Take a hat

 It's a Winter wonderland Bad Hofgastein Church from the Berglift Along the Ache Shopping trip Graukogel - long distance The Kur Park next to our Apartment The Schlossalm Ski Area in Bad Hofgastein opened on the 4th December 2010. Pre-christmas skiing was a bit of a revelation last year. Well, it’s even better this year as the snow has landed earlier Didn’t quite make the first lift as I had to pick up my skis after their service. Have been using the same pair of boots for about the last 20 years but today I put my feet into the new pair that TW bought me last June for my birthday. First day on snow in Bad Hofgastein No people apart from us! Maurach Alm - A quiet spot to stay on H2

Wagrain Rolling! Wagrain - looking towards Flachau and Schladming The season 2010/2011 is underway. Berwyn gave me a lift to Wagrain, about 45 mins from Bad Hofgastein . With five lifts open on a cold but bright sunny day we had a great time. The snow was a mix of natural and artificial, the skiing a mix between the awkward and the rusty. Hadn’t expected to ski until Saturday when our local slopes open and haven’t had my ski bindings adjusted for the new boots yet.  Traditional Lunch  Apple Strudel for afternoon tea.  So the old boots, held together with duck tape, got a final airing. It was really quiet, just a couple of school classes in the morning and almost empty in the afternoon.  Found a few 'death cookies' on one stretch but the slopes were beautifully groomed, not a bare patch in sight. A very nice hut was open at the top, the staff are particularly friendly at the start of the season, the smiles will get a bit forced by the end of April when the seaso

Ferries, Bus and Train Home Insurance must be pricey On the ferry to everywhere Rialto Bridge - more shops! At Venice St. Lucia we headed straight ahead and down the steps to the ferry boat quay. A 24 hrs ‘season ticket’ costs 18 Euros and allows unlimited travel on all the routes. It was a bright, sunny crisp day and TW was on a mission to travel as many nautical miles as possible! Our first cruise was along a couple of canals to Crea and our B & B, Ca’ Fontanea in Cannaregio, another booking success for yours truly as it was lovely. It was away from the canal and set in a small piazza and cost 65 Euros. I am afraid I made it a bit of a boo-boo as we approached the Ca’ Fontanea, or more accurately a poo-poo!. I was towing TW’s wheeled suitcase and my route took me straight through a very fresh doggy doo-dah. This, you will appreciate, tempered the excitement of our arrival! TW’s first task, before we could go for lunch, was to clean her wheelie, Aaah yuk! At