We are here in Graz, Austria

We, and another senior couple going to our mission, arrived in Munich last Friday, late afternoon. We flew from SLC to Paris, and then on to Munich. In Paris we had a good long walk to the terminal to catch our next flight. In that process, they funneled us to an area where they stamped our passports and then sent us out of the secure area. So, we had to go through the security thing again with our stuff (much more than most passengers) and I (Jill) even got the "pat down" treatment! Since we were now officially in the European Union countries, there was nothing to do at the Munich airport except find our bags and go out the door. The mission president and his wife picked us up and took us to the mission office where they instructed us for awhile and then we went to the mission home, had an evening meal (yes, we were hungry) and then we went to bed. On Saturday Pres. and Sis. Condie went to another city for stake conference meetings and we were on our own for the weekend. We took the street car to the city center and walked around the big area where Oktoberfest is held. There were lots and lots of carnival-type rides and booths and food booths and souvenir booths. The beer companies had put up large temporary buildings where beer drinking and partying took place. We didn't look in any of those, though. Elder Jeppson bought a hat (that looks a lot like the Austrian hat that we left at home) so that he wouldn't have a sunburned head. We left that area in the early p.m. before things got too rowdy. Many people wore the German dress (Lederhosen and Dirndel) and it was very colorful. We went from there by subway to "downtown" where the big city hall is and shopped and walked (my feet were getting very tired) and stood and waited until 5:00 p.m. when the Glockenspiel on the tall tower of the city hall did it's thing. (Kind of like a huge cuckoo clock, instead of birds, it plays a tune and figures go around and dance and twirl and horses with riders come out and joust, etc.). It lasted about 10 minutes. Then we went back to the mission home and ate leftovers and went to bed early because we still had jet lag and our feet were sore. We walked to church on Sunday, came home and ate leftovers again, and then had a long nap before Pres. came home. On Monday we boarded our train to Graz at 11:00 a.m. and arrived at 5:00. We were so happy that we didn't have to change trains at all because of the many suitcases we would have to lug off and on. The day was clear and the ride through the mountains was beautiful. We were met by about 15 members in Graz. They took us to our apartment which is a missionary apartment that has been inhabited by elders for 7 years. Two sisters from this ward had been cleaning it since the elders left last Wednesday, and we so appreciate all that they did there. It is smaller and less attractive than the apartment we had in Innsbruck, but we are getting used to it. It is on the third floor and no elevator. We walk from there approximately 1/2 mile (downhill going, uphill coming home) to the street car stop and then ride about 1/2 hour through the city to the ward building on the other side of the city. We are getting our exercise. We haven't yet explored the wooded area near our apartment. We are still getting settled and are without a phone and internet in our apartment. We don't know yet when that will happen. So, we are at the church now and are able to post this. It will probably be sometime next week before we can post again. We are well and doing GREAT! It will get better, too. There are 2 elders here in this city and two sister missionaries in a nearby city. The members here are so excited to have a senior couple here and the young single adults are great. We just learned that one of our young single adults from Innsbruck is coming here to go to school and we are excited to see him again. That's all for now. Oh, yes, we have a cell phone (but it is not working at the moment). Auf Wiedersehen!