Well, I did it! I checked off the very first number of my 30 by 30 list: Travel to Europe!

Micah and I visited 5 countries (they were Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, and Scotland) in 2 weeks. Since we took about 1500 pictures and saw and did so much, I've decided to break down our adventures by country, and for all but one country we visited only one city in each.

So, let's start back at the beginning of our trip, which takes us to Budapest, Hungary.

We arrived in Budapest on very little sleep, but that did not deter us from getting out and seeing some sights that first afternoon/evening. Lucky for us, we had received a very detailed itinerary from Lauren of what to see and do in Budapest and we tried to stick to it!

We were staying in the Parliament district, so our very first sight was the Parliament building. It is located on the Danube River, which we then walked along to cross the Chain Bridge. The Chain Bridge connects the Buda and Pest sides of the city.

We then took the funicular up to the Castle district, which offers insanely beautiful panoramas of Pest. The view from the top was expansive, far bigger than I had expected.

After grabbing something warm to drink, we continued our walk to Fisherman's Bastion. I was completely unprepared for the beauty of sun setting over Budapest. It was incredible! Micah and I later agreed that it was one of the highlights of our time there.

We woke up pretty early the next morning and our day was full of Budapest experiences. We walked past St. Stephen's Cathedral, although we did not stop in and see St. Stephen's shriveled hand.

Breakfast was at Alexandra Bookstore Cafe and we got there right when it opened and pretty much had our pick of tables. This was my second favorite thing that we did in Budapest. The coffeehouse was a big, open room. The ceiling was ornate and the light bounced off the gold coloring. Two large chandeliers hung on each side of the room. Morning light streamed through the almost floor to ceiling windows. We enjoyed good coffee, the best croissants, and split a traditional hungarian cake which was layered with walnuts and cream.

Next on our itinerary was Terror House, a museum dedicated to remembering the tragic double occupation of Hungary by Nazi Germany and communist Soviet Union. The location of the museum was actually a prison/torture/killing headquarters under both occupations.

Each room is creatively constructed and designed to provide both context of the time period and witness to the atrocities that occurred. It is an incredibly well done museum and I would highly recommend it.

Moving on from the Terror House, we walked to Heroes Square

and then to Széchenyi Thermal Bath. Before going into the bathhouse, our hungry tourist stomachs led us astray and we got duped into buying a terribly stale and overpriced pretzel. Good thing we quickly followed that up with splitting a huge lángos.

I was a little concerned/anxious about going to the Bathhouse. I wanted to go because I had read good reviews about it and Lauren recommended it, but I hate not knowing protocol and the Bathhouse seemed like a recipe for not knowing what to do and how to do it. But once I stepped into the hot water, soaking my tired feet and jet lagged body, I was sold. Not many cities have a local experience so oriented to relaxation, so it was nice to join in and not feel as though I was taking away from other must-see tourist sites.

Afterwards we bought our train tickets to Vienna for the next day and walked to the Jewish Quarter. It was almost dark when we got there, so we didn't see much of the large synagogue. We did manage to find Printa (a local shop Lauren suggested) and buy some postcards, and then had dinner at Kloeves (another Lauren suggestion)! We finished off the night at Szimpla (you can probably guess who we got the recommendation from), a hip bar with tons of space, live music, and a girl selling carrots in a bowl. We were most definitely confused/intrigued by the carrots, and it was one of those times that I really wished I had spoken Hungarian to be able to ask.

Our last morning, we went to á table, a french cafe that we had passed the first night near the place we were staying. It was the BEST breakfast of the entire trip! I had a slice of quiche, served with a tiny side salad, and it was amazing. Seriously, I would venture back to Budapest for this quiche alone.

Stay tuned for Vienna, coming up next!

On keeping a plant alive.

One of my 30 by 30 goals was to find a plant that I can keep alive for a least 6 months. On February 4, 2013, I made it to the 6 month mark (and therefore checked it off my list)!!!

Sadly, I have to report that this was no easy task...causing plants to die may or may not be one of my special talents. In fact, one time I nervously agreed to care of a friend's plant while she went to Europe for the summer, which only ended in disaster. I swear the plant came into my house, got placed on top of the fridge, and I did not even think about it once until my friend came home and inquired about it!! Needless to say, it was very dead by that point.

So keeping a plant alive for 6 whole months was going to be an constant uphill battle. However, I won! I accomplished keeping my plant alive even in the dead of winter when ants invaded my apartment to escape the rain and fog of SF. I battled to keep them from making a home in my plant's soil. And, it was a battle, a gruesome battle that left a lots of ants washed down the drain.

