Castles, Caves, and Cakes!

Good morning, world! How was everyone's weekend?

I must say, this past weekend was one of the best in a very long time. On Thursday we did some spring cleaning (always feels good to get that done), got the apartment organized, and got rid of a lot of unused clothing. Friday was not spectacular, as we had talked about doing something outside but hadn't gotten around to it.

(P.S. when I say we, I mean my favorite guy and me)

Well anyway, Friday we wound up visiting a small island in the middle of town and had a walk. We talked about hiking up to a cave and spending the night there, but it was supposed to rain and is apparently a very dangerous trail to get there. 

Schloß Ambras

Saturday was a lot cooler. We got a really late start, but we wound up visiting the castle Schloß Ambras (my first visit) and seeing the grounds there. It was beautiful! And still being under 19, I got in for free (haha- buying the tickets was pretty strange). I packed a picnic and we ate on the grounds (I kept spilling all of the food- in typical India fashion). There were a lot of suits of armor from the middle ages. They were really cool (there was one from a giant who was like 2.5 meters tall!), but there were so many... There were also other trinkets and there were plenty of family paintings from the Habsburg Dynasty, but that was it. The Castle on the inside hasn't retained it's original form (like the rooms aren't furnished or anything), it's just an art museum.

Lanser See (Lake Lans)

We finished up the tour and set sail for Lans. Expecting to just be able to chill out at the cabin in the woods (and finish lunch), we drove up there and went to get a few things organized. But the rest of the family was there when we arrived, so we just hung out for a while and had some coffee and cake. It was so warm that day I was in shorts and a t-shirt; I could not believe how lovely the weather was! After we left the house, we went down to the lake and chilled out there for a while. There was hardly anyone else there, and it was nice to just finally relax for the first time in ages. Just to be alive and breathe, to perceive the things around you... it was all so beautiful and cool. Being at the lake made things get chilly pretty fast though, and as the sun was setting we had to hurry to the car because we were shivering so much! 

Dessert at "Zum Wilden Mann"

At first we didn't know what to do. There was the option of going home, but we were both so tired and didn't feel like driving all the way back down to the valley. So we went back to Lans and ate at a lodge I'm told Grace Kelly used to eat at from time to time. Then we drove back to the cabin and made a fire in the wood stove and spent the night in the woods. It was so cool! I love these "field trips." It's so good to get out into nature every once in a while and just enjoy life. It's important too- I think when you get so close to the edge of burning out from continuous strain from work, it's necessary to take some time out.

Anyway, by Sunday the weather had changed completely (to clouds and rain) and we packed up and went back to Innsbruck. The rest of Sunday was also pretty easy- we made Schinken-Rahm Spatzl (an amazingly fat dish that is very anti-abdomen). It consists of Spätzle (homemade egg-dough noodles), Ham, Cream, and Mountain cheese. It tasted like fat-heaven. (Needless to say, yesterday was my "cheat day").

because I was in such a good mood during my "workout"
this morning,  I couldn't resist throwing in a selfie!

That's another thing! I've been doing a mini ab-workout every morning. I'm doing pretty well with and definitely notice a difference (it's been exactly two weeks since I started). Feels good!

Now that I'm completely recharged and contented, it's time to focus still more on music- I'm writing a new song, and I'll be in the studio hopefully tomorrow to record new things and put finishing touches on the others. It's getting exciiiiiiiting!

Happy Monday everyone! (it's not as bad as it seems)

India

Music for the (late) morning: Fancy by Iggy Azalea (a little generic, but pretty cool)

Land of the Free, Home of the Twinkie

...what's that sound? It's America! The homeland, a place where public toilets are free, and "around the corner" means twenty minutes away. I landed on Monday and I'll be hanging out here in Florida for a little while.

Since not having been to America for two years (not even visiting once since I moved to Germany), I must say I'm suffering a bit from culture shock. I knew that was going to happen, and I love that it's what travel is kinda all about, but I am still amazed at how far from home I feel here. It feels like the only American thing about me anymore is that I speak English.

Still, the trip was exciting. I have always loved flying. When we lifted up over Munich, I could see my favorite lakes (Starnberger See and Ammersee) and even straight down to the Alps. The flight itself was only a little boring, but I of course being "pseudo-European" that I am ordered wine twice on the American airplane where the 21 and up law is supposed to apply (which I don't fulfill). Confidence is key my friends! The transfer in Atlanta was by far the funniest and coolest part of the entire ordeal, mostly because of all the super friendly people working at the airport there- the sense of humor is really something else.

the sunset I caught descending over Florida was spectacular

Landing in Orlando was nothing short of disorientating. Suddenly, I was just in a different world! My family picked me up and we drove immediately (of course) to Disney, ate at the House of Blues where I had a lovely dish of Jambalaya (southern food is the best! I swear deep inside I'm a southern country girl). Of course there's jet lag and all that, which I'm happy to say I got through in a period of 24 hours. One thing I can't get over is how big everything is here! The highways, the cars, the houses, the huge amount of empty spaces... it only goes on! America is truly a HUGE mass of land.

my attempt at going to the beach- I didn't pick the nicest day, did I?

Spending time with my family is nice, and of course we're doing all of the typical Florida things, like Disney World and going to the beach (although it's slightly chilly here). In fact, we went to ALL four parks of Disney World yesterday, and let's just say I have the coolest Grandparents ever. We get to Epcot (the park with all the mini-country sections) and head straight to France for some Grey Goose slushies. Comme j'ai déjà dit (as I already said), I'm under 21. But my awesome Grandma says to my Grandpa: "hey, can you order her the Grand Marnier-Grey Goose one?" and bam! That's how I get a daiquiri-style cocktail in the middle of Disney World. And while I don't really care about the drink itself, I think it's really cool that my Grandparents accept my (and therefore most of Europe's) attitude toward it.

What really throws me is the knowledge (or lack thereof). I was telling one of my new friends here about my trip to The Canary Islands and she asked where they were. At least three different people have asked which language they speak in Austria (mostly phrased, "don't they speak Austrian there?"). And though I must admit that Austrian German is nearly a language in itself (haha, just kidding my Austrian buddies!), I'm still amazed at that question. 

A lot of people don't quite understand me when I say, "one day I will give up my American citizenship and become German." But the truth is, even though I spent 16 years living and growing up in this country, it will never be my home. I know that I will wind up spending much more time in other countries, and especially in the one place my heart resides.

To demonstrate:

-I adore Italy. If someone were to force me to spend the rest of my life in one city, out of anywhere in the world, I would choose Venice.

-New York is the heartland. That city is so much a part of my soul, and I'll live there again (even if I will have to get a visa at that point to do so).

-My best friends are like a family to me and are mostly all Austrian (or live there). I adore living in Innsbruck.

BUT

as we were driving up to Munich last weekend, when we crossed the border from Austria to Germany, my heart just sang. I know that sounds ridiculously dumb, but that's about as real as it gets. I know where I am when I'm in Germany. I know where I belong when I'm at home in the "fatherland." And though I love travelling the entire world, I know where my heart will always be.

So how's everyone's week[end] been?

Much love and adoration

India

Music at Midnight! (this one's a no-brainer):

Midnight City by M83 (check out the Eric Prydz remix too!)

the first ride of the day, Everest!

The lovely Cinderella Castle, of course

Writin'

Love is in the air... wait, that's the smell of Glühwein! Which is almost the same thing, right? Especially for single people like me ;)

Glühwein is one of coolest things ever. It's a hot mulled wine, mixed with delicious spices and it's the perfect winter drink. In Munich, there is more than just the red wine kind. There's also a white one, and when I was in Nuremberg yesterday, I tried their traditional Glühwein made of blueberries! Delicious. It's a typical thing to have at christmas markets anywhere in Germany, and I love it! I love the markets too. In Munich there's a huge one right in the main town square (Marienplatz) but there's also other smaller ones all across the city center, in any little square they can manage to squeeze one into.

Nuremberg- I went there yesterday (as I said) to see a concert of a band I always really liked but had never seen live. It had been a long time since I had been to that kind of concert, so it kind of threw me back in my pre-teen punk rock years. I used to be a little rocker chick. I was really excited to because Nuremberg is one of my favorite cities in the whole world, and because right now Europe's most famous christmas market is happening there! So of course I had to pay a visit, try the Glühwein and have a Nürnberger sandwich (3 breakfast sausage links on a roll). Yum!

The band I went to see is called Silverstein and they're from Canada. They gave a really good show yesterday! I'm really happy to finally have seen them (the more you read my blog here, the more you will find what a vast range of music I enjoy). What I really liked about the concert was discovering a band I'd never heard of, Dream On Dreamer from Melbourne, Australia! They were so cool.

Anyway, everything in my life is just same old story at the moment. Lots of work, lots of music, lots of writing. I've been trying to sit down every morning and every evening and write a few lyrics (if I can). So far I'm getting pretty excited about all of it!

Well as the year draws closer to its end, I am thinking more and more about how the year has been. Usually I do this really corny thing and write a summary of my year, just highlighting the main events of each month. For example, last January my family came to visit and we moved into a new apartment. In June I travelled nearly all of Germany. In September I started my job as photographer (can you believe how much time has passed since then already?!).

One more thing, I just want to say thank you to all of you who read this. I am already way over a thousand views on this page (although I think I could be at more if I would write more often)! So thanks. Keep reading and I'll keep writing ;)

'Til next time
India

Song of the Day: Something by The Beatles