Austria Vacation - Downhill and Apres skiing

Things were a lot different in Austria this year. There was no snow on the ski school hill in Kirchdorf except for the man-made snow but it was enough to get the ski classes started. The school brought the kids right up the tow rope and had them ski down to determine which class they were in.

Natalie and the girl she became friends with last year picked up where they left off and were pretty much inseparable. It was great seeing many of the same families as last year.

Since there wasn't snow on the hill for a New Year's eve celebration. It started with a candlelight procession from the slopes down to the city center about a mile away. In the town square there was a bonfire all set up. On the top of the wood pile was an effigy of a witch. The witch symbolized every bad from the previous year and, by burning it, all the bad things were forgotten. Afterwards there was a large fireworks display in the town.


We made our way back to the condo and the kids went to bed. Around 11:45 PM the fireworks from everywhere started. The entire sky was lit up with colors and flashes. It was a sight to remember. Every direction there were sky bursts.

Watching TV in Austria was great. There were many US movies dubbed into German: Flashdance, Turner and Hooch, Wrongfully Accused (Leslie Nielsen Fugitive takeoff), and the great Grease 2.

One night Jennifer and my mom couldn't find the 3/4 full bottle of Merlot. We looked everywhere for it. Me, in my infinite wisdom, decided to check the recycling barrel where about an hour earlier I took some glass too. There, sitting on the top, was the bottle with the wine still in it. So, of course, I brought it back in the house. Can't let good wine go to waste.