Grüß Gott Bad Kleinkirchheim

our house

So here we are. We look out the window, and there's snow slowly turns into water, and angel tears flying from the sky . Plus something like plus-five degrees. A report from Krakow tells me that there is kind of -10 and the entire city turned into a skating rink. I think about my hundred thousand pairs of high-heeled boots, none of which have been provided with fur, not to mention the rough non-slip soles, and I laugh to myself that I'm not there.

But one after the other. We got two nice apartments (dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, and whatever you want included) in the house set about 200 meters from the ski lift leading directly to all major ski slopes. The town is nothing special. Apparently I'm here for the second time and, in fact: I remember that I bought once at one of these shops a teddy bear and at that tourist information I was practicing my english of 13 year old girl.

Here is the one road. Two supermarkets, a gas station, a few shops. Two churches, Lutheran and Catholic, several lifts and a that's pretty much it. Not very ancient. Compared to the beautiful Tyrol ... Well, no it is not ugly (is it may be ugly in a mountain valley?), but it's just Carinthia. Normal uninterested town.


Well, but who goes to Austria to sightsee? It means to Carinthia and in the middle of winter? No, not really. Let's get to the point. How do I judge the ski area?
Well I judge. And, despite some drawbacks, it's a really good one.

The area is not the so big. 100 km of slopes, 25 ski lifts. These lifts are the biggest defects of the area. They remember times of Franz Josef at least, and I'm not sure whether or not they were already used by Maria Teresa. They Shake, are dirty, cold and slow. You walk into the lift and regret that you don't have a book with yourself (and I read "Kolyma Diaries" fo Hugo-Bader, so I would really want to have it there). 25 minutes to the top! Just to stay warm and dream of mulled wine in some cozy pub (fortunately there is one on the top).

But the routes are beautiful! Wide, long (even eight kilometers). And NOBODY is there! Completely empty like we're far from the Ski Amade or other megaresorts. The entire route can bedone without meeting a single person. And I love it. Especially as the trails are wide, suitably sharp and well snowed. For skiing is just perfect.

The Alps here are not that high. The area is good for easy hiking. On the map it looks like you can go around the tops of the valley watching the town from all sides. Nice.  It seems to me that the Alps are neglected by the supporters of strong sensations. Sure, there are no opportunities to climb 6000m mountain, of course, you are always close to civilization, and so, on the trail of your green hiking trail there is a closed ski lift at its side. But it does not change the fact that for a few days, you can get lost there. So we urge: New Heloise is already two hundred and fifty years, it's time for a new alpine narrative.

Ok, let's leave these mountains and let's go back to Bad Kleinkirchheim that wants to remind us that this is not the end, it is necessary to mention something else. Ladies and gentlemen: Baths. Wonderful, big, three storey baths with outdoor pools, a jacuzzi and dozens of saunas. I am not exaggerating. This is something like 15 of them: Steam, Finnish, Turkish - whatever you want. Every half an hour there is a ritual in one of them  and a temperature of one hundred degrees endow these oils honey, wine and chocolate. Two hours is not enough there. Three ... Well, maybe.

Europe in Winter Time

my neighbourds in the car

The second half of January. Saturday. Something strange is happening in Europe. Millions of people of every age and gender are taking a break, wash their cars and take out of the depths of their closets all their sweaters and warm clothes. They put special racks assemble on their cars, buy plane tickets and sharpen skis at the same time wondering where the hell they put a helmet. Seaside all inclusive hotels are empty, in Paris, Montmartre you can really hear the silence. At this time mobile society thinks only about one thing: the Alps!
It is no different in Poland. For some it's the first week of school holidays, the other the second. Anyway, almost half of the kids are free. Subordinated to the delight of school parents use this time to get away for a week with their sterile everyday life. Italy, France, Switzerland, and first and foremost, Austria.

So it is with me. From about 15 years, year after year we are going the same highway, we eat the same sandwich, annoy the same trafficjam in Munich, where I am writing this article now. And only a place of destination changes. Sometimes it's Austria, sometimes Italy. Sometimes, Carinthia or Tirol. This year we have chosen Bad Kleinkirchheim near Villach, on the border of the national park Nockberge. Tomorrow instead of going to the library, school, yoga classes, I will choose the slope and over the next few hours will be Shoop! Shoop! Shoop!

snapshots from previous years

There are seven of us. I'm with my parents, so I'm as single woman and an only child, and their friends also with the "kids" in my age. Decide, of course, those who pay so fathers. More and more lazy, increasingly looking for guesthouses at the slope with the thermal baths next door. Spend evenings with alcohol and cards - especially cards, canasta rules here. Feasts Week, a week of peace, a week in the life that parents would not give up.

the radio doesn't work and somehow you survive this 9 hours

Well, sitting in a car crowded by skis, books, food and audiobooks (listen to "Gaumardżos" by Melleers- travel book about Georgia. Pleasant. A very pleasant. I heard that skis In Georgia, can be also very nice). So we go, we go, in the moment we enter into Austria. Totally white landscape, more and more mountainous landscape. The fact that on my right I see something truly higher, and I pass through the village with its specific architectural style report that Salzburg is coming. Well shoop!

but what kind of language is that?

Asia Plans

Well, it's a new year. The last one was great. The time that I spent on the road was definitely the best in my life. This year I do not plan to slow down. It's time to think how I can spend 2013.

If all goes well, in six months I'll be a free woman with a Masters degree in Polish philology. I'm going to buy a one-way ticket and get on the first plane to the East.

The plan is as follows: In March, I start looking for cheap airline tickets. The goal is vague. I know from my own experience that you can get the cheapest tickets from Poland to Beijing, Bangkok or India and these will be the hunted. Travel plans are also open. I do not want to rush anywhere. I plan to return to China and visit them quite carefully, loose myself in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand) or more to the west - to venture to India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

I'm not going to rush. I think I can be in Asia months, maybe six months, maybe a year. Perhaps U will settle somewhere for a few months for the purpose of earning some money. Financial Expectations:about 20 euros a day. Accommodation: hostels, cheap hotels, coutchsurfing. I'm going to spend a few hours a day to work on the computer, so that traveling can be a little delayed, but it also gives the opportunity for tasting each place in turn.

I miss Asia. This woman is truly fascinating. Its diversity is so dizzy: monuments, modern cities, mountains, jungles, rivers, islands, oceans, kitchen, smells and completely unknown to us indigenous lifestyle. Although you have to pay for the ticket, you can survive a day for much less than anywhere in Europe.
With enthusiasm I'm  reading travel blogs, browsing websites and diging heels in the virtual map of places to explore. I have to go back. As soon as possible.

And this time I can not be lazy. Last year's trip, and especially this year's recalling memories taught me a lot. For sure I have to write more - I'll take a netbook and I will try to write on a regular basis. And more photos. Much more! Photos of everything: people, food, housing. I miss last year's records. Memories disapear, photos are meant to stay.