A different gondola

Also had to add that we rode a gondola up to the top of Der Dachstein (3000m) which was very confusing to people who had just been in Venice. And on the way down, Isaac and Peter accidentally rode on the top--outside!!!😱😱😱😱

The mountains of Austria

And celebrating Peter's birthday with a very exciting candle!

Vienna and Der Dachstein

Taking advantage of wifi in the House of Music (where Isaac created a "Namadeus" -- musical composition based on his name) to show what we have been doing:

Hapsburg palace

St Stephens Cathedral

We survived the overnight train

And are now in Vienna. 

MadLibs-Inspired blog

Bloggers of the Day: Isaac, Ezra, and Jacob

Tonight’s theme is a MadLibs-themed blog entry. Below you will find the altered text, followed by the original text (changed text is underlined and bolded).

MADLIBS

Today, we decided to kiss past Parthenon Square and head to a slimy part of Venice. The doors played on a underwear for a while – each child mastering a particular area: Isaac enjoyed the beds, Ezra found it entertaining to play with the toilet, and Jacob sank up a rope to a deck only to smooch back down.

We made a lunch of raspberry muffin and spinach sandwiches in the Pennsylvania and walked to the Black Gates of Mordor.  We boarded a car and took a voyage through the main lightbulb. The dominoes on some of the villas can only be eaten from this vantage.

We got off near the fish museum, which we soon learned is closed on Mondays. Dreamily, we changed our plans and split the team up: Peter would take Dear Jacob back toward the hedgehog to play Plants Versus Zombies (the card game) and Elizabeth and the older boys would visit a nearby bottom to see pillows by Titian (and his underground city!).

We all met up back at the hotel, had some killing time (Dear Jacob even took a nap!), and then Elizabeth met our friend, Sandra, for drinks and dinner. The boys and I ate take-away and they watched a Ezra's guts while I packed for tomorrow’s night train to Baba's brain – yikes!

UNALTERED, ORIGINAL VERSION

Today, we decided to walk past San Marco Square and head to a quieter part of Venice. The boys played on a playground for a while – each child mastering a particular area: Isaac enjoyed the swings, Ezra found it entertaining to play with the water fountain, and Jacob climbed up a rope to a deck only to slide back down.

We made a lunch of turkey and cheese sandwiches in the park and walked to the pier.  We boarded a water shuttle and took a voyage through the main canal. The mosaics on some of the villas can only be seen from this vantage.

We got off near the natural history museum, which we soon learned is closed on Mondays. Disappointed, we changed our plans and split the team up: Peter would take Dear Jacob back toward the hotel to play War (the card game) and Elizabeth and the older boys would visit a nearby church to see paintings by Titian (and his grave!).

We all met up back at the hotel, had some resting time (Dear Jacob even took a nap!), and then Elizabeth met our friend, Sandra, for drinks and dinner. The boys and I ate take-away and they watched a movie while I packed for tomorrow’s night train to Vienna – yikes!

We hope you enjoyed this version of the blog – MadLibs themed!

Ciao, Tuscany e bonjourno, Venice!

Blogger of the Day: Peter

Last night we saw Venice. After a very satisfying meal of pizza and pasta, we made our way back to our hotel. We confidently strode through the many alleys and entrance ways until we paused for a moment and thought, "Where the heck are we?!" Even with our map, we found ourselves utterly lost. We'd still be walking from piazza to ponte if it hadn't been for Chang and her cool demeanor. I was ready to give ourselves up for dead. "Let's just sleep in this tethered gondola," I suggested. Chang would have none of it. With a sleeping Jacob in her arms, she led us home. Our hero, that Elizabeth Chang!

So today, we awoke  refreshed and ready for the day. Our family split into two groups. I took the two older boys to the Jewish Ghetto (who knew that the word ghetto actually originated here in Venice? -- it goes with our family's trips to towns of origin - Geyser in Iceland and our upcoming trip to Volcano in Hawaii). The boys had to endure my reminding them of how Jews have been treated throughout history and how in many places (Venice, included), the swastikas on the walls remind us that people are ignorant and hateful. I'm glad I bought them sunglasses on our way to the ghetto because it likely shielded the rolling of their eyes. We headed back to the hotel (first stopping for gelato at Grom -- yum!) and met back up with Jacob and Elizabeth.

After some resting, we caught a gondola taxi across the canal and Elizabeth took the older boys to see Renaissance paintings at the Gallerie dell'Accademia. Jacob and I waited at a cafe right outside the entrance where I had a Spritz (Aperol, prosecco, and seltzer) and Jacob had a croissant.

Last night, we were exhausted by our extensive tour of the city. Tonight, we are resting nicely after a lovely meal and an equally tranquil return to the hotel. While all of this paints a scene of serenity, please know that in the back of my mind, I am biting my fingers and quietly panicking because on Tuesday night, we are taking an overnight train to Vienna. The Stang Family Adventure will attempt a night in a sleeper car. Wish us luck!!

Night.

Photos below:

A view from the Accademia Bridge on the way TO dinner. The long march came afterwards!

Holocaust Memorial in the Jewish Ghetto.

Showing off their new sunglasses and admiring the WWII-inspired sign.

Dear Jacob posing for a photo on the way to dinner. He was an absolute delight tonight. A moment to cherish!!

Still in Tuscany

Sorry for the radio silence-- it's family time with grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins right now. Doing our best to avoid being trapped in an Etruscan funerary urn!