A Cruising Kinda Day

1/ Looking to Livigno backcountry. Photo doesn't show it but there are wet slides
on every face including the northly aspects!!

It's seriously spring now. The sun is shining and there's not a breath of wind. Wet slides are occurring all over the back-country as the sun cooks the slopes. Without a freeze overnight, the touring conditions are not good. Consequently, after 3 late nights and early starts in a row, we whimped out and stayed in bed this morning.

But by late-morning, I was back on those misery sticks, persisting with this telemark caper! Graeme is incredibly patient with me. But at the moment, I feel that I have hit the "intermediate wall". I find that I'm not progressing beyond groomed runs. The tips from John Falkiner have been helpful, but nothing has really clicked for me so far. After 10 turns my thighs are burning with lactic acid and by the end of the run, I am doubled over with nausea. And this is supposed to be fun....???

Fortunately, being pretty tired himself, Graeme was amenable to taking a few breaks today. Our first stop was a high mountain restaurant where we found ourselves surrounded by Poles, Slovaks and Czechs. After spending time in Slovakia with Dana, the distinctive sounds of the Slovak language are now familiar to us. We have learned that aside from the cheap lift tickets, accommodation and food, the duty free alcohol (in particular spirits like vodka) is a major attraction for these tourists. There certainly does not seem to be a shortage of money. We have been astounded at the number of former communists driving top of the line 4WD Mercedes, Audis and BMW's. I did have to giggle when Genni, our italian landlady hinted darkly that these tourists are mainly new mafia. Now, given that we are in Italy... surely that would be the "pot calling the kettle black!!?"

2/ This Polish lady was having so much fun after washing her lunch down with
the cheap Livigno vodka that she obviously thought she was at the beach.
Taking off her top and shoes, she danced around in the snow in her bare feet!!

3/ A traditional farmhouse bar

Second stop was a funky little farmhouse restaurant in the late afternoon sunshine. Instead of beer, my preferred choice is a "Panochet" - a French shandy of beer and lemonade. I often mistakenly call this drink a Chilean Dictator (a "Pinochet"), but the long suffering french in our resort now know what I mean. It took a little more explaining in Italy! The ol' Pinochet, is much better for the balance if you have to continue skiing! Not that anything seems to help my telemark skiing. Graeme on the other hand ordered a medium sized beer - see below. Not sure how large BIG would have been?

4/ Graeme and his "medium beer"

Tonight we are attending the last dinner of the Festival! Then, up early tomorrow morning to change accommodation. Unfortunately like most apartments in Europe, they're only a 7 night deal - Saturday to Saturday. If you want to stay longer than that period you need to book a hotel or pension. Fortunately, through Genni we have found a good little B&B called Chalet Moon just down the road.