Austria without Skis

28-30 April 2006

Skis or not, I headed to Soelden, Austria to celebrate the closing Holiday (May 1) ski weekend there with friends from Nuernberg. Shields rode with me (and Kianga) and didn't seem to mind an occasional ear lick from the big girl! We stopped on the way Friday to meet everyone for an Italien dinner in the German ski area, Garmisch. Yum!

The next day we were up early. Miranda and Dieter immediately set off skiing. Lovebirds, Michael and Silke, spent the day at the spa, and the rest of us (Kat, Shields, Danny, Anna, me and Kianga) hiked along the local valley. We lunched at a local restaurant as Kianga lay splayed on the floor sleeping. After sauna, hot showers, and a general chill out session, we all met at the umbrella bar to kick off an evening of revelry, drinks, and dancing.

On Sunday, we had sunny skies and drove to the top of the glacier. There, the three non-skiers (Shields, me and Kianga), hung out and watched the crazy "beach party" from the stands. Men and women, wearing only bathing suits skied down a slope and directly into a long trench of water dug out of the snow. The object was to make it the furthest across the water before falling in... Brrrr! The rest of the group found fresh powder snow and really made some tracks!

Back to the guesthaus we went to cleanup and meet for another evening of fun. We started with homemade schnapps brewed by Miranda's friends and owners of the guesthaus. Yummy! Then back to the umbrella bar where the parade trucks stopped and we all danced in the street. It was a sight! We had dinner, our third visit there, at a local restaurant and then headed to the city square. Fireworks at the local marketplace ended the evening in fiery fashion.

I hated to leave Monday morning, but alas, work called. Shields, Kat, and I said our goodbyes as we left the remaining group to ski their holiday in the sun. Can't wait to go back!

Wish you'd been there!

- Tiffany