Today was a "rest" day. Seems like I have picked up the "24-hour" bug. Rumour has it someone in the group of 12 skiers at the Gasthof Steixner brought it from Wales with. At least 8 of the Welsh guests have it..plus a few other house guests. None of the locals have it - they must be more resilient...or perhaps the schnaps kills the bug!! Stayed in bed all day - could not take food - justa little water. Have to be better again before we meet the tour participants in Vienna on 17 Dec. Hopefully back on deck tomorrow for the drive to Vienna.... read more

Ahhh..the beauty of winter in the alps! Our day started at 0C as we prepared for our first day. we are staying at the Gasthof Steixner in Wseer. It's a quaint family-run property where I was based for 7 seasons whilst wotking with NAT Eurotours - and where I worked the "back bar" for a couple of easons after leaving NAT and before heading to USA. Hans & Monika Hirschhuber looked after tens of thousand of Aussies and travellers of other nationalities during the decades when world-travellong Aussies fled the wet and cold dreariness of London for the beauty and snow-covered Alps of Austria, and the chance to learn to ski over a 7 or 14 night period. This village and in particular the Gasthof Steixner because famous during he years from 1970 - 1990. The ... read more

Heading to Austria on 11 Dec. to start preparations for our Austrian White Christmas tour. Will spend a few days in Tirol visiting our friends, and also suppliers/hoteliers who are looking after our individdual clients who we have spread over southern Austria and Germany for the Christmas/New Year festivities. We will have 34 guests in Seefeld for the week over Christmas - and we will all have lunch together on Christmas day..followed by a horsedrawn sleigh ride. They have had some great sonow falls in Austria - so we will truly have a White Christmas.... read more