Home really is a wonderful place, even more so when you haven't been there for some time. But now, after having left again, with my feet squarely on the ground here I'm left thinking it's an entirely different place. With everyone save one of my best friends having moved away, it seems desolate, and somewhat lonely, not to mention all together sleepy and perhaps down right boring. But then again, a civilization crippling 50 cm snowfall didn't help much and I was suffering from a 4 day compound hangover, so I'll reserve judgment until my next passing through.

Last night, during my "last supper", The prospect of an "Austrian Alpine Vacation" presented itself somewhat unexpectedly. I was a little shocked to say, as the idea circled itself around the meatless dinner table. In between embarrassing stories of my untamed childhood, seemingly well researched factoids about Austria were changed.

"When Colum was 3 years old we were flying into New York. We ran into a bit of turbulence and Colum was sitting ahead of us with Dad. He unbuckled his seat belt and stood up on the seat with a big smile on his face. Then he turned around and leaned over the top of the chair and innocently asked, "Dad Ryan, is this plane going to crash?! We're going to crash aren't we?" as the lady sitting across the isle took our her rosary beads.

Then before any rebuttal was allowed, "You know, all of those scenes in the Sound of Music were shot in Salz burg and they have special tours which go around the city and visit all the sites."

"A liter of beer in Austria is cheaper than a bottle of beer here..."

I sat there between sips taking in the conversation, wondering if all my skeletons suddenly got together and decided to burst out of the closet at once.