Week Fifteen

Week fifteen was a good week shaped mostly around people and food. Isabella and I put some effort into various dishes including smoked salmon crepes, green pea falafels and a roast vegetable strudel, I attended the most beautiful birthday brunch of Dani, consumed a fair amount of icecream in Bregenz, devoured market bread and apples and ate out indulgently well with Brent and Polly.

Although our culinary creations were exciting they were nothing in comparison to visiting Dani for her birthday in Munich on Wednesday. Dani and I met on high school exchange in Berlin in 2011 and every year since (aside from 2013) have managed to meet up whether that be in Europe or Sydney. I’ve been super blessed to be near her this year, being able to visit her family in Berlin at Easter and also catch the bus up to her flat in Munich for her 21st. Although the bus is meant to take under 3 hours there was a delay due to the G7 meaning I didn’t arrive til later and our time was cut much shorter but it was still one of the nicest days I’ve had so far. On Thursday, she threw a beautiful brunch in her equally beautiful flat (ft. Eames stool) for thirty of her friends. The weather was stunning and the food was plentiful. It was a lovely day for the loveliest of hosts.

Woke up Friday morning went for a run with Isabella followed by an impulsive swim in the river. Friday day pertained to a cycle and swim in Bregenz, which was long overdue. The heat was insane and despite a pebbly floor to the lake, it was really nice to cool off in. The day was completed with delicious gelato before returning home, sun-fatigued on the bike. I then got changed and cycled over to Hotel Bischoff where I met up with Brent and Polly Downson who were kind enough to have visited me here in Dornbirn from Barcelona. We hung out at the hotel for a while where we caught up and I was showered with gifts and gifts which were so undeserving including this dress from Zara which I love. We then went out to dinner at a local restaurant which was fantastic.

Saturday morning as always was market morning, where Brent and Polly and Chloe and I pottered around the markets and then went and got coffee at Marenda. Following this we decided to do a short walk up Karren to the Panorama restaurant. This turned into a sweltering two hour hike as we took a slightly convoluted path and also went in the hottest part of the 30 degree day. Biers (and coke) were had at the top and then we caught the cable car down where a much needed siesta was had. This actually translated into going to the river with Weng Mee, Jena, Milann and Thibaut. Dinner was consumed again in Bregenz, where we were fortunate to miss a thunderstorm that was rolling in. I had the most fantastic calamari then we caught the train home. I’m so thankful for the time I got to spend with them.

That night people came over but exhaustion lead to an early night for me and I retired to my room. Unfortunately the weather didn’t support this decision and most of the night was spent commuting between my room and the cool of the basement in an attempt to cool down. It’s been a flipping hot but nonetheless fantastic week.

Photos are again very chronologically out of whack sorry.