Travelogue - Germany/Austria - Pre-Trip & Vienna Day 1

Today my husband and I left on a trip for 12 days to Austria and Germany with his family.  We had someone come stay with the kids. The kids were all excited for her to come.  They all did really well when we left this afternoon (actually yesterday afternoon - time change).  When the cab came to pick us up we all kneeled for a prayer (not all of us I guess, I'm pretty sure 4yo girl was watching for the cab out the window and a couple other kids weren't holding still or kneeling).  Husband gave a nice prayer and we hugged all the kids and they all were happy enough wishing us well and not seeming to worried about us leaving "Bye!" "See you later!" "Have a good trip!"  6yo boy held the door open for us and the other older girls waved out the window as we got in the car.  The babysitter was holding the 6mo baby girl.  It was nice to have the kids do so well and not be upset about us leaving.  I think it helped that we went away in August with Husband's family and the kids had a good experience while we were gone - things went well.  So they didn't seem too worried this time as it is something not too unfamiliar to them I suppose.  

We made it to the airport and checked our bags 4 minutes before the hour cut-off to check bags for international flights.  It was a relief, but I guess we both still had quite a bit on our mind so it didn't necessarily feel like we were really on vacation yet.  I still needed to text the babysitter some phone numbers and email her more info I hadn't gotten a chance to write down for her.  Husband still had work to finish (two patents).  

The photo below is funny :) I like how we're looking at something other than the camera lens.  We are Frankfurt here.

 

Flat Stanley came with us. :) He arrived safely in Austria

It was snowing when we came out of the airport in Vienna.  That was neat.  Below is a building across from our hotel.  Additionally, the UN is actually across the street from us.

We got a cab ourselves and got settled in when we got here.  We slept and I got up after about four hours and met some of our family members who had arrived. 

My husband Great Aunt and her husband planned this whole trip for us all to join them on.  I met up with them for a tour briefing with the larger group we'll be traveling with.  They are both really great people and fun to travel with and really generous and you can tell what a pleasure it is for them to be able to share these experiences with us and it really is a pleasure for us as well.

We had a nice dinner (husband kept sleeping and I brought him dinner - he has only slept a few hours a night the past four days).  

Husband got up and he is now working on finishing his patents and I'm trying to decide how much time I should spend journaling, etc and when I should go to sleep.  Probably now.