It was absolutely wonderful!!
My host family drove us to Kapfenberg, a small town, about and hour and a half outside of Graz. When you get to the ski area there, you have to actually take a lift to get to the lifts. So the first one we took, was about a ten-fifteen minute ride, and it brought us up and over the steep side mountain to this little hilly area where you could then take a variety of different lifts in different directions to other ski areas. The Austrian lifts really confused me, I rode it the wrong way the first time. That was embarrassing. The ride up was so beautiful you could look out behind you while in the chair lift and see endless mountains forever, it was simply breath taking!
Being a cross country skier, downhill kind of terrifies me, but I had a fantastic time. We spent the entire day up there skiing, taking a short break in the middle to eat some packed sandwiches. Only then did the wonderful sun grace us with its presence for a little while. There is really nothing like packed lunches after a day of skiing or hiking. Even simple sandwiches always seems to taste better sitting out in nature after a day of hard work.
After lunch we hit the slopes again. Unfortunately the sun went away then too. It was replaced by this enormous pitch black cloud that loomed over the summit of the mountain. It was so scary and mysterious looking, but very picturesque too.
I was pretty proud of my self, I only had a few really bad falls. But I think I was the only person who fell the whole day. The Austrians are such good skiers even the five year old children whizzing down slops while I'm very carefully, very slowly, trying to navigate my way down. They're insane.
After our day was over we had to ski down the mountain on this road to get back to where the cars were parked. It was a really nice, peaceful trail that you didnt even have to pole going down. We just stood in place and let gravity do it's work. I think it's was at least half an hour going down. But the whole way we still had the incredible view of the surrounding mountains spreading out endlessly in every direction. On the way down, we stopped at this traditional little gasthof and had soup. It was really cool, we just skied right up, left our gear outside, and went in. It was a very stereotypical Austrian gasthof; wood walls and ceilings, a big stone fire place in the center, and the people who served us wore dirndls! The soup felt amazing after a day in the cold.
Finally our skiing day was over. we loaded up in the car, my feet and arms already aching. I'm going to be sore for days for sure. But I had such a fantastic time, I cant wait to go again next weekend! Skiing in Austria is unbelievable, no wonder they always win skiing sports in the olympics!
As tired as I was, my day wasn't over yet. My newbie, from New Zealand, arrived in Graz too that night and Laura and I really wanted to greet her in the airport. So as soon as I got home and changed I met up with Laura and together we took a train to the airport. We made her a fantastic welcome poster and everything. We were both really exciting to meet our newbie but at the same time the idea of being oldies is so sad, since it means were halfway done!
Anyway waited for her in the airport for about an hour and a half since her plane was running late. We even met her host family, and they told us she was delayed another hour and a half. I also found out then that she will be going to my school! Her host parents asked if we wanted to go back to their house and wait with them till her plane actually arrived. So we went to their house and had cake and chatted for a hour then headed back to the airport. Unfortunately as soon as we all arrived at the airport for the second time, her host parents got a message from her that her plane from Vienna wasn't able to leave again, so she was driving down in a bus and wouldn't be in Graz till like two in the morning. It was already twelve, on a school night, so we reluctantly gave up, deciding to meet her another time. So her host brother drove us back into the city which was super nice of him!
All in all it was an adventurous day! Oh and it was exactly my middle day in Austria from the day I arrived to the last day of school! Wow how the time has passed by, the amazing people I've met, and the unforgettable memories I've made.
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