austria | Good Times with Jess

What a whirlwind! Germany, Austria, Switzerland, skiing, working, Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Hanukkah, Christmas… breathe.

It has been a MONTH.

As the cookie crumbs settled on all the new things I need to find a place for, including a cat tree (more on that later), I was desperately craving Jewish-Christmas dinner: Chinese food.

My babies have been playing together 80% beautifully and 20% blood-curdling screams.

Mid-sibling fight I stuff them in the car and head to the restaurant.

There’s a pause in the brawl. BB comes up for air and says,

“Can I ask you something weird?”

“Of course.”

“Can RB and I have a sleepover?”

That’s not as weird as I was mentally preparing for. “If RB wants to.”

“Sure do!!!”

So the screaming is done and they’re ready for snuggles.

The Chinese restaurant is packed! There are multiple tables full of to-go bags. BB asks,

“Are all these people Jewish?”

“No way.”

If all those people were Jewish, I wouldn’t be filing away the millionth Christmas coloring sheet from school.

Many of RB and BB’s gifts were shared. The larger the physical size of the gift, the more likely it’s shared. Who’s got space for two American Girl doll vet clinics? Not I.

I’m still trying to make room for one.

So one cat. Two kids. I joked with Captain,

“Maybe we need two cats?”

He looked at me like I had truly lost my mind. Maybe I have. Maybe when there’s a cat tug of war, I will look prophetic.

Captain has joked about evening out the gender disparity and two male cats would do the trick. As long as we’re not worried about who has balls or not.

So the biggest concern for BB and RB is: where will this cat sleep? Will it understand that it needs to evenly divide its time between the two girls’ beds? Or will they have sleepovers in perpetuity?

Maybe the cat will just sleep with me.

What a year! One of the best and there are still two days left. Happy New Year! See you in 2026!

Come for the breathtaking views and guaranteed snow. Stay for the delicious food, the best après ski and the friendliest hospitality. I went to three amazing Austrian ski resorts:
⛷️Ischgl – ski endless runs in Austria and Switzerland with one of the most high tech lift systems in the world! Think no lines, heated seats and only minutes to the peak. On the Ikon pass.
🗻Sölden – ski on the glacier! Epic pass
🏂Gurgl – super family friendly! Epic

Skiing back and forth between Switzerland and Austria all day!

And so we’re home. For now. I leave for Croatia in three weeks. By myself. For work.

I need to go: hiking, biking, kayaking, white-water rafting, oyster sampling, private yacht chartering, horseback riding, so that I’ll be able to advise you on the best Croatian trip possible.

I’m leaving my babies behind. These are the sacrifices I must make.

It is bittersweet. I would love to do this adventure with my whole family. Someday we can. BUT in the meantime, I’ll bring them back some candy.

RB loves candy. She’s been counting her future Easter eggs ever since her Halloween candy ran out months ago.

BB will not be so easily won over, but there must be a Croatian stuffy to be had.

As for Captain, my gift to him will be my return. He’s concerned I’m not going to survive white-water rafting. He insisted on travel insurance so there will be funds for the repatriation of my body.

The fact that I’ve gone white-water rafting before and in higher-class rapids, does not seem to reassure him.

I also went white-water boogie boarding and again, here I am.

I’m a luxury travel advisor, but when encouraged to pick a specialization, I created: “Luxury Adventure Specialist.”

Captain agreed that that was a good fit for me.

I’m not sure what it means, but it sure sounds like someone who stays in 5-star hotels and goes white-water rafting.

That can be you too. Or luxury hotels and yoga. Or luxury hotels and a safari. The adventure options are really endless.

I just applied for a trip that’s 5-star hotels and skiing. Keeping my adventure options open.

That required a two-minute video application. I emerged from my room after an hour of filming myself.

Feeling ridiculous and self-conscious I checked in with Captain,

“I finished my video application.”

“Oh you did?”

“You didn’t hear me?!”

“No! I thought you were in a meeting.”

A meeting with myself where I say the same thing over and over again, hoping somehow that the millionth try will be acceptable to whatever nebulous standard I’m holding myself to.

It is done and sent off. With any luck I’ll add Austria to my list of upcoming adventures, after Sardinia this September.

Good times with Jess and sometimes her family, but not always.