The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Bratislava Day Trip from Vienna: What to See in One Day

If you’re staying in Vienna and want an easy international day trip, Bratislava is one of the simplest options. Slovakia’s capital is only about an hour away by direct train, and the compact Old…

Travel, Euro Adventure, Slovakia, Vienna
Mar, 29, 2026
16 Comments

Random Little Updates (AKA: Potpourri)

I rarely start a post, write conversationally, and immediately post it. I tend to draft, step away, come back to edit, and then schedule it for some specific future time. (That probably tells you…

Travel, Euro Adventure, Personality Insights, Random
Mar, 29, 2026
51 Comments

Come on In: A “We’re Leaving for Europe” House Tour

People always seem interested in seeing house pictures, and I’ve been meaning to post about a topic Engie mentioned MANY MONTHS ago (only partially successfully, I will add) which is to ask what’s in…

Life, Home, Organization
Mar, 28, 2026
23 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 27 March

It’s a cold, snowy (!), rainy weekend here in Vienna. To be fair, this is our first truly miserable weather since arriving in Europe and I feel like we’ve mostly dodged a springtime bullet.

Honestly,…

Happy Things Friday, Euro Adventure, Vienna
Mar, 27, 2026
22 Comments

Vienna Travel Diary: Family Adventures & Hidden Gems During Our First Week

I already wrote about our adventures the first weekend in Vienna, so now it’s time to get into the days that followed.

Despite both kids getting clobbered with a horrible stomach bug (which, miraculously, both…

Europe on a Budget: Dispatch #1 — What’s Saving Us Money

I’m overdue for a post about frugality. (You can take the family out of Canada, but you can’t take our frugal nature away!)

Some of these are repeats, but I’m just getting everything down stream-of-consciousness…

Food, Euro Adventure, Frugality, Money, Travel
Mar, 25, 2026
24 Comments

Vienna Travel Diary: Our First Weekend in Austria with Kids

It’s hard to believe we’ve already spent a whole week in the Austrian capital. (To be fair, the majority of Tuesday–Thursday was spent in our apartment tending to sick children). Even still, the time…

Bratislava Day Trip from Vienna: What to See in One Day

Random Little Updates (AKA: Potpourri)

Come on In: A “We’re Leaving for Europe” House Tour

Happy Things Friday: 27 March

Vienna Travel Diary: Family Adventures & Hidden Gems During Our First Week

Europe on a Budget: Dispatch #1 — What’s Saving Us Money

Vienna Travel Diary: Our First Weekend in Austria with Kids

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What Long-Term Family Travel in Europe Was Really Like

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