Skiing Stubai

Olaf and I had a lot of fun skiing with Mikel, but I felt like I could benefit from a lesson. Olaf and I joined an afternoon class- it was an absolute disaster. We got put in a really slow group, so we left after 20 minutes. At the end of the day we had a long fight with the director of the ski school, who admitted he put us in the wrong class but refused to give us our money back :( Poo.

However, we did end up having an excellent afternoon skiing together! Midway through, we stopped at a little hütte (chalet/hut) for some mulled wine and German 'schlager musik' (silly drinking/skiing music).

Skiing from the Top of Tirol

This lady won for best outfit on the mountain. Her jumpsuit was even more neon and shimmery in person.

Olaf isn't at the top of Tirol, but he is at the bottom of the glacier! After a day of skiing, we were heading down to some hut for apres-ski, complete with plenty of cheesy music.

Now this is the top of Tirol. You can see Italy from here- it was wonderful and exciting to be on the peak.

Olaf and Mikel breaking with a beer on the top of Tirol.

Skiing Stubai Gletscher (Glacier)

The weather was much different than when we skied in California! The temperature was between -4 and 20 degrees, but luckily we were well equipped.

From the gondola up to the middle of the glacier.

Map of the Stubai valley and the glacier. Below is one of the lodges where we enjoyed many lunches of wiener schnitzel and dumpling soup.

Tschüss Austria!

We were so sad to leave Austria!!! The food was so good, but our bodies needed to heal.

Christmas II

More photos from our little jaunt around the lake on Christmas Day. The snow was unusual, but very much appreciated. The trees looked as though they were made of ice.

Christmas

The years when we spend Christmas in Germany, Olaf and I make a Christmas Day trip to the Rubbenbruchsee. Usually we take a little walk around the frozen lake and enjoy a coffee in the restaurant near the shore.

Olaf's favorite gift was a yo-yo, which instantly transported him to when he was 14. On Christmas Day morning he ran around trying to 'walk the dog' and yelling 'yo yo's for your mega.'

With Olaf's family we exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, which makes Christmas that much more magical.

Update

Hi everyone!

We just returned to London, after a week of skiing in Austria. Sorry we didn't post- we had very limited internet access.

I will do my best to get something new up today :)

Love love!
Michelle