GRAZ!

We got to Graz, and my surprise was ........

My sister, Lala! on the Couch, hiding. I had no idea she was there. It was a more adult enactment of the moment I got back to America after being away for a year, and found Lala, a complete surprise, a newborn asleep in her crib. Only this time Lala actually helped plan it. Immediately we took her up the Schlossberg, even though it was raining. 

My cousin Jörg had come out to see me all the way from Vienna and he trekked up the berg with us and gave us the whole historical tour from our Opapa's perspective. By the end of the tour he looked like the tourist, since he very congenially agreed to carry my camera, and two umbrellas in various states of disrepair, and somehow ended up with a Hard Rock Cafe bag too. 

There is a chair there called the bishops chair, crafted of stone, very wide, and on the ground. Here am I with my two kids, and my very red airline socks. Next time I will only fly with an airline who can complement my color scheme.

When we got back, we went over right away for some drinks at Lovely Ingrid's house. Her daughter Sylvia and her husband Karl are here, along with some surprise bubbles for the kids (not to drink, obviously)

Can you tell they are sisters??

I thought the major surprise for me (before I noticed Tante Lala on the couch, see above) was the pair of tops Centa got for Theo and Henry. While those children slept though, you can see this pair of kids were entertained by those tops too. I guess that's what you call a gift that can mature with you.

Ingrid's house is the best, and now my sister Mary joined us for a quick paced less than 24 hour visit. More of the adults being extra entertained by children's toys.

When Mary had to leave, we all walked her to the train station, to see her off.

Mary wanted to mail one thing from the station, but the line was long, so Centa offered to wait in line for her. 

and waited

and waited

and waited

and by the time she got that thing mailed..... Mary's train had left the platform... This is how sad Centa looked to see the train wooshing away. (and Mary really did wait until the conductor almost forcibly threw her on the train)

She made it up to herself by bringing us all out for icecream, or coffee, or in her case, both!

Not contented to sit back and watch us refresh ourselves, Theo and Henry were caught trying to drink from a rather strange looking wall fountain. Oops.

Inrgid also made me coffee.... Many times. Always so good!

Lala and me trying out some violin duets that Centa internetted. Sitting at the dinner table for lack of music stands.

The must-see place in Graz, the lovely double-spiral staircase. I went with Lala and Henry and it was lovely lovely lovely!

The very next day, Henry came to me ready for the farmer's market. It actually wasn't only the very next day. It was every day, since there is a market down the street from us every single day (except Sunday, of course, which isn't a day). Henry made friends with everyone since he had a giant smile to match his giant basket (which he shares with everyone except the camera)

They have beautiful colorful flowers, produce, meat (which I don't buy), dairy, bread, everything. Mostly produce. And a special drink called Sturm, which we got the very first week they produced it. It's the "first" wine, very sweet, slightly fermented, and slightly fizzy. If you close the cap, it will explode, but you don't close the cap, because you drink it as fast as you can. (just kidding)

Ingrid took me, Theo, Henry and Lala  up the Seilbahn to the Schöckl, the closest huge mountain "in" Graz. It's 4750feet tall, and if you are caught wearing a tie on the summit it is cut off of you with a pair of scissors.

 

Henry was hungry because it was Tuesday, and we only feed him Wednesdays and Saturdays. Actually it was just really good Mushroom Goulasch, made with locally picked mushrooms. WOW

Since there was a playground at the top, first we played......

......and then we slept:

Who needs a farmers market when we had all the apples (A LOT!!) tomatoes, potatoes, raspberries, herbs, and ...... *hazelnuts* from our own land?

Mary and Martin came for the second super-fast weekend visit....

Here, they are proving for the camera that they would in *no* way encourage jumping off this table into their arms. Of course photographic proof isn't really actual proof.

Martin is encouraging a healthy breakfast of fresh-picked and fresh-sliced apple.

And Lala encourages after-breakfast tree climbing, complete with Theo's brand-new camera-proud face.

When we go back up the Schlossberg, Henry, in tie-dye photographically proves that he is indeed a tree-hugger. Martin stays back to do actual work. 

The four of us sisters, Irma, Mary, Centa, Lala go to the Temmel, which is a lovely icecream place on the Hauptplatz in Graz. They refuse to serve Lala, of course. Thanks to Centa for taking the picture.

To cheer us up, Ingrid served us all coffee and cake before Mary and Martin leave again. 

Here am I with the world's most beautiful latte, and the world's most awesome Hubert!

Ingrid got us to pose for a sister's picture. This was the best one. in order of age. And we all happened to be wearing blue - NOT on purpose! What a coincidence.

The night before Lala's first day of school, we visit Hans-Jörg and Hildegard and Julia. They live right near the Schlossberg, in the middle of a very busy city, but their interior garden is idyllic, complete with Styrian apples. What a lovely evening!

The next morning, Hans-Jörg and I visit the graveyard. At 8AM. 

Only slightly ironically, his shirt says "Friends Never Die"

Henry finally figured out the proper way to eat a tomato. That's good, because I was busy making things like Tiramisu, and a plum tart, and all kinds of other things before I left.

Henry needed one more breakfast before we left. (Does he ever stop eating??)

That was the whole thing! Graz for 10 days with 4 sisters, 3 cousins, 2 kids, 3-7 awesome neighbors, and uncountable cups of coffee.

LOVE!