Jim went skiing here at Ranggerköpfl today. He walked to the lift.
I did something I don't
think I've ever done before - this is truly a cultural difference - I spent the morning ironing the bed linens. I can't imagine why they don't have wrinkle-free cottons here! There are some quite elegant high-quality cotton bedlinens, probably 500-thread count. But they wrinkle. And our tiny little washing machine doesn't help with the wrinkle-free thing, either. The house comes equipped with the hugest, high-powered steam iron I have ever seen. Very German.
It was 60 degrees today and perfectly sunny. I had to open the windows and doors, it was so warm in the house. I did some gardening. First I drove to Frau Schmit's house and got a pailful of compost. Then I planted some primroses with a good amount of compost for Frau Luise in her yard.
Later this afternoon, Frau Luise came over for cherry topfen torte (it came out very well!) She told us lots of stories about growing up here, and about the ghosts in her house. Mausi joined us for coffee. Frau Luise tried to get Mausi to go home with her after coffee, but we encouraged Mausi to stay here. I gave her some cream from the coffee table as a reward for choosing us over Frau Luise. After we leave, Luise can have Mausi back. Mausi isn't even her cat!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Sunday in Oberperfuss
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I shared T bars with some interesting folks today. First there was a guy who lives 500 meters up the street in Oberperfuss. He works for the city of Innsbruck, handing out permits for wood harvesting. Two of his three kids, ages 19 and 20, didn't want to go skiing today because they'd had too much to drink last night! We spoke in German, and he complimented how well I spoke. I never believe these compliments, because I am fairly certain that I make grammatical mistakes in virtually every single sentence. Still, I make myself understood, and nobody switches to English after they start with me.
Then I rode up with another local, a woman from the neighboring town of Inzing. Her two kids also didn't want to ski today, preferring to spend the morning on the trampoline. We both agreed that they were missing a fine day on the slopes, and that with such warm and sunny weather, the snow was unlikely to last much longer. She also complimented me on my German. It isn't modesty if I deny it because I really don't believe it, is it?
A subsequent T-bar with shared with a Romanian woman. First I spoke German to her, asking her if she had lost her glove. She replied, in English "I don't speak German". Okay then, English it is. Turns out she didn't speak much English either.
On my last run of the day, I went off-piste. The snow was heavy, but manageable. Until I got to one place where it was about as deep as my ski pole, and with holes underneath that would collapse under my weight. My skis dug in, giving me a nice face plant. And thanks to my telemark bindings, my arms went straight into the snow, which was wet and seemed to allow my arms in but not out. It was quite a struggle getting myself out. Time to head back to the main slopes.
We really do need some fresh snow here. Not only does the base need to be enhanced, but the off-piste conditions have really deteriorated. It's all tracked up, and those areas that get hit by the sun (which is most of it) get melted, then harden up overnight and become unskiable until they soften again. Some nice powder would bury all of these problems.
Tomorrow it's back to Kühtai, which with a higher elevation always has more and better snow. Today, though, it was nice to just be able to walk from the house to the lift and to come back for lunch.
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