Austria - Back on the slopes -sort of

Well it started OK

Austria opened its border just  in time for a 2022 departure. But, they had put a difficult obstacle in our way. Austria required us to get a negative PCR test within 48 hours of our arrival time in Salzburg. As our flight was on New Years Day it was impossible to get our tests locally. It meant that we had to drive to Heathrow and back on the last day of 2021 to get our Certification. Happily we both were deemed to be negative. There was to be no NYE celebration as we had an early start the next day but we did wake up for the local midnight fireworks and the ships hooting from the Harbour! 

To keep ourselves Covid safe we really pushed the boat out this time and booked ourselves into Club Class for the short flight to Austria. This, of course,  meant we needed to go the Club lounge in Terminal 5 for a coffee, it would have been rude not to. before heading to the Plane. Our seats were up the front and we were seated comfortably for our cooked breakfast. The service was good on the smooth flight and we were first through immigration at SZG. We were fully armed with vaccination proof and test certificates but were still a bit anxious. We had heard of punters being turned away in Innsbruck a few days before. No problem for us though.

A Taxi to the Banhof followed and picnic on the Platform before the train trip to Bad Hofgastein. We went First Class to avoid the crowd but shared with a Slovenian Schoolteacher returning from a visit to her Daughter in Germany. We had a nice chat with her and she explained what it had been like to be ‘in school’ during the pandemic.

What a relief to be back in our Apartment and to be able to take off our masks. Ready for the slopes!

The view from home

Masks are mandatory everywhere so the morning bus ride with boots and skis was a bit more awkward than usual. 

It seemed very busy at the Schlossalm which was very worrying. It was impossible to get an empty Gondola. Even though masks should be worn they are not always worn properly, Aaagh! I tried to keep to the chairs as much as possible during the day and sit outside whenever possible.

Our favourite coffee stop, the HaitzingAlm

Skiing time was limited by a painful knee. After struggling for a week I went to the doctor. He drained 3 syringes of fluid from my right knee. He said my knee was not in bad condition but banned skiing for 3 days, until Thursday.

Favourite meal at our favourite Restaurant - Baerstein Schweinebraten

So, on Doctors Orders I stayed home. A dry throat on Tuesday was followed by a fierce sore throat. I decided to take a Lateral Flow Test on Thursday and it was immediately Positive! Oh no. So we followed the official procedure and dialled 1450. We then had to wait until the next day for the tester to take a PCR swab. The results arrived on Saturday, Positive! The next step was to be the  repeat test after 5 days. Still positive after all these days! 

And so it went on..... At least we had food, thanks to John and Tina.

We did eventually escape but only had 5 days skiing before flying home. And that was the end of my ski season! A return in March was not possible due to a medical complication. Didn't make much use of my Season Ski Pass or the Ski Garage.

Our view for 2 weeks