Christmas in Vienna

The streets of downtown Vienna are decked out in lights during the month of December. The red lights above remind me of Target and the chandelier lights below are glamorous no matter how many times you see them.

This is the Spittelberg Christmas Market, one of my favorites. The Christmas markets are especially fun to visit at night when they are all lit up. Fresh roasted chestnuts and hot fruit punch are common treats at the markets. Austrians frequent the markets to socialize with family and friends and to enjoy the Christmas season as much as to shop.

Elementary Christmas Program

The Elementary Christmas Program was held on December 7th. It was a delightful evening of songs and recitations about the true meaning of Christmas. The students sang so beautifully and remembered all their lines. Click the play arrow to hear them sing!

Rathaus Field-Trip

Our class took a field-trip to the Rathaus (City Hall) Christmas Market. Here we pose in front of a giant advent wreath for a class photo before heading off with chaperones to shop the different booths at the market.

After exploring the market, we headed inside the Rathaus to participate in a craft workshop for children. The students painted and decorated wooden boxes. Everyone had a great time!

Shopping in Sopron

On the day after Thanksgiving, a group of school staff piled into the school van and ventured to Sopron, Hungary. While there, we ate a delectable steak meal at Papa Joe's Steakhouse (my first since moving to Europe!), browsed through quaint shops, and wandered through the historic center city area. I was particularly pleased to find a shop that shared my name in Sopron. It was a wonderful day trip full of fun memories!