I know that this plant is a succulent and one of the hardest plants to kill, but trust me when I say, no plant is safe around me. This little plant put up with a lot. There were times I forgot about it, and times that my cat got a little too curious around it, but it persevered. This little plant stuck with me, but I definitely found myself more conscious of its existence and definitely put more energy into keeping it alive (especially when the ants tried to take up residence).

Together we made it to the 6-month mark and I'm hoping to keep it alive even longer! My next step is to try to re-plant it in separate pots because I think it needs more room. (Look at me and my plant knowledge!)

a look at 2012 and a small thought for 2013.

Pacific Ocean at Sunset

Looking back at this past year, parts of it seem like an utter blur. Days became weeks and weeks became months and before I knew it 2012 was over. If I could sum up this year in a word (although it couldn't nearly suffice) it would be Retrospective. This year I finally took the plunge to taking care of myself more deeply, more intentionally. In January, I started therapy. It was for myself, to experience what it was like and to uproot some things from my past and authentically look at how they impact my present. Being in therapy has allowed me to see myself a little more clearly, and to give myself a little more grace, and to tangibly understand how taking care of myself can mean being able to be more present in other relationships as well. Retrospective means looking backward, contemplating past events and situations.

Art sculpture by one of my clients.

This past year I needed to look back in order to move forward.

2012 was also a year of planning adventures, celebrating friendships, witnessing love, creating home, imagining family growth, conquering a triathlon, being spontaneous, and discovering passions.

Cheering on the Oregon Ducks as they defeated Cal.

My word for 2013 is Present, as in to be fully in the moment. To plan, but not too far ahead so not to miss what's happening today. I'm not really making any resolutions this year. I'm continuing my attempt to complete my 30 by 30 list and I'm hoping 2013 is full of letting myself embrace not what is to come, but what is now.

Noticing our humanness, Christmas 2012.

It started at a tree lot.

Micah and I actually went to a Christmas tree lot this year, instead of our usual grab-the-smallest-tree-our-grocery-store-has.

It was a weekday night, a week before Christmas, and the lot had only a handful of other customers. The little trees were up front, but we wandered to the back just to take in the sight of the big ones. They towered above us. I imagined the million dollar houses and fancy building lobbies that those big trees would end up in. They seemed as though they were created for greatness.

As we made our way back to the small trees, we were met by one of the tree lot associates. He was kinda rough around the edges, his sweatshirt worn, his pants dirty. His hair was a little unruly.

He was friendly though and offered his tips on what kind of tree we should get, and whether or not we should get a tree stand. But, as he did, snot streamed down his face. S.t.r.e.a.m.e.d. I tried to look away politely, not wanting to seem rude, but not wanting to look either. I really wished I had had a kleenex to offer him, although he eventually found something that took care of the job.

But, there was something that stood out to me was....he did not seem to care a darn bit. I mean, he was doing his job and colds and snot are probably just a natural part of it. And although I felt a twinge of sadness or maybe it was guilt, or perhaps it was some sense of pity, I also felt inspired. Here was this guy, working with his hands, in the cold, selling trees on an urban corner in San Francisco, with snot running down his face, and he was just doing his thing.

And, we talked and I purchased a tree, and while the interaction was mundane, I think it meant something. And not in a it's the holidays, so let's care about others kind of way, but a we're all human and interacting is something we do way. It's mundane and human interactions don't have to be life-changing, but they can be meaningful when we stop to notice the humanness of another person and the humanness of ourselves.

It started at a tree lot.

It started at a tree lot and has kind of stuck with me.

This noticing of my humanness, of other's humanness.

My client's kid literally speechless and hiding when he saw his Christmas toy: a new bike.

Hard conversations with people I love.

Rubbing my high school friend's pregnant belly.

My neighbor sending me a picture of my cat on Christmas.

Laughing with people I love and sharing food with people I love.

The American Airlines representative who told me he had been cussed out nine times that day.

The girl on the plane with the barking dog.

The homeless man selling the paper Street Sheet and looking him in the eye.

Seeing that our interactions mean that we are living, perhaps not joyfully all the time, but living.

It started at a tree lot.

Birthday in Las Vegas.

This past weekend I celebrated my 29th birthday in Las Vegas. This checked one more item off my 30 by 30 List and it marked the one year countdown to completing that list. It was also my very first trip to Vegas and much needed mini-vacation. But, boy, did we pack a lot into the time we were there!

