Dreams of Kosovo: Gezuar Vit i Ri/Prost Neujahr/ Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! It has been a long year and we are now set to begin school tomorrow after 2 weeks of Winter Break. Winter break was amazing fun - I finally got my travel clearance (No more probation!) and went on a 3 country tour in 2 weeks! The last week of school was your typical school week before break, inattentive students and worn out teachers. The last day school was unexpectedly shortened {School was done around oh 11 something in the morning and I wasn't aware, I started at 12:20) and my activity and snacks for my kids was cancelled (typical Kosovo). So I started off break sick (thanks to my hacking students - I still love them though - and prepared for a mini European tour. I started off break in Skopje, Macedonia with another volunteer just enjoying some free time, shopping and change in diet (Yay Mexican and Chinese!). We saw lots of gorgeous sites and ate to our hearts content.

Nativity at the church

Mother Teresa Chapel in Memorial House

Mother Teresa Memorial House

View from on the Stone Bridge

Kale Fortress

Looking from the fortress

Skopje atop the fortress

City Center of Skopje

After three days of non-pre planned travel and friend time, I headed to Vienna, Austria to meet my parents and show them around my "2nd home" as their personal tour guide in their first European adventure! We visited Bratislava, Slovakia and Salzburg, Austria in addition to Vienna. We were nonstop pretty much the entirety of their trip but it was so worth it! We decided to get the 2-day Vienna pass which was definitely worth the price because we saw about 8-10 museums and attractions during our 2 day use of it (some of which weren't worth the money - but that's my personal opinion). Additionally we toured the Heindl Chocolate factory where we got to taste some new chocolate treats and I found a new favorite chocolate candy - too bad its in Austria - but it was definitely worth the 10 euro price. We ate so much and I even got to try Persian food with a new friend I met while in Vienna. We celebrated New Years Eve and Day in Vienna, on NYE they had 2 or 3 different locations around the city where they were doing DJs and fireworks, we didn't stay for the fireworks there, but we did watch them from out hotel roof with the staff members.
During our time in Bratislava, we saw the Fortress, various churches, took in the sights and sounds of children enjoying their break skating while their parents enjoyed a glass of hot wine (one of my new favorites by the way) and lots of walking. In Salzburg, I got a chance to show my parents my first "home-away-from-home" and show them locations I used to live, frequent and some interesting sights. Salzburg has changed so much in the 5 years I have been away, but it still retains that charming town feel that I grew to love! We also had the 78 euro lunch experience at Nordsee (we walked out - no one should pay that much for lunch LOL) and ended up eating at the Italian restaurant near my old dorm. We attempted to go to Augustinerbrau - the brewery in Salzburg - where I first experienced beer - but it was closed :( . All in all it was a great trip and a great "refresher" though I am no where near refreshed, and more like re-exhausted hahaha. Below are our pictures from Vienna, Bratislava and Salzburg. Happy Travels everyone and Happy New Year!