The End of Euro Trip 2011

The last stop on our European tour with Nate and Crista was Nürnberg (Nuremberg in English), home of the most famous Christmas Market in all of Germany.  Having been to Christmas Markets in 7 different cities and having heard so many great things from past Nuremberg Christmas Market visitors, my expectations were pretty high.  I thought the market was great; there were tons of stands and beautiful decorations, but I can't say that it was my favorite because it was just so packed with tourists.  Two million people visit the Christmas Market each year, and we arrived on a weekend, so I'm sure you can imagine how busy it was.  We still had a great time, shared a lot of laughs, and enjoyed the city.  The river flowing through the Old Town and the castle located nearby gives Nuremberg a medieval feel.  I thought it was a beautiful town.  I hope you enjoy our pictures and start planning your trip to visit us! :-)

Walking around the Altstadt

Germany's Most Famous Christmas Market

In front of Schöner Brunnen and Frauenkirche

Die Nürnberger Burg

Pegnitz River

Sebalduskirche

Enjoying a few beers at Barfüßer - Thanks Nico!

"Himmlisch gebraut, teuflisch gut!"

This little area looked just like Epcot! :-)

Thanks to Nate and Crista for traveling around with us!  We had SUCH a great time with y'all and hope you'll come back soon!

Salzburg = Love

So after a few nights in Vienna, we packed up and headed to Salzburg.  Serge had studied in Salzburg for a semester during college, so he knew all the best spots to show us.  We got to see where he lived when he was student, ate at his favorite döner kebab restaurant and bosna stand, drank a few beers at the Augustiner Bräu and Raschhofer's, hiked up to the Festung Hohensalzburg, and visited the Christmas market.  We stayed in an apartment located perfectly on Getreidegasse, Salzburg's most famous shopping street.  Everything was decorated for Christmas, and although there was no snow on the Alps; this has been the warmest and driest autumn in 150 years, it was absolutely beautiful!  I totally fell in love with Salzburg and now completely understand why Serge has raved about the city for so long!

Enjoying a döner kebab at Ossi's - just like when Serge was a college kid! :-)

Ice-skating rink on the left, Festung and Salzburger Dom in the back

Another Wagner sign = photo op!

We saw about 20 more, but the picture taking had lost its luster.

Beautiful Getreidegasse!

Hiking up Mönchsberg (in complete darkness) to get to Augustiner Bräu!

Salzburg at night

Cheers to good beers and great friends!

I got a half liter of the Christmas brew and was not a huge fan, so Serge let me take over his full liter of the original. I guess this is his way of showing he's still manly even though he's drinking only half of what his wife has :-)

Cheeeese! Headed back after a few liters of the monks' finest!

We were walking up to the Festung when Serge said he wanted a picture because he liked this little lane.  Crista thought he wanted a picture because we were in front of a brothel. Either way, it's a cute pic :-)

Making our way up the steep hill!

View from Festung Hohensalzburg

Santa Serge and myself, sleighing into town 

And Nate and Crista, with a little less enthusiasm

Oh yeah, we did the fortress tour with audio guides. We're excellent tourists.

View from the tip top!

Crossing the Salzach River

Dreifaltigkeitskirche (Holy Trinity Church) where Serge lived when he studied abroad.

How crazy is that?!

Strolling through the Mirabell Gardens, just like in The Sound of Music!

I <3 Salzburg!

Enjoying some gebackene Apfelringe at the Christmas Market

In front of the Dom at the Market

Santa's elves doing some Christmas shopping!

I hope y'all enjoyed our pictures!  I truly think Salzburg is the most beautiful city I've been to, and I hope to make it back someday!  The next stop on our Euro Trip was Nuremberg, so check back soon for more pics!

Wien with the Wags!

We just got back from a week long trip to Vienna, Salzburg, and Nuremberg with our great friends, Nate and Crista.  We had a blast!  There was lots of laughing, eating, drinking, Christmas marketing, and a little bit of sightseeing. :-) It was so great to have them here with us!  Serge and I had been a little sad to once again spend Thanksgiving away from home, but being able to travel around Europe with our friends totally made up for the missed holiday!

Nate and Crista spent a night with us in Wetzlar, then we got up, watched the Clemson vs. Carolina game (Great win Gamecocks!!!), and flew to Vienna.  We spent three nights in an apartment near the river that Serge had found through Vacation Rental by Owner and spent our days walking around the city and touring the Christmas markets at both Rathausplatz and Schloß Schönbrunn.  Hope you enjoy our pictures from Wien as much as we enjoyed being with our friends in the beautiful city!

Willkommen in wunderschön Wetzlar!

Home of the prettiest trash mountains in all of Hessen! ;-)

Drinking a Glühwein at Wetzlar's Christmas Market

Headed to the airport!

Sweet Mac, Crista.

The dudes trying to warm up our freezing apartment. 

Serge turned on the oven and Nate called dibs on the blow dryer.

Inside Stephansdom

Christmas tree in Stephansplatz

It was much prettier lit up at night, but I don't have a photo to prove it.

Trying to cram us all in for a pic by the tree!

First of many Wagner spottings!

Outside of the Spanish Riding School

In front of the Rathaus Christmas Market

So pretty!

Another Wagner! Can you tell how much they love this?! :-)

I loved all the random Christmas decorations!

More random decorations

The Austrians can deck the halls better than anyone!

Back to the Christmas Market to see it all lit up at night.

Prosit!

Each street was decorated with a different style of lights.

It's hard to read, but it says "Köck," hence the Gamecock sign.

Christmas Market at Schloß Schönbrunn

Frohe Weihnachten!

All 4 of us!

We walked around Naschmarkt then came back to the palace to see it with the lights on.

The Wagners needed a couple's pic.

Enjoying our manly Herrenpunsch

Hot Potatoes... get it?

And the next morning we were off to Salzburg!

Stay tuned for more pictures from the Reinert-Wagner Euro Trip 2011!