21-01-2020... The snow pointed the way...

I'm sitting with my bounce outside the window looking out at the luggage men and the luggage. One of the men sees me and he laughs his white teeth and gives me the “peace “sign. I laugh, and the man next to me looks at me amazed. And I leave it that way. I am home. Hello, Austria. In the arrivals hall, I'm dreaming and my suitcase is racing past me, and in spite of all weather, I almost run over a Dutchman while I run after it. This one immediately sees my “problem “and takes my suitcase off the tape. He and his friends, laughing, wish me a nice trip. I'm gonna swing a little bit and continue my way to the car rental. That was all set up fast, and I was able to catch my cart out of the garage. Surprise where it was supposed to be, but the lady at the rental gave me the tip to use my car key and follow the lights. Oh, sure! But it worked and found him quickly. Nice cart looks like it. And when I started driving, I quickly tasted the luxury I had to ride under my buttocks. Seat heating (how good is that, hey) and heated mirrors. Really very practical when it's cold outside. And I'm outside the car once before, taking a picture. Then hoist is not me in my jacket. Then it's a pleasure to sit on a warm chair. I'll be at my airbnb with a quarter of an hour's drive. A student rents her apartment to suckers like me. I can't find that flat despite google maps. Flats are not fun either. And I thought I found it (and so did I) but doubt. And my doubt is answered with snow that begins to fall. Yeah, hey, not now, hey!! Drifty on the whatsapp and eventually I appeared to have parked there already, so. Well, on to my first experience in an airbnb. I had paid the grand price, which many hotels serve breakfast, but at least I knew with this girl that she would be waiting for me, because I had no idea what time I could be with her, so that's why this choice. I end up in too small a room because the bed has a huge size. Just as unsociable as a hotel room. Fortunately, I can get used to it. After some pleasantries, I was hoping for a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, but she didn't do that. Too bad, would have made the experience (and the money) a lot more enjoyable. I ask what time do I have to leave the building the next day, and that's hotel rules. Salting for 10 o'clock in the morning. 'Will you roar me awake at 9:00, because I don't think I'm gonna wake up by myself? ' She didn't think it was a problem. Okay, that's extra on hotel service. She woke me up personally and unfortunately she didn't have a cup of coffee in her hands again. Tired I get out of bed and am curious about the white world outside. I look out the window and miss the Austrian feeling. Not only is there a thin layer of snow, but also no mountain to see. I make a cup of coffee with hot water coming from the tap and let it taste me. I make a scoop of cheese cheese and that's my breakfast the first day in Salzburg. I look forward to nicer places in the mountains and decide to scratch quickly out of this depressed apartment building, where I slept well, but far too short

A faint layer of snow 😉

And then... yeah, that's a surprise even for me. I'll take the map that's in the car and see which way I want to go. I do have some kind of purpose, but whether I'm going to achieve it is always subject to change. I want to go to Carinthia, because that way, is the realtor I want to talk to and have a loose-settled appointment with. I just decide to go for a ride and see where I beach. I, not a city man, want to get out of Salzburg as soon as possible. Google maps faithfully follows my directions and then google. And suddenly google, while I'm standing still somewhere to take a picture, gives a tip. Waterfalls nearby. Waterfall it is. I'm going off the route and heading towards Gossau. I'm there before I know it and I'm a little reluctant to make the climb, but if I want to see something, I have no choice. The snow here was considerably more than in Salzburg, so, my warm hiking boots coming up to my ankles, transformed into my new hiking boots, coming halfway to my calf. Those flips of mine always have trouble getting a boot around, but these boots are top and later would turn out, also waterproof. They were bought on that, but you don't know, do you? Smooth and snow tightness checked before I go up the stairs. I'm really gonna be a stiff old hat, you know. When death that I fly down, nothing happens at all and I could, yes, I could have just walked up very relaxed. I just blame my fatigue. My boots are non-slip as far as I'm concerned. For a tenner at the Wehkamp (with exchange of my Christmas present/gift voucher from my work) hang top boots on my legs. The view is breathtaking and I look only like the world, because I have the waterfall to myself. I listen to her murmur that makes her fall off the mountain, and I praise a happy person, that I can afford this, and my body still works. After all these difficult years, my heart can do it. Even though I'm breathing like a heavy asthmatic, I stand there and enjoy, praying my body on her accomplishment. I knock my snowy boots against the edge of the car so I don't accidentally slip off the pedal. I look at my map how far I have deviated from the route and how long I want to drive because of my fatigue. Not long, I conclude and search on booking.com a number of sleeping spots that are not that far away anymore and see which one it will be. At least I'm heading towards Abtenau. And a decision made, it suddenly starts to snow. That must be the case. Abtenau is around the corner, the hotel had another double room available, so the choice made the snow. Just put an unexpected snow slip under control, I'm going to the hotel full of good courage. And what kind of a hotel...

I get there and it's teeming with people. Turns out the hotel is located on a ski slope. That'll be fun for me. I don't start skiing, and neither do cross-country skiing, but I can enjoy watching it. I check in and get, as booking.com promises, a double room with balcony (without balcony is not an option, because I want to be able to go outside), with views of the mountains and slopes. My day can't break. I also got a ticket for the cable car to go upstairs, but I let it expire. Accidentally. What the lady forgot to tell was that the ticket would only be valid that day, while I said that I would go the next day, because now I would not see anything above, because the sky was gray and closed. But good. I finally stayed 2 nights, because it was unprecedented fun there. Not the hotel, actually. A little boring, chilly spaces. Not really gemutlich. Fortunately, the Christmas decorations were still there. Still a little Christmas, because of course it fell into the water last year, after my shock that my ex-lover had died. The fun thing about staying on a slope is the liveliness. Not only of the skiers, but also of the tough men on all kinds of large and small machines that can go up the mountain. What a pleasure to see how those slopes are maintained. I tried to film it, but that's kind of a chance in the dark. And all those people with lights on their heads who walk up with the skis while it's dark and the cable car hasn't been open for two hours. I was curious about it. So turn out to be evening athletes. Yeah, I'm learning something. I couldn't stop looking. All too nice. Probably not a nice hotel for the hearing, because that cable car makes noise, but I can't hear it when I have my devices off. The second evening the snow cannons went on to build a new slope. And they make really serious noise. You will sleep next to it. Admittedly, the windows were quite soundproof.

Time to go to sleep..... Well teruzzzzzten...... I am tired..... Well, on to day three...

PS, I really read all your comments, but don't have time (I'm sure you understand very well) to answer them.