Butterkuchen!

As far as I am concerned, the German cookbook was right. Here das Mehl ist anders. Although the birthday was in May, I thought I would post a picture of the happy guy with the best ever Butterkuchen I managed to make. Butterkuchen is basically a cake made with a lot of butter, sugar and almonds. It is from northern Germany.

Lucky

Lucky to wake up to find this in our living room. Just goes to show that we are not too old to play camping!


So I have been studying a lot, so Jason offered to cook. I have enjoyed some international dishes! I am so spoiled...

Yes, he made them!!

The "Things Not From Here" Grocery Aisle...

..includes such American culinary treasures as something that looks like Thousand Island dressing

and white bread!!

I have not tried the American Sauce, but I won't lie, as much as I prefer the wonderful European breads, I have bought the American bread to make disgustingly greasy grilled-cheese sandwiches!

A Waterfall and a Wildflower

I am not very creative with the title. The fact is there are waterfalls and wildflowers everywhere!!

Yesterday we visited the outskirts of the Nationalpark Hohe Tauern. It is only a short distance away from Zell am See.



There are several waterfalls. We hiked partially up to this one. We did not go all the way because I did not have the proper shoes on and the trail was very muddy.

It has been raining so much over the last couple of weeks. The wildflowers and grass are very happy. Austria is very green these days.

Venice Simplon Orient Express

On exam days various opportunities to escape often emerge.

Here is the Orient Express (London-Paris-Innsbruck-Venice). It is a beautiful train that takes your breath away and gives you butterflies in your stomach. I contemplated stowing away, being whisked away far from the looming torture of an exam, into an Agatha Christie novel setting, with mystery, romantic cities, and a glamorous wardrobe waiting in my own private sleeping compartment.



I was obsessed with trains as a child and insisted on always wearing blue and white striped overalls with matching cap and a red bandanna.



Oh, look, it is my personal car....

Hot Pastry of the Day! The Schokokrapfen

Most European sweets and desserts in comparison to those in the US are not as sweet. There are some things that I really miss about the US, namely copious amounts of ice in my soda and how easy it is to obtain the occasional sugar high.

This glorious pastry is the sweetest thing I have found in Europe so far. It is a like a donut with a dark chocolate bar inside and delicious super sweet icing generously smothered on top! It comes with its own sugar crash guarantee!!

For obvious caloric reasons I do not eat these often. Do you like how I put a peach and banana in the picture to try to give the illusion of a balanced breakfast??

In Search of Sunrise: Tiesto

Before I entered this torture chamber commitment known as Prüfungswoche we had a series of visitors. A good friend who was with us in PC Guyana hopped over for a visit before she committed her life to medical studies. We decided we would go see DJ Tiesto.

The show was amazing. Even more amazing was that we were able to make it until 6am the next day!

Thanks Jacq for the pictures!

EXAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am finishing up my second semester at the University of Innsbruck. It is exam time and seats are hard to come by in the library. I am only taking 3 Proseminar (like discussion sessions in the US) and 3 Vorlesungen (Lectures). If I pass the Proseminar exams then I am "invited" to take the Vorlesung exams. This year has been interesting because I applied and enrolled like an Austrian student as opposed to when I studied abroad back in 1999-2000 and IU held my hand.

Yep, pretty much....

Edelweiss: Nobel & White

I was climbing through the Alps and stumbled across this.....



Actually I found this potted one while wandering aimlessly through Innsbruck and felt that it would make a great gift for my special someone's birthday.

Hot Pastry of the Day! The Vanille-Schoko-Hörnchen

Yum, semi-sweet chocolate swirly goodness mixed with vanille pudding surrounded by buttery croissant! An excellent way to start the 2 hour-study-filled commute from Innsbruck back to Zell am See. Makes learning about forward and spot rates in German so much more enjoyable.

Where we live: Zell am See

It's cute. But, I would say tourists out number the locals and in winter all of Holland moves down here to enjoy the ski season.



We have a lake and mountains. The best of both worlds.

Before I run to catch the train to Innsbruck...

....why not start a Blog!! All the best ideas seem to come right before heading off to Innsbruck in the morning- I lose track of time and am forced to tear through Zell am See so not to miss my train. I am also preparing for exams, so this is JUST what I need, another waste of time when I should be studying.

I figure this is a good way of keeping everyone (who cares) updated on where we are. Mailing postcards from Austria is not cheap, 1.40 € to the US, and this way I do not run out of space, nor have to write the same thing a million times!