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Published: October 5th 2006
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Craig and I
The intrepid explorers.. Happy birthday to Mozart! Craig and I have just returned from the most incredible week enjoying the thrill of skiing in Austria. We stayed with Beda, a colleage of his, and were treated with the most amazing german hospitality. Due to space, Beda put us up in a typical austrian bed and breakfast - it even smelt austrian. That was my first introduction to what a "good austrian breakfast is" - its just a greater variety of breads and cheeses! Was most surpised to find "lunch" on the table instead of bacon and scrambled eggs! However the rest of the austrian cuisine is to die for - the little sausage guys - brokvurst or something - and apple strudel is AWSOME - both of which never taste better then at the top of a snow covered mountain after a morning of hard skiing, with icy noses and snowcovered beanies! The warmth of the ski-repri envelopes like a blanket, demanding the skiers to strip down to the base layers, and then settle back with good conversation and hot food!
As for skiing, its pretty much a tie to MTB!! absolutely brilliant - I loved the sensation of speed and no resistance,
flying down a hill, snow biting at my cheeks and the wind whipping my pigtails into temporary "go faster" braides! he he... of course it didnt start like this, and i gently snow ploughed my way down variouis slopes, building up my confidence and technique, always "maintaining control" as carefully ionstructed my Beda! We were blessed with the best snow in austria for the past 40 years (apparently!) so off-piste was powder soft somtimes thigh deep snow that gave way with no effort at all - giving one the experience of very fast michael jackson moonwalking, but forwards - unable to see your feet, but flying forwards... somehow neither craig or i wrapped ourselves around any trees, but with the soft texture of the snow, there were many deliberate fall downs - collapsing into a soft white douvet!
Having never really seen snow, i was like a little orphan on his first christmas - i danced around, running and superman diving into piles of snow, made snowballs and snowmen, wrestled and slid face first down numerous hills - dear craig was so patient, and really humoured me - even when he bore the brunt of much of my excitement
Loving the snow
After a day skiing, still hadnt had enough snow, so we found a hill, and went "swimming" down it... eg a snowball on the head!
On the first evening Craig and I went to find out about the Roman Baths - these were fabulous thermal baths - both indoors and some outdoors in the snow, and ranging in temperature from almost hot, to luke warm! These were thoroughly enjoyed until Craig decided it was Sauna time... as we were heading for the change area, he informs me of 2 rather important facts - 1 - europeans sauna naked, 2 - its mixed gender..... so with my bikini hiding in my towel, I run through the snow in hot pursuit after craig, towards a special sauna built outside and in the middle of the snow. Having run bare foot, my feet were aching from the cold and I could think of nothing else until i'd warmed them and got the aching to stop.. by which stage I had already been ushered into the steam room. And it was only then that I discovered I was the only female in a hot steamy room with a bunch of OLD naked men.... I was so embarressed I didnt know where to look, so curled up in my towel on the front
Off Piste
We were blessed w the most amazing powder snow the whole time we were there. This was sensational! step and decided that the back of my eyelids was the safest thing to inspect! Some King Kong however decided that he needed to impress the latest edition to the steam room, so set about pouring water frantically over the fire, then standing stark naked inches from me, flapping his towel to distribute the heat! I was terrified he would be so enthusiastic and lose his spacial awareness... Fortunately he didnt, and was able to escape once craig had satisfied his sauna need! aaggghhhh.
During the week, we skiied ourselves silly, trying to make the most of every day. For 2 of the days we caught a train down to a resort where Beda's mum happened to live - 50 m away from the ski lift! this was glorious but quite busy - particularly with ski schools and the little whipper snappers who come flying past you, making you look like you going backwards - and just go hurtling straight down these huge hills, while i'm still working my way from side to side! increible!
On the last day we did a trip around salzburg to appreciate some architecture and all the goings on related to mozarts birthday!
Getting ready to hit the slopes
The view from the top at Zellemzee Ski resort. all the shop windows were filled with various souveniers with his face on, as were the chocolates - delicious!
what a wonderful time. I plan to go skiing again on 17 March in france - anyone is welcome!
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Craig van Deventer
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What a trip
That was such an amazing week, it was the best snow I have snowboarded in, and it waqs great to have your company there. Sorry about the sauna, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do:-)