Today is the day we officially set off for the trip. By a team effort and some superior three-dimensional packing, Pierre and I manage to fit a few metric tonnes of clobber, 8 sets of skis, ski boots, toys, and a myriad of other odds and ends into a VW transporter. Man, we used every available inch of space in that bus...
The Volksie in front of Zelený Dům ("Green House" our affectionate name for our home):
Loaded to the brim off we set for a ski warm-up session at our now regular weekend ski haunt in Arber. It has a nice selection of runs, with some really good stuff for families. By the time we got to booking the accommodation for Arber, typically in the nearby town of Bayerisch Eisenstein, there was none to be had, peak season, holidays and all. So we had to sleep in Železná Ruda a town about 3 Kms from the border, so almost no inconvenience.
The drive to DE is filled with snowy scenes and there is happiness all around
If anyone knows what these wooden thingimys are around this field please let me know - we can only speculate about snow barriers and other unlikely stories.
Yes sir, she is chilly out there
Snow on the roads, heavy van, slow driving... not that the scenery had anything to do with it!
Only arriving in Železná Ruda after 3pm, we found our hotel, up on an hill with a driveway of ice and snow, in a van with 8 people and tons of luggage... well, it's a good thing we had winter tyres on or we'd have had to walk to the hotel. The first slow approach failed horribly, and after reversing down a slippery hill... The second running attempt at the hill got us up and parked.
This is the great Hotel Dix...
With all the snow about, the 4 kids were already eating, throwing, stomping, rolling and sleighing on a little slope in the garden of Hotel Dix having a great time.
Everyone in their new snow kit...
A frozen pond to walk on, complete with a fake frozen stork.
A winter-proof Mandy steams down the slope
The broken arm, not allowed to get the plaster wet cautiously approaches the scene
As soon as we'd unpacked we headed off to the ski area to see if we could get passes and things for the next day, but got there only after they close at 4. Still, the kids had enough time to sleigh for about an hour before it was time to get back for supper.
Dinner was at another regular spot of ours in Bayerisch Eisenstein - Poeschl-Stuben. If you're in the area, you should stop over, big menu, friendly staff and frequently attended by owner Jurgen, who is a really helpful guy. He also owns one of the better local ski kit shops, a hotel, ski school and other businesses in the area.
Pierre capturing some night scenes of BE from just outside the restaurant.
The hotel was functional, skimpy on the heating at night though - if you go to Hotel Dix in CZ, just take warm jammies to sleep in - we had the kids sleep in their ski thermals and pyjamas to keep them warm enough.
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