Austria – Wels

2012  December —–

Christmas day we had a huge dinner at the Markus’ father’s, with Markus’ brothers and their families. Unfortunately, we had to rush off to catch the train to Wels, where Michaela’s mother met us at the station. We went to her house where we had yet another huge meal and yet more schnapps and wine. After a brief visit at the mother’s, we were picked up by her father, taken to his house and, you guessed it, more food, schnapps and wine.

If you are getting the idea that all we did was eat and drink, you are correct. But to say the food was delicious is a gross understatement and to say the different alcohols were tasty is just rude! We were treated to homemade wines and schnapps that were amazing. We found out that nearly everyone in Croatia (where Michaela’s family originates) makes their own concoctions of alcohols and they are all unique and amazingly delicious. Even Ed, who hates walnuts, had more than a few of the green walnut schnapps – and it smelled and tasted like walnuts. We had no idea that knudels (like a dumpling) have so many variations, literally from soups to desserts and everything in between. The meats, cheeses, cookies, soups, knudels, absolutely everything was homemade. Oh my God, what a feast!! We early on decided that trying to be vegetarian was just going to have to go on the shelf for the next 10 days and I’m glad we did, because otherwise we would have missed a huge part of how they celebrate Christmas.

For the next 3 days we bounced back and forth between Michaela’s Mom and Dad’s. Michaela’s step sister graciously let us use her brand new apartment to stay in. We did spend one afternoon walking around Wels, where Michaela showed us where she grew up, where she went to school, her Grandmother’s old apartment – where Michaela and her sister would go after school, where they played, etc. It was a beautiful insight to my daughter-in-law’s former days. Meeting her family and spending time in her childhood town really rounded out the lovely lady who we have the good fortune to call our daughter-in-law and soon to be mother of our grandchild. That’s right! They announced the good news on Christmas Eve.

Michaela’s father treated us to a day at the ThermoSpa nearby. It was a massive complex with your typical family water slides and pools on the main level. Upstairs and outside were hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms of various temperatures ranging from 10 to 35 degrees. There were specialized quiet lounging areas offering music therapy, fireplaces, etc. These upper and outdoor areas tended to be adults only. The hot tubs, saunas and steam rooms are NOT clothing optional. You could wrap a towel around yourself but your bathing suit was a definite no-no. It doesn’t take long to lose one’s modesty.