• Welcome to my second post – long overdue! I can think of no better city than Vienna for the revival of this blog. Every time I come to Vienna, there are new details to notice. Although this visit was a short one, it was packed with plenty of great memories and many (many!) photos!

    Admiring Stephansdom

    A trip to Vienna is never complete without seeing Stephansdom. When you visit, you are bound to leave with *at least* 10 photos of this beautiful cathedral – from every angle. The Gothic structure with Romanesque and Baroque elements truly speaks for itself. I know nothing about architecture, but boy that sentence sounded cool! Thank you for the architecture lesson, Google. Below are my five favorite views of Stephansdom from this trip.

    Gloomy Morning
    At Dusk
    Up Close
    Even Closer…
    Very, very far away!
    Featuring: Schönbrunn

    Following the Yellow

    One thing I noticed during this trip more than ever before is how much yellow there is all around the city. Since last year, yellow is my favorite color, so I figured this topic deserves its own, dedicated section. I love the way the yellow buildings brighten the city; the overcast weather even helped to enhance the shade.

    Perfect Pigeon Perch

    Intrigued by collecting these photos, I did a bit of research on this particular shade of yellow – “Schönbrunn Yellow”, named after the iconic color of Schloss Schönbrunn. For centuries, yellow has been associated with the House of Hapsburg – their flag bearing black and yellow. Let’s dig a little deeper into the history of this specific shade. Ochre is an earth pigment occurring naturally in different shades across all of Europe. With temperature treatments, the tones of the ochre pigment can change. The chemical reaction yielding this famous yellow hue starts with alkaline lime and produces iron(III) oxide hydroxide (FeO(OH)), which oxidizes further. And on that note, I think that is enough science for one day!

    Contrasting Yellows
    A Deeper Yellow!

    If you would like to read about some fun myths on the iconic “Schönbrunn Yellow”, here is the article I found: link.

    Schönbrunn!

    Around Every Corner

    Even on a cloudy day, Vienna’s streets remain vibrant! With each turn, there is something new to see and admire. The inner city’s architecture is a feast for the eyes, and no two streets are the same. Below are some of my favorite shots from walking in the inner city with Oma and Opa!

    Past and Present
    Perspectives
    Symmetry – Almost
    Strokes of Color
    A Light Drizzle
    The Sun Came Out!
    Between Buildings
    Built to be Admired
    Two Kinds of Horsepower

    Down by the Danube

    This was a new spot for me – thank you to Tante Martina for showing me around! It is so lovely to see the Danube river up close. I will definitely have to come back to this spot in the summer – perfect for a picnic. The swans showed up and stole the scene entirely; they are effortlessly graceful!

    On the Water
    Pit Stop
    The Locals!

    Reuniting Once Again

    It is always great to spend time with the family since we cannot see each other too often. Luckily, another trip is already booked and in the calendar. Here are some family photos from the last few days!

    Smile!
    Do we look alike?
    Quick “Bon Voyage” Breakfast

    Food Section, As Always

    Some of you reading this will be surprised to find out that I did not have a single soup this time in Vienna. Next time! The fresh bread from Opa’s morning bakery run is hard to beat – simple and delicious. I wish the Kipferls would make their way to the United States! My favorite desserts from the visit were the Topfenstrudel and the Walnusstorte (a new one for me). Vienna is the perfect place for my sweet tooth ❤

    Breakfast with Oma and Opa
    Topfenstrudel – All to Myself!
    Walnusstorte & Kardinalschnitte at Heiner

    Thank you for reading! More to come from this trip – next stop: Brussels, then Marrakech!

  • Driving around the Olympic Peninsula with my best friend felt like being a little kid again. One minute we were winding through the misty Hoh Rainforest, straight out of a fairytale; the next, we were chasing sunbeams at Rialto Beach. The scenery was utterly breathtaking!

    Along the Coast

    My favorite kind of beach has always been where the forest meets the ocean. We explored three beaches during our trip: Rialto Beach, Ruby Beach, and La Push – First Beach.

    Our goal for Rialto Beach was to see the Hole in the Wall before sundown. The warm lighting from the sun beginning to set made the walk over to Hole in the Wall mesmerizing. We encountered one roadblock on our walk – a forest creek speeding down to the meet the Pacific. After some minor (very minor) climbing, we made it around the creek and continued on. The key with Hole in the Wall is to go at low tide. You can use this website to track the tide to make sure you go at the right time. Alright, enough talk. Now, it’s time for the photos.

    Rialto Beach
    Rialto Beach
    Hole in the Wall
    Sunset at Rialto

    We made a quick stop at Ruby Beach – my favorite of the trip. Although, how could one choose? Ruby Beach is known for its towering sea stacks and driftwood-lined shore. Here are some shots!

    Ruby Beach
    Surf Break
    Spotted!

    Finally, we explored La Push, specifically First Beach. The clouds rolled in, giving everything that soft, twilight feel – moody, cinematic, and perfect. Do not ask us how many times we said “It’s La Push baby.” We ate dinner at River’s Edge – highly recommend for the views and the fried pickles.

    La Push – First Beach

    Up the Mountain

    We kicked off our first morning with a walk along Hurricane Ridge. At first, we thought the weather might ruin the view, but once we drove up out of the fog bank, the sky turned impossibly blue and the air felt sharp and fresh. The real highlight, though, was the wildlife. We watched a group of deer frolic in the meadow, and two of them even squared up for an antler showdown. Once again…the pictures!

    Snow-Capped Peak
    Fall Foliage & Fog
    A Battle Scene
    The Fog Bank
    Above the Clouds
    The Ridge
    Idyllic Road

    Between the Lakes

    The lakes along the drive from Port Angeles to Forks were impossible to ignore. I wish we got to explore more here! This drive was definitely a “stop-and-stare” kind of route.

    Lake Sutherland
    Lake Crescent

    Into the Rainforest

    Saving the best for last! The only problem was…everything felt like the best. The Hoh Rainforest was enchanting. We drove in through thick fog with the road completely to ourselves. I have never seen moss so lush and endless, draping from every branch and blanketing every surface in a deep, beautiful green. When the sun finally broke through the trees, the golden beams filtered through the moss like a scene straight out of a fairytale!

    Hoh River
    Misty Morning
    Road to Ourselves
    The Mighty Stump
    The Magnificent Mushroom
    Towering Trees
    Moss-Covered Limbs
    The Clearest Creek

    Thank you, Olympic!

    And just like that, another state checked off the list. I would love to go back and soak in even more of everything the Olympic Peninsula has to offer. What made this trip truly special, though, was the company – cheers to 13 years of friendship and countless years ahead!

    It’s La Push Baby!
    Mandatory Sign Picture
    Mandatory Soup Picture – Chowda!