The first night (my actual birthday) we ate dinner at BLT Burger. Ali (go check out her blog!) and Alberto surprised me with mini red velvet cupcakes for dessert and they were delicious. Afterwards we checked out the volcano show outside of The Mirage Hotel and then made our way back inside for Cirque du Soleil LOVE (the Beetles one). I was literally blown away by how impressive it was. I loved the music, the sets, the costumes, the dancing, the incredible feats of strength. A + A had seen other Cirque du Soleil shows and said it wasn't as acrobatic as others, but I had nothing to compare it to. I loved it! Probably one of my favorite things we did.

After the show, we walked around to a few of the other hotels: The Wynn (played slots for the first time), The Venetian, and The Palazzo. My feet were exhausted after that first night, but it was incredible.

The next morning we started the day off with a champagne brunch at Le Village Buffet at The Paris. We bought the Buffet of Buffets, which basically encourages you to each as much as you can in 24 hours. Brunch was good, particularly the crepe Micah and I split, oh, and the creme brulee, mmm...

Inside The Paris there are little cobblestone streets and the casino area feels more open (like you're outside).

Next up we toured around Caesars Palace and then went to The Bellagio (which might have been my favorite hotel). They have a garden/conservatory that is decorated with changing seasons. All the re-creations are made with flowers and other nature items (like pine cones). They did an incredible job. As you can see from the pictures, it was Christmas themed.

The Eiffel Tower at dusk.

We were hoping to catch the fountain show at the Bellagio, but then it became a little too windy (there was a storm brewing) and one didn't start on schedule, so we bailed. We found a warm spot at a Starbucks. The kind lady even gave me a free water! My feet needed a rest and my body needed some water, so it was the perfect place to recharge (no caffeine even required).

Since we still needed a little more time before our next buffet, we played slots again. I lucked out and got a good machine (it was called Storm). I won a whole $2.30. Striking it rich in Vegas!

Planet Hollywood buffet didn't disappoint. Again, my favorite part, the square of cheesecake at the end (I'm starting to see a pattern). Also, great, we saw a lot of the Miss Universe contestants (eating from the salad bar, of course!) Had they not of had their contestant sashes on, we would have never been able to tell them apart. Tall (check). Really thin (check). Long hair (check).

And after all that eating, we headed down to Old Town Vegas. Basically Gatlinburg (anybody? anybody?) Best part about it, we upped the ante and played roulette. $20 dollars in, $42 dollars out, net gain of $22. I.was.on.fire.

On the last day in Vegas, we took in even more of the sites, including New York, New York, MGM (pictured below not the MGM, but Caesars), and The Luxor. Who knew one could travel the world in just one city.

Overall, Vegas was a ton of fun. Thanks to our tour guides, we got to pretty much see it all. I'm glad to have gone, but I'm not sure that I'm sold on the place. It was overstimulating and I was pretty Vegas-ed out when I left. Let's just say I got my fill for awhile! :)

Now to get crackin' on my List!!

The Official 30 by 30 List.

1. Travel to Europe (completed in March 2013)

2. Be a pescetarian for two consecutive months (completed on 11/2/2012)

3. Join a book club (completed on 10/9/2012)

4. Create a signature healthy snack

5. Make a quilt

6. Create/Join a support group for mental health professionals

7. Spend a weekend with Heather and MK in a different city (completed in June 2012) 

8. Decorate a fancy, tiered cake (completed on 11/30/2013)

9. Go dancing with Micah

10. Attend an Alabama football game (completed on 11/23/2013)

11. Do a mini triathlon or a half-century (completed on 6/16/2012)

12. Get close to completing my clinical house for my LCSW (maybe 2500?) (completed in Nov 2013)

13. Take couple pictures with Micah (completed AFTER - on 12/8/2013)

14. Host a dinner party

15. Spend a weekend in Las Vegas with Ali and Alberto (completed in December 2012)

16. Go camping with Micah (completed in July & October 2012)

17. Get a massage (completed in June 2013 & Dec 2013)

18. Visit Lake Tahoe (completed in June 2013)

19. Attend a foster care orientation meeting

20. Volunteer at an organization I care about (completed throughout 2012 & 2013)

21. Send a random gift to a friend (completed in October 2013)

22. Sell an item on etsy

23. Find a plant that I can keep alive (for a least 6 months) (completed on 2/4/2013)

24. Plan and make a 5-course meal (completed on 9/2/2013)

25. Sign up for a CSA box (completed in April 2013)

26. Take a mental health day and see a movie by myself

27. Write a poem

28. Donate blood

29. Run Bay to Breakers (completed on 5/19/2013)

30. Celebrate my 30th birthday in style (completed on 12/1/2013)