Destination: Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic (Part 2)

Here's Part 2 of our Christmas travels to Salzburg, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic.  If you missed part 1 of our adventures throughout Germany, see previous post.

Salzburg, Austria

This city is best known as the birth place of Mozart and where much of the Sound of Music was filmed.  We arrived in Salzburg via train after dropping off our rental car in Munich.  We had one full day there which was pretty much just spent walking around Old Town Salzburg and taking in the sites along with the Christmas market there.  Unfortunately, the city was covered in fog for most of the day; fog so heavy at times you could barely see across the street.  So we weren't able to see much of those beautiful hills which Maria sings about in the movie.

There's a river somewhere behind us

While we were in Salzburg, we rented an apartment for two nights.  The building the apartment was in was literally built into the side of a mountain.  The entire back wall of the apartment was actual rock.  Looked like the wall of a cave.  Furthermore, the owners of the apartment had an affinity for zebras and snow tigers as all the deco was of this white and black variety.  Interesting to say the least.  Unfortunately, Geoff and I realized after the fact that neither one of us took any pictures of it.

Prague, Czech Republic

When we started planning this trip, Prague was not originally in our plans.  However, it was someplace that Geoff wanted to get to while we're in London (I was neutral) and since it's in the general vicinity of Germany and Austria, we added it on.  I am so, so glad we did.  What an absolutely beautiful city it is.  One of the most beautiful cities I've ever been to.  The pictures here really just don't capture it.  We only had one full day there and we primarily just walked around, taking it in.  I would love to go back again someday as there is so much of the city left to explore.

Christmas market in Old Town Square

Astronomical Clock which dates back to the 14th century

Church of Our Lady at Tyn sitting next to an absolutely massive Christmas tree

The 13th-century Charles Bridge with Prague Castle in the background

On the bridge.  Unfortunately, it was a bit overloaded with tourist.

Trying out some Czech beer

Thank goodness for Google Maps!

Views from Petrin Hill

Once it got dark, the city just took on a whole new feel with everything so beautifully lit up, especially with all the Christmas lights.  Shortly before we left for this trip, Geoff stumbled onto an article that listed the top 10 European destinations for Christmas and Prague was #1 on their list and after having been there, I can see why.

Carriage ride around the city

Traveling with small children is HARD, HARD, HARD.  I know I've shared a few stories before of some of our travel challenges, but here are a few more things we dealt with this trip:

• Increased whining
• Numerous meltdowns (just to clarify, Olivia had the meltdowns...not Geoff, although I was pretty close a few times :) )
• The stress of dining out daily - multiple times/day with small children who can be loud and create big messes including a certain child willfully dumping the contents of a salt shaker into the table's candle holder at one restaurant. 
• Tummy issues for Ashton due to eating different foods
• Several long nights with Ashton waking up due to the above mentioned tummy problems
• Disruptions of normal schedules resulting in increased crankiness in both parents and children
• Vomit on child and car 
• Getting around foreign countries via cars, trains and planes with three suitcases, three backpacks, diaper bag, stroller and a shopping bag with fragile Christmas ornaments. Oh yeah....and two children!

I'm not sharing all this as a means to complain.  Rather they are just a reminder that the behind the scenes of all the beautiful photos is not always very glamorous.  These challenges certainly humble me as a parent and occasionally make me long for the days of traveling without children in hand.  We've been so very blessed to have traveled with our girls to seven different countries in the last seven months making lasting memories with them and as Geoff gently reminded me at times when I was at my wits end, with that blessing comes the joy of traveling with the girls too....both the good and the bad.  

We are excited for what 2014 brings.  We are currently planning a return trip to Paris (Geoff is training for the Paris Marathon) and want to get to several other destinations too throughout the year (Italy, Greece and Ireland are at the top of the list).  We don't know how long we'll be here in London; Geoff's company originally told him 2-4 yrs.  If it's two years (which we hope it's not!), that means we could be returning to Houston by the fall.  So to the extent we can, we hope to keep up our brisk European travel pace in the coming months in order to experience as many places as possible.

With that, thanks for reading and Happy New Year!!