It’s All Relative.
Saturday 22nd to Monday 24th July (So much for posting every day!)
The precursor to this weekend began way back in the early nineteen-eighties when Mrs P was asked to be a bridesmaid at her second cousin’s wedding.
Mrs P on the right.
It culminated on Sunday with this photo…
Bridesmaids reunited. I know, they haven’t changed a bit.
We have been visiting Austria for nearly 20 years now and it was only relatively recently that we discovered we had driven past Mrs P’s second cousin’s and fellow bridesmaid’s home on a pretty much annual basis.
A visit was long overdue.
And what a great visit we had. We were entertained like royalty by Mrs K and her husband, Herr K (She is English, he is Austrian). Herr K even gave up his day off to take me on a bike ride up to the Achensee near their home. (Pay attention for a mini German lesson: See is German for lake. Achen is the name of the lake. Achen-see, Achen lake. German lesson ends).
Herr K was on his electric bike and I was on my eighteen year old, old fashioned leg powered, mountain bike.
Built in 1964 this thing of beauty puffed its way up more than 400 metres from the valley floor. The train is pretty impressive too. It was built in 1889 and does the trip every day.
The only view I got of Herr K on his speedy electric bike.
Over three days and in the company of Herr und Frau K we ate the best schnitzel and chips ever at the campsite restaurant, Alpen Camping Weer, where we were staying; we were taken to an amazing restaurant at an alm (high mountain pasture) above the Achensee for lunch, beer, sparkling wine AND schnapps. It’s a wonder I cycled back in one piece! And, we were invited to dinner at their house for the most delicious food and more schnapps. Hic!
A huge thanks to them both and of course the dog, Amy..
This wasn’t however the only run in with relatives that weekend.
With no children of my own to ruin I have spent many years trying to be as bad an influence as possible to my numerous nephews and nieces. In this endeavour I have had some success, one has a campervan of his own and is on the verge of buying a kayak. Another has taken to rock climbing and visiting the high mountains. It is the latter who we met up with in Innsbruck on Saturday.
Dr. P as he shall be known (for he is one), had been hiking for several days in the Stubai Alps with his girlfriend Dr A (also one and much more useful on an emergency). My nephew’s doctorate has absolutely nothing to do with me. Good genes and a smarty-pants brother and sister-in-law are to blame for that.
Anyway, while we know they both live in Germany we didn’t know they were going to be in the same bit of Austria as us. What a coincidence? This is where the blog comes in handy. Dr P reads it and spotted we were in Austria, got in touch and we arranged to meet up in Innsbruck for dinner.
Me and Dr P outside the Goldenes Dachi (Golden Roof) landmark in Innsbruck
Incidentally, Dr P’s great, great, great grandfather did some French polishing in that golden roofed building sometime in the early nineteen hundreds.
It was great to see them both. We spent much of the afternoon and the whole evening chatting about mountains, climbing and travel. Finishing with dinner at a wonderful Nepalese restaurant.
Me, Mrs P and a couple of doctors (only one of which would be useful if you cut your finger).
It was an interesting, fun and highly unexpected weekend of family reunions. We thank them all for their marvellous company.
I would also like to take this opportunity to apologise to my brother for the fact that his eminently intelligent son now wants me to teach him all about mountaineering. All those years of him saying, “Don’t listen to your uncle…” wasted.
And finally, if you’re wondering why I haven’t been posting pictures of us in the snowy mountains, I think the following photo may give you a clue.
The hills are alive with the sound of windscreen wipers.
Apart from a couple of days the weather has been pretty unsettled. Storms, high winds and lots and lots of rain.
