Blogs from Tyrol, Austria, Europe - page 33

Cheri and I have employed an advanced form of mathematics to calculate the best possible usage of our holiday time. We both get 20 days from our jobs, and an extra 8 on top of that for public holidays. Combined with judicious usage of long weekends, and you can turn 1 day of holiday from work into 10 actual elapsed days. Some creative accounting goes into it. For Easter, Cheri and I decided to spend time in two cities: Munich and Innsbruck. Munich being one of the cities that we had enjoyed the most, the last time that we were here and Innsbruck being the home town of one of my friends (a mad scientist who deals closely with turning Star Trek into reality). It might seem unfair to call him a mad scientist, however he ... read more

I woke up to a long, rough tounge scraping across my cheek. Kaya, the dog who belongs to our hosts, Rene and Steffie, chose to wake me gently...with her saliva. Yuck. Today is the day that we get to go sledding in the Alps! Steffie generously offered to take us with her to meet her parents for a day on the mountain. I sometimes have to remind myself where I am. "What country did I wake up in this morning?" Austria. Innsbruck. Im Couchsurfing with a mountain guide and her rock climber boyfriend, I mentally take note. We packed our poles, snowshoes, borrowed ski pants and jacket, boots, thermal socks, gloves, extra rope, doggie treats, leash, water bowl, sunscreen and hat in preparation for the day. It reminded me of getting infants ready for a ... read more

Just a quick note really to let you all know I am still alive. Not had a chance to really update you all for a while and unfortunately now isn't the time either! All I will say for now is that it's been an interesting 5 weeks but good at the same time. Attempted my first black slope (as it happens the bottom of the Harakiri, the steepest prepared slope in Austria!) Only issue being I still get scared but I suppose it's all part of the fun?! Right better head off... my Dad is here as of tomorrow so hoping maybe I can use his laptop. Otherwise off to Vienna for next weekend. I am gonna enjoy my holiday! Will try to fill you in on my escapades as soon as possible. In the meantime, ... read more

Zum Abschluss meines halben "sabbaticals" habe ich mir noch zwei Schitourenwochen in Tirol gegönnt. Wie schon vor 2 Jahren war ich wieder mit Hans und der USI-Gruppe unterwegs. Brennerregion Die erste Woche in der Brennerregion war eher zum eingehen gedacht. Das verregnete Obernberg hat so gar nicht nach Schitouren hergeschaut, aber in netter Gesellschaft lässt sich so eine Woche auch bei bescheidenen Bedingungen aushalten. Die meisten Touren mussten wir vor dem Gipfel wegen Wind, Schneefall und schlechter Sicht abbrechen und so mancher Forstweg am Ende der Abfahrt war eisplank wie eine Bobbahn mit heimtückischen Querrinnen. Aber es ist immer besser, schwierige Bedingungen im einfacheren Gelände auszutesten. Der letzte Tag war dann aber umso fantastischer mit strahlendem Sonnenschein und Gipfelanstieg auf die Südtiroler Mauerspitze. Ötztaler Alpen Ich hatte... read more

It is a bit concerning when it is mid-January in Europe and the most common response to my comment ‘I am heading off for a week of skiing in Austria’ is ‘Is there any snow?’. A layer of stress is added when the planned ski holiday is with two Aussies who have traveled half way across the world for said ski trip. What is a girl to do? In my case: * obsessively check the snow reports for at least three weeks pre departure (including checking other resorts in Europe to see if an alternative destination would have been better - no, it was crap everywhere); *repeat like a mantra the phrase ‘I picked St Anton partly for the snow and partly because it is famous for its Après ski (some say the best in Europe). ... read more