Return trip

Sunday morning after the wedding, our Slovak little sister, Zuzana Marie, picked us up and drove us to church, where she also translated for us during the sermon, just like old times.  It was great to see many church friends there!  We went our for coffee/tea and cakes after church with Zuzka and our friend, Ján.  Why did I not take pictures???  :-(

Sunday afternoon, we were so happy that the Jusko family stopped by to see us!

Sunday evening, we had an amazing dinner and wonderful time together with our Slovak daughter, Janka Elizabeth, at her house in Okoličné.

 We were happy to see fresh snow on the mountains on our last day in Liptov.

 Snowy Monday views in Liptovský Mikuláš

We miss the mountains! 

And finally, Pat'ka drove us to the train station where Eva and Katarína also came to see us off.  We couldn't believe the bride made the trip a day after her wedding!!  

Katarína Joy, Eva, Pat'ka, and Saška, who brought us delicious homemade fresh strudel to enjoy on the train! 

Farewell, until next time, to our friends in Liptovský Mikuláš

Views from the train window ...... Liptovská Mara

We always love looking at the scenery out the train window

Snow blankets the mountains

Train rides   :-)

Train tracks alongside the Vah River

There are usually swans on the Vah in this section!

Castle out the window 

We noticed this sign at the Bratislava train station for the first time -  had to take a selfie!

Outside the train station in Bratislava

We met up with good friend Bill Fredell in Bratislava, but his wife Kathy was under the weather, so we missed seeing her this time.

We had a lovely dinner with Bill.  The Fredells are American lectors at the bilingual Lutheran high school in Bratislava.

Walking Bill home after dinner, with the Bratislava Castle in the background

Street musician in a tunnel under the tram tracks

Memories of the evening in Bratislava

Tuesday morning, we had beautiful warm beverages at the Štúr café, named after a famous Slovak who standardized their language in the 1800's.

We enjoyed some time with Nicola, now studying at a university in Bratislava, (a former student in L.M.), who spent last summer working as a counselor at Riverside Lutheran Bible Camp in Iowa!   :-)

Last stop, Vienna

Afternoon date in Vienna with my romantic husband!

Organ concert at the Baroque St. Peter's Church in Vienna

Entrance to the church, before the organ concert

Nativity scene in St. Peter's Church

Along the Danube - we went down and walked along the path below as far as the next bridge 

Gutenberg monument (statue of the inventor of the printing press)

St. Stephen's Cathedral at twilight

The bells of St. Stephen's - our final moments in old Vienna

View from the plane window

The New York City skyline near dusk, as seen during our layover at Newark, New Jersey