Boarding in Austria

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Austria

I am always searching for a great deal and when I found the 7 nights in Austria, ski passes, accommodation and transport included. BANG! What else can you say. It had been almost 18 months since I had hit the snow, and that was in OZ, so we can hardly call it a quality experience.

I posted the deal on Facebook curious to see if anyone would want to join me, surprisingly Matas put up his hand, and Skirma and Dan shortly followed. I had only been dating Matas for 2 months when we booked, so I hoped the next 2 months before the trip would work out well. I had been unsure which path we were heading in, right up to the week we left we were still acting inconsistent with each other. We were still not ‘officially’ together, both of our choice, though we were not seeing others. I knew the trip would either push us apart, or bring us together.

A 20 hour bus ride, a case and half a bottle of JW, we were there. Shower, Dinner, Smoke and strait to the bar. This pattern became the daily pattern. Up, Breakfast, Snowboard, 10am Jager, Smoke, Lunch, Beers, Smoke, Off the Mountain, Beers, Shower, Smoke, Beers, Dinner, Smoke and more beers/ vodka/ wine/ whisky/ jager/ tequila. It is fair to say the body took quite a beating.

The Mountain was massive, 280 km of groomed runs, 91 lifts, the 3rd largest in the world. Every day we hit the slopes, slightly hung over from the night before, but after that first run, having the fresh air hit your face and hearing your board flying over the snow, it was impossible to feel anything but Nirvana.

Out of the 60+ guest staying in the hostel, we made 1 friend, I suppose this happens when you arrive with your own party. We continuously had hopeful knocks on our door to join. I can’t begin to express the continuous happiness and high I experienced the entire trip, I was back on the mountain, surrounded by amazing friends, laughing all the time and enjoying the attention and care I received from Matas.

I surprised myself with my snow abilities, I was worried that I would be staying behind and would have difficulties on the runs, but after a mere moment I was carving like I had never left Japan. We were lucky enough that our group and Missy (the only friend we made!) were at a similar level. Matas had 2 friends from Lithuania join and it was great to have a good size group to share the amazing week.

We ran into so much mischief I would not know where to begin, Skirma and I racked our minds for pranks to play on the other rooms and every morning we could not help but laugh at people’s reactions to the empty beer cans stacked in their door, toothpaste on the toilet seat, shower gel on the hand rail and chairs stacked blocking doorways. I suggest you look on Facebook at the pictures and videos to get a better idea.

Austria, for the small part I saw was beautiful, the people were friendly and the beer cheap, we dined away from the hostel a few nights and sampled the local dishes. The strudels were amazing, the main meals not quite my taste, meat meat and more meat. Ugggg.

The bus home was much quicker and although still long and uncomfortable I enjoyed the awkward positions Matas and I twisted ourselves into.

Arriving home the holiday blues hit, I went home and enjoyed having a bed on my own, although the room at the hostel had 4 single beds, Matas and I shared one tiny space each night, it never crossed our mind to sleep any other way. I finally had my own space where I could burp, pick my nose and fart, can you imagine how hard it is to live with someone for a week and not fart! I was almost purple in the face!

I have to admit though, I was childishly happy when I was called the night after to stay over, it’s funny how quick you get used to being with someone.

I’ve barely been home since.

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