.: 4th April 2003
Today we leave Italy for Austria. I was excited because on the way we stopped off in Trento which is right near Dimaro (where my ancestors are from). It was kind of cool to see the type of countryside where my ancestors lived. We also got to see our first snow on the trip. This was just on the tops of the mountains but we saw a lot more the further north we went until it was actually snowing outside. At one stage we made a quick stop so Dave could get some kind of permit. Patrice went nuts in the snow outside and started having snowball fights with Andrew. Some guys were standing nearby with a quizzical look on their faces. I don’t know what they were thinking she was doing. I calmly waited. Garreth and Dave decided to take another detour and go have a look at Innsbruck. They had not been before so it was new for all of us.
We were dropped off at a tour coach carpark and as we got off another Contiki bus pulled in! We went for a wander and as we were walking through a garden it started to snow. I haven’t seen snow before and I seriously thought that it was just white petals from some nearby tree falling to the ground. Of course I did the usual try and catch a snowflake on my tongue etc etc. It was pretty cool though. After that we ended up at McDonalds. Of course. We sat upstairs in what looked like a typical Austrian restaurant, complete with beer steins lining the wall. They were chained down though, we checked. Jon and Ben then collected a whole load of balloons and flags that Macca’s had on display downstairs. We then went and played in the mall outside. The guys gave away some of their balloons to a kid but did not give one to his brother/sister. The look on the other little kids face, awww. Hehehe.
We went back to the bus and waited for the others. People started piling
on but we were were missing one. Phillip did not come back and we had to
leave without him!!
Luckily the other Contiki group left a bit later than us and he got a lift with them.
Meanwhile we had gone to have a look at the Swarovski Museum which was just out of Innsbruck. Kind of crappy I guess but the toilets smelled like Dewberry. In the main foyer was a huge crystal, a crystal wall, some horse with crystal stuff on it and my favourite, a crystal version of Dali’s melting clock. The main part of the museum was a series of rooms that really had nothing to do with Swarovski. There was a crystal dome that I think was made out of mirrors. Then some virtual things before you were finally shoved in the merchandise room. Crystal really doesn’t interest me so after a while I went and waited down in the foyer again. I thought this was where we would meet. I was wrong. I waited and waited but no one else came. I thought it odd that the whole bus was fascinated with crystals when finally the lady down there told me the exit was in the store. I raced up the stairs, through the store out the exit hall. They probably thought I had stolen something but I didn’t care. As I came to the carpark I could not see the bus!!!! But as I came around the corner I saw it. It was moving. I ran over and made it just in time. Nearly left behind two people that day!
Now on our way to
the Gastoff Shöneck. On arrival all the guys had been asked by the Reps
in Venice to find one of the Austrian Reps, Mike, give him a big kiss on
the cheek and say “With love from Venice.” I think some of the guys did
and I heard Dave got a big kiss back.
I had a room change
and was now in with Sam, Kendall and Betsy who I had not shared with
before, so it was good to get to know other people. After settling in we
went downstairs for a welcome drink of Apple Schnapps – my favourite!
That night at dinner they brought out a big slice of cake for Katie as it was her birthday the following day. Afterwards we had a party for her in the bar. It was supposed to be a birthday theme party but most people strayed from that. Some of us girls put our hair in braids and pigtails. Ben and Jon went toga style and Matt B went as Hitler, I think or it was that kid from that show, bugger can’t remember. Things started off tame but then Fiona came around colleting money for Ben to go “Around the World”, which is basically a drinking competition where 2 people rush to consume 20 different flavoured shots as fast as possible and whoever finishes first wins. I thought Ben was going head to head with Jon which would have been amusing but as the shot glasses were lined up it was Dave who stepped up to the challenge! THIS was going to be interesting! Buckets were prepared beside them and away they went. I think Ben had been training too much for this that day so he started to struggle after about 6 but Dave kept on going. Ben tried to keep it up but was soon getting acquainted with the bucket. Dave waned near the end but after a short pause he finished them off! Ben was left with 6 shots and couldn’t finish them, so we did. Dave was crowned alcoholic victor and then both mysteriously disappeared. Visiting the toilets I suspect.
Dave came back and was up for some dancing. Matt B issued a dance off challenge and the scene was set perfectly to Fatboy Slim’s – Right Here Right Now. There was a lot of ‘good’ dancing from both sides from the ‘Sprinkler’ to the ‘Shopping Trolley” and the “