Recently, we left the near-Arctic conditions common to our home here in Sweden for the unexpectedly balmy conditions of the Austrian Alps.
We took this trip in honor of the famous week-long "sports break" that our children (well, all children lucky enough to be enrolled in Swedish schools) have every winter. Every other year or so, we ski.
This year's destination was Obergurgl, a tiny hamlet located 3 hours or so from Munich. Actually, if you're planning a trip to Obergurgl, you'll get there much faster if you land at Innsbruck. However, after our last ski-trip-related landing in Innsbruck, I swore I would never fly there again (let's just say, landing in a valley nestled between row upon row of Austrian mountains is not my idea of a fun, smooth or happy landing). Steen, being the good sport he is, agreed to fly to Munich and get transport from there...
We were thrilled to walk through the lobby doors of our amazing hotel to find Susanne, Jesper and Lauritz waiting for us. For a few minutes, I couldn't get my head around the thought that they were there... after all, Susanne had sent me a text earlier in the day to wish us a good trip! But there they were.
That, my friends, was the beginning of an amazing, relaxing wonderful week in a ski village I truly enjoyed. Time with the boys, sunshine and above-zero temps (weird in the winter in the Alps, but at least there was still snow) good food, beautiful scenery and the best of friends. What more can one ask for?
At the end of each day, we spent an hour or so hanging out in the hotel's pool/spa area. The highlight was, undoubtedly, the outdoor pool, where the kids (and their uncles/fathers) would plunge bravely (really?) into the piles of snow surrounding the pool area before racing back to the heat of the pool.
We were a people of ritual... so of course we never missed the "afternoon tea", a.k.a. "after ski", at the hotel each afternoon. The hotel laid out a buffet of soups, pizza, sandwiches and sweets, and we ordered ourselves something warm (and warming) to drink. Skiiers need to be nourished, after all!
Despite all appearances to the contrary, we actually did ski. On the mountain! On the mountains! In the snow. And we live to tell the tale.
Nico could proudly say that he was able to ski the green hills on his own with an acceptable level of control by the end of the week. Kudos to his ski instructors and, of course, to Nico himself.
And here they are, my beautiful sister (of the heart) and her fun-loving husband.
The bigger boys joined me on the lift....
Steen, Nico and I sharing yet another warm drink somewhere in the village.
One of the many incredible views....
Enjoying lunch in the sun!!!!
Nico and his first ski instructor. This was before he got moved up to the next level, i.e., this is taken before he could stop himself from crashing into the barriers. :)
Matthew and Lucas waiting for the ride up to the start of their race. Don't they look like pros?
Jesper enjoying a laugh and a good meal...
I look forward to seeing this view again soon -- this one's taken from our hotel window.
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