Around the World in 43 Days! 2007-2008

As I started typing this latest blog entry in Austria, the snow was finally falling on our last full day in Austria. Sue's dream had finally come true and we had real snow falling, in a beautiful Austrian village to boot! She is one happy camper..

When we travelled by rail from Venice to Innsbruck (4.5hrs) we were greeted by this awesome sight..

and then we had a tram ride (50min) to the small Austrian village of Telfes. It was dark when we finally arrived at Haus Larcher, the beautiful home of our friends Bryan and Annabel Taylor..

What we diddn't realise, because of the dark, was that outside our bedroom window was one heck of a fantastic Austrian view, which we woke up to..

And then, on the last day, the whole place changed into a winter wonderland!!

There are so many stories to tell and so many photos to show. In summary, just imagine everything you have seen, like Alps, gorgeous villages, quaint churches, massive rocky slopes, fantastic snow, endless ski runs, the bluest skies, and then the blessing of snow that covered everything and made the most mundane tree a work of art.

Bryan and Annabel have teenage children that were so generous with our kids - they played load music together, went swimming in the heated pool, shot each other with "BB" guns (plastic pellets), and Andy Rachael and Sam taught them all snow boarding and the local ski runs - and all with patience and grace. We really do owe the whole Taylor family a huge debt of gratitude; they blessed us with food, great chats, accomodation, beaut wine, Godly devotions, but most importantly staying at their place was like a cool drink of a hot day - totally refreshing!

Here are skiing pictures. Benj and Bethy both tried their hand at snowboarding. Everyone survived without major injury .. Bethy took a major tumble after attempting a large jump on skiis on day 1 (!), Benj a fairly hard crash on his snow board, and Sue did a massiv estar jump off a jump and came down minus skiis and plus bruises.

Here are some of the views around the ski centre, called Schlick 2000 (2000m above sea level)..


Snow boarding experts now..


More sights around the Schlick..

And now that winter wonderland. It was SO, SO beautiful - and fun for snow fights!!


And, of course, the obligatory handstand ..