Professor Anke

Today was the first day of classes, which also meant our first experience with William & Mary traditions.

We attended the convocation, where the new students were welcomed. After the opening ceremony, they could pass through Wren Hall, at the end of which they were cheered by the masses.



The masses included these quaint looking types.

Welcome to this new episode of our life.

Germany Redux

Believe it or not, we are in Germany again! For a conference this time.

Here we are celebrating the final day (EVAH!!!!!11!!!1!1!eleven!11!) in Germany!

Adolf Wagner

Meet the waiter of Adolf Wagner. Our day in visit, we got happily acquainted with a Germany that we did not know: we drank apple wine (not beer) and the Germans around us were humorous! Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Frankfurt!



Adolf Wagner is a Frankfurt institution: there is no beer, and the waiter does whatever he wants and insults you in the process. It is a big tourist attraction for Japanese visitors.
The food is good: meat based, with a side of a Frankfurt specialty --- Grüne Soße.



We took our spot between two German couples, and drank with them, conversed with them, etc. Good times.

The customer waiter interaction reminded me a little of the following vid.



We recommend Adolf Wagner highly when visiting Frankfurt!

Last day in the mountains of Austria

Before we tell you about Bill'sburg, we need to finish our report from the old continent.

Compared to the new continent, the amount of fresh vegetables on this plate is truly overwhelming.

And compared to the average Joe in the new continent, these people are the epitome of fitness.

On our last day, we descended back to the valley, and passed three alms on the way. In the first, we had some really good cake, and in the third, we were treated to Kaiserschmarrn and Goulash.

The alm was filled with day-trippers, and we stood out with our big backpacks, smelly clothes and greasy hair. Which turned out to be a good thing, because the owner gave us free Schnapps to "help us with the final descent".

Down in the valley, we collected our silver hiking pin (so exclusive, that it is not even mentioned on the tourist center's website!). And with that, we conclude our report on Austria.

We have emigrated

... together with a bicycle, 3 large boxes, 2 suitcases and 3 backpacks. Yay!

With a lot of effort we managed to pack all of that into a 7-seater car in Saarbrucken. From there, things only got easier, as we got it on and off the plane without significant trouble, and then it fit into the 7-seater in Baltimore with loads of space to spare -- it's funny how we forgot that even the same size car is just twice as big  in the US...

The only other observation I have to share with y'all so far is that I am disappointed that I don't get to separate the garbage here. Compare this to two years ago when we arrived in Germany and I was extremely upset about all the time I needed to spend separating and disposing of garbage.

How many more intercontinental moves before I learn to just take things as they are?

Carnival des Animaux

This year we did not eat ibex, but we did see some!



The were not fighting, like proper Israeli ibexes (ibices?) either.

They did seem to have an itch.

Look at the one on left, "villains against a stone" (thank you Google translate).



Also, on the same day, we saw a Murmeltier.

And the day after, this sheep with hairy balls. Tyrol is a real wildlife-palooza!

Add-on by A: if you did not get F's "joke" about google translate -- neither did I. Also, today is our last day in the old continent! Tomorrow morning we will get up at a ridiculous hour and drive to the airport with a car filled with cardboard boxes and a bicycle. Hopefully, our next post will come from the other side of the "grote plas".

Great Food

After these photo ops on the Mairspitze, we arrived at the Nürnberger Hütte. We enjoyed the sun, and their spectacularly good food!



There was home smoked bacon, Hauswurst, great cakes etc. Also beer.



Gröstl.



Goulash mit Knödel.



And a "Tris" of Schlutzkrapfen, Käseknödel and some other deliciousness. Many good reasons to stay overnight in huts!

Posing

F no longer does photography just for fun, and regularly sells photos through Getty. The Mairspitze offered an excellent opportunity for shooting some potential best sellers...

I am not sure how well this photo is going to sell, and what kind of message it will be thought to convey. "Even the blind/thoroughly confused can enjoy hiking in the mountains"?

Also: Check out the embarrassing photo poppamomma sent of A's 13th birthday!

Blue Sky Day!

We had a rest in the valley, where we stayed in the same pension as before, waiting out the rain and cold, and hoping that the blisters and wounds would magically heal (they did not). The weather completely changed again: when we went back up, we had a perfect blue sky, and some snow on the ground to boot --- another beautiful day for hiking.

Just over the pass to the next Hütte, we ran in to the boss of our pension, who was working on the trails.

After admiring the glacier, we descended to the Hütte, where I found that the Compeed plasters that I had put on my heels, had loosened, and where sticking in my socks. I guess you cannot win them all...

Bad weather & blisters

I hate blogger! I just spent 20 minutes uploading these damn pictures. Sorry guys, no report from this day when Frans's bleeding heels, a night spent with just 10 inches of mattress per person, and oncoming bad weather made us happy to descend back into the valley for a rest.

Second Birthday

As you all know, A had decided to celebrate her birthday in the Neue Regensburger.



This turned out to be a very good choice: there was birthday Germknödel (the candles were schlepped up the mountain by Team Hilvaria Studio's), garlands, Obstler (like the good old days --- supposedly there is a similar picture of A celebrating her birthday with Obstler in a Hütte from long ago)...

Rectification by Anke: In fact, it was bubbly, not Obstler (I was only 13!) and it was in front of our tent down in the valley. If my parents can still find the photo, please scan & send, so we can share it with all our  readers who have not seen it yet.



... birthday cake generously given as a present by the Hütte, who were tipped of by the garlands, and even had encouraged a Dutch group of Christian hikers to sing Dutch birthday songs...



... and very good food in general. Pictured above: the best Kaiserschmarrn of this holiday.





The Schlutzkrapfen and pork with Knödel where very festive and tasty as well! I think my Tyroler birthday may just be due next year.

UPDATE Now with embarrassing photo!

Onwards and Upwards

The next day we awoke to a perfect blue sky, and hiked on to the Franz-Senn-Hütte.

It was a long, and a bit monotonous walk, but enjoyable none the less.

A herd of sheep made for a perfect photo op.



Ladies and gentlemen, THIS is Stubaital.