Christmas Market & Christmas Carp!

Dusk in front of the Opera

On Saturday night, we went to the Christmas Market here in Bratislava with the boys.  We went just before sunset so that we could see the lights and enjoy some Market Food for "dinner".  After riding the tram down (in case Brian and I wanted some Medovina), we walked through the square with the Opera House and then onto the other Market area.

Looking back toward the Main Square

There were booths filled with all kinds of grilled foods - gypsy chicken, sausages, peppers, onions.  To drink they had many hot drinks - punch, mulled wine (white or red), and medovina (honey wine).  Of course, we found a booth that had mainly pastries and medovina.  The boys chose two chocolate potato pancakes (lokse) with chocolate syrup.  We stopped to eat and enjoy the atmosphere and the view back toward the square.  All week it was below zero, so once the sun went down, it got cold quickly - so after a little over an hour, we walked back and caught our tram home.

Our wire Ikea tree for our new
collection of Europe Market Ornaments 

Since it had been so cold, we went back to town today to do a little shopping.  We each bought one Christmas Ornament to remember Bratislava by.  Brian picked a fish (you'll see why below), Owen picked a spider in a web, Hayden picked a snow globe with a tree that has an LED light, and I got a ball that says "Bratislava."  It was much warmer and less slushy since the weather has been above freezing for the last couple of days.  And, the sun was even out some!

Christmas Carp!!

And, for the Exciting News today - we walked down to where they have  some portable tanks full of fish set up for the week.  Very Interesting!  There is even one set up here by our house next to the Post Office and Grocery.  Each tank has a bunch of giant Carp swimming in it!

Basically, you pick out a Carp and then the men net it out, put it in a plastic bag and weigh it.  After you pay for it, and it is still intermittently wiggling, you take it home to put in your tub.  Then on Christmas Eve - dinner is your large fish.  But, this is definitely not for me since I would have to kill it and then clean it.  We're sticking with Turkey.  But, we found some really good articles on the tradition on-line - there's even a video of the fish in a tub here.

Even on a Wednesday at 10:30 am, there was a line of over 6 people at each sales area.

One of the tanks had a hole in the bottom to let the water out (water was being added by the hoses at the top) and a fish had gotten his head stuck in it - trying to escape??, or just too darn crowded and was pushed??  Either way, the kids thought that was super funny.

The boys were very impressed.  They both wanted one.  Owen even said that next Christmas he's going to ask for a Carp.  Hmmm...not sure Santa can bring that in a sleigh.




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Vienna Boys Choir & Christmas Market

We got up at 5:30 am to go to a Church Service today.

OK - Now that you're over that shock....

At the end of Mass, they perform @ floor level.

We went to Vienna to meet the Boy Scout Troop and the Girl Scout Troop for the morning Mass at the Hofburg Palace Chapel.  This is the home chapel to the Vienna Boys Choir.  For 5 euros each, we all got to sit in the tourist areas on either side of the chapel.  The seats are up high and the rooms are connected to the open windows of the chapel.  If you were lucky enough to get a window seat, you could look down and see the whole service, but the majority of the seating for tourists are not at the windows (we were 1 row back).  So, they broadcast the whole service on TVs in each viewing area - there is no sound on the TVs because you can hear everything live.  Our seats were on the same level as the Boys Choir, so we could see them through our window.  This week, it was an even more special service because joining the Boys Choir, were members from the National Phil Harmonic and the National Opera.

So, how did it go?  It was actually ok.  Hayden napped (so I had to cover up some snoring) and Owen and Brian kept the fidgeting to a minimum.  It was extra hard because it wasn't in English (it was German and Latin) and you really couldn't see much.  But it was nice to get to see the chapel and also hear the choir.  There was some "shush-ing" going on in our box area, but it was among the ADULT tourists - my kids were good!

After our chapel experience, we made our way with Jeannine and her 3 girls to one of the many Vienna Christmas Markets.  It was extremely cold and windy!  But, the sun did come out a little.

Brian and Owen got some roasted Chestnuts.  I tried them, but I have decided that I like the song better than the actual food.

For lunch, we had a variety of Market Food.  Hayden and I shared a fried thing that was like Ham & Cheese.  Owen and Brian had Curry-Wurst.  After walking around some more, we had a large flaky pastry that was pudding filled, chocolate drizzled, and in the shape of a giant pretzel.  Then we let the kids all each get a piece of candy - Hayden chose chocolate covered strawberries which he nicely shared with Mommy & Daddy.

Since we all had numb toes and fingers, we decided to head home.  But, we'll definitely go back to see all of the lights in Vienna.  Even if it is too cold and we just drive around to see them!  All of the parks are full of lights and even buildings and Hotels all have large lighted decorations.  Maybe we'll have dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant there and then see the lights on Friday since we'll need to pick up Brian at the airport.

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Pancakes with Santa

On Saturday, the Habitat for Humanity from school had a Breakfast with Santa to raise money for their House Building Trip.  It was breakfast, crafts, pictures with Santa, and a goody-bag at the Crowne Plaza for 25 euros per family.  They did a great job putting it together.

Owen's first words were, "That's not the real Santa.  You know how I know - he's not fat."

It still amazes me how nice all of the kids are.  These were teenagers that put this on - all of them were very friendly, took care of the kids, shook hands with the parents - totally opposite of the way most teenagers are in the US (and of the way Brian was).

The Breakfast was good too.  They weren't traditional US pancakes - they were Lokse - potato crepes.  They had all sorts of toppings out to add - maple syrup, chocolate, caramel, strawberry, powdered sugar, etc.  Was more like dessert!  Good thing it was from 10:00 - 12:00 - although it was then our lunch...

Both kids had a great time eating, drinking and doing crafts.  They got to make paper chains and magnets.

Hot Honey Wine

Well, we got our first Babysitter (named Zuzanna - the most common name here) and went out to the Christmas Market with our neighbors, the Earls.  After some sips of Hurska, we rode the tram down so that we could partake in all of merry-ment!

When we got there, we actually knew one of the other couples that we were meeting.  They have two kids at our school and in Boy Scouts.  They said to us, "David said he was brining some American friends."  Hahaha...guess we're the "American friends" now.  And, it really isn't that big of a town - so, it turns out you see someone you know a lot.  

The lights were very pretty and the atmosphere was just so nice.  We'll take the kids back to see it and have some market food - just as soon as it is not too cold!  We were able to delay the feeling of cold a bit by having some Hot Honey Wine (Medovina).  And, after drinking a few of those, we felt the need to eat a bit.  Brian had one of his favorites - a chicken sandwhich - Ciganska Peciencka.  And I, of course, had a potato crepe - Lokse - filled with a banana and chocolate and topped with caramel.  Wonderful!!

After everyone got too cold, we went to a bar down the street that wasn't too crowded - we were lucky with our timing and got a table big enough for our group as another group was leaving.  We stayed a bit longer and then came home to relieve our sitter at about 23:00.  Not too bad.  I was even able to recruit Ann (the other mom from school) to do Karate with me!

Winter Program at School

QSI Bratislava is the American School here and the school we go to and on Thursday, there was a Holiday Showcase.  Actually, it was an "All Seasons" program - with each season represented.  It was held in the large Auditorium and was full of songs, dancing, skits, and live music.  I was very impressed!  It was Excellent!  They will be selling a copy of the show on DVD for 2 Euros, so I'll post some excerpts when I get my DVD.

Each class did multiple songs and dances.  Many kids played music to accompany the classes - violins, piano, drums, guitars, flutes, etc.  And, Owen's class used recorders.  I was also very impressed with what they were able to achieve with the little kids.

My pictures are very poor - I forgot to take the real camera.  But, I'll be sure to update this with some footage!!

This movie is of Hayden's class - I stopped filming right after they started singing - OOPS!  Don't worry - I'll definitely post the better stuff when I get it!

Sledding with the Neighbors

Snowy Weekend - Time to relax and gear up for the BUSY Weeks to come!!

In the afternoon we went sledding with the neighbors in the school lot right across the street from us.  It was a lot of fun.  Then we enjoyed hot chocolate at their house.  Owen wasn't sure what it was because it didn't come from a pouch and have powder that you had to stir in!


While the kids warmed up, the adults all had a shot (or two) of Hruska.  It is a Pear Brandy made here in Slovakia and we actually just sipped our shots.  Such lightweights - or me at least!

The other popular flavor here is Plum = Slivovica.







And now to try to post a video...don't want to leave out those that aren't on Facebook!

Advent Calendars, Snow and a Tree!

After-school activities are cancelled for this afternoon.  It's been snowing all day!  We have about 15cm so far (that's 5.9 inches).  But it is also all on top of clumpy, frozen ice from the last snow.  Not much gets plowed here.

It is also the first of December!  So, we have the Advent Calendar Excitement!!  We did the Lego before school and we'll do the chocolates after school.  The boys were disappointed that they couldn't have the chocolate before getting on the bus!  I'm just mean like that.

We also let the boys pick out a tree this weekend.  I was thinking about a small, live tree in a bucket that could stay indoors in our sunroom year-round.  But, they were thinking snowy fake tree.  We ended up letting them make the decision.  We can use it again next year and also bring it home with us when we come back to Colorado.  Brian bought himself some balls (hee, hee) - of course they are in Maroon & Orange.

The real decorations are going to be purchased at the Christmas Markets.  Each of us will get to pick an ornament from each city's Christmas Market that we visit.  We'll get them from Bratislava, Vienna, and we'll check out some others as we drive around during break.  That way we'll have souvenirs from all over Europe that will be special.  Also, the tree is a bit busy with all of the snow and pine cones, so we don't need many ornaments!

Hope everyone is well!