Danube River Bike Ride

We enjoyed a lovely bike ride along the Danube River with our neighbors!

We started among the cornfields in the town of Freiningau about 45 minutes from our home and rode about 25 minutes to Melk. We saw plenty of corn and pumpkins growing, the beautiful Danube River between the rolling hills, and the stunning Melk Abbey. We stopped for ice cream at a little restaurant on the River, where the kids could play at the playground before we rode back!

I sometimes wonder— do my kids have any idea how lucky they are to be growing up here?!

How blessed we are!

10th Semester Melk & Vienna Excursions

It's hard to believe - but it's our 10th semester at the Kartause! 

The kids were excited to greet the students - including their cousin Mark - in their traditional Austrian clothes!

The opening weekend of the semester we traveled with the students to nearby Melk Abbey, the following weekend we went with them to Salzburg, and this past weekend we did an overnight trip with them to Vienna.

Melk Abbey with cousin Mark:





Lipizzaner horses (Spanish Riding School) in Vienna:



Ellie's reader showed the Albertina Museum located in Vienna, so we decided to visit:







We went to see "Young Hare" - but it was not currently showing - at least we got a picture of it on the wall magazine:



We enjoyed a traditional Viennese lunch with the students and staff, including Fr. Stanley joining us this semester:





Then we went to an International Movie Theatre, aka, one where English films are played, to see the new Dr. Dolittle move in 3D:



A few hours later, back at the hotel, Ellie lost her second top tooth.  Appropriately she was wearing her Christmas pajamas so she could sing All I Want for Christmas is My Two Top Teeth:



And we went ice skating at the Rathaus on the winding paths in front of City Hall:













The semester is off to a good start!

Start to Fall 2018

Another semester - our family’s 7th - is off to a great start here in Gaming!

Eight students came early for a mini-course; we had fun adventuring with them to the waterfall in town!

The Kartause Kids were ready to greet the other 215 students for the semester, including our niece Anne and nephew Matt!















The day after the students' arrival we were off to nearby Melk Abbey...











and to the town of Durnstein just up the Danube River!







The following weekend, we traveled with the students to a rainy Salzburg, where we spent most of the time in toy museum - again!



Ellie and Francis start Kindergarten tomorrow, so we are enjoying the fleeting final moments of these sweet summer days!



Looking forward to a great semester ahead!