#TRAVEL WITH SERENA--GUEST AUTHOR LYNN CRAIN ON LIVING IN VIENNA

Map of old Vienna

Lynn Crain makes a return visit today to tell us more about the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria, how she’s faring so far away from home, and the impact it has on her as a writer. Lynn lives the dream by writing books of various genres but all with a touch of romance. Her latest adventure has taken her to Vienna, Austria with her husband as he works at his dream job. Learn more about Lynn at her website and her A Writer In Vienna blog. 

My Daily Adventure

I have lived 40 months in the beautiful city of Vienna, Austria. I can see some of you may be pea green with envy, but some days it’s not all it’s cracked up to be. As a young girl, I always wanted to live in faraway places and explore new territory. For that young girl, this is definitely a dream come true.

Winter in Vienna

However, there is one thing that people don’t realize when it comes to living somewhere that people consider special. Believe me, I know. My US home is in southern Nevada and just over the hill is the famed Las Vegas. There are people who are positively giddy that I live there while I’m kind of confused by the whole thing. The fact is that no matter where you live, it’s just a place to hang your hat, wash your clothes, and buy your food.

Sure, I now have 10-foot ceilings that would cost me an arm and a leg in the states. I can look right outside my window and see a castle or two. If I walk down the street, I can go inside one of the coolest Baroque churches ever seen. And while it thrills me on most days, it has now become the norm to me. I walk outside every day and hear the traffic, see the Strassenbahn or street train in its familiar red and white motif, as well as watch the people walk everywhere. We walk everywhere, too, because there is no reason to have a car in this city. And while on most days, I love the walks, there are times where walking can be tough. Like when the dear husband has been traveling on business and that means I get to walk Pup Harry three times a day, rain or shine. Need I say there have been times when it was more rain than shine and for this desert rat, I nearly drowned. Seriously. And to be honest, same goes for the snow. I won’t drown then, but my teeth definitely rattle.

Then there’s the building I live in. Built in 1867, it is a very interesting place. We have two bedrooms and office, a huge living room and a dining room. We have one full bathroom, one water closet and one bath with a sink and tub. Our kitchen is really small but huge by the standards of the area. The normal refrigerator here only holds three to four days worth of food for a family of four. On rainy days, the Internet is in control and there are moments when my lifeline to the rest of the world is on vacation.

When I came here, I didn’t know too much about the city, so I decided to write a series to learn more. The first book in that series, A Viennese Christmas, takes place during the fabulously, wonderful season. I absolutely love it here during that time and wouldn’t trade it for anywhere. You have the Christkindlemarkts, some of which are very traditional, while others are a combo of traditional and modern, but all are Christmas markets designed to pull you into the season. There are traditional winter drinks, food galore, and just about every gift idea one can think of.

Then there is so much to do here as well. Last holiday season, my husband and I decided to do a museum every weekend until we had visited as many as we could. We did that up until July of this year when we got museumed-out by having guests here. We went to four in a week. So we’ve decided to change it up a little with a museum one week then the next, a nice long walk. I love to do both of those. A lot.

I often wonder just how this city looked hundreds of years ago, and though I do see pictures and maps, I get the feeling it was something to behold. I love looking at the castles, the churches, the roads and even the old Roman ruins, knowing that I am treading the same spots as thousands, if not millions of people, have walked. So yes, there are ways that I am excited every day to be here and the writer in me sees a story at every turn.

Yet, each of you can find a story in your very own hometown. There is always something happening there, and you don’t need to have a castle outside your window to enjoy it. Even though I am far away from home, I have learned to look out the window, count my blessings, and look with the jaded eye of a writer who always asks ‘what if?’

A Viennese Christmas, A Taste of Vienna--Book 1

Sign language interpreter, Amanda Kranz, wants to find her soul mate but fears her chance has past due to the death of her childhood sweetheart. Finding sexy historian Henry Jager during an outing in her new home of Vienna, Austria, may have been a stroke of luck. When his ex-fiancée shows up just as their relationship starts to sizzle, Amanda must decide if standing up for what she really wants will give her lifetime happiness. Or will she be destined to spend her life alone?

           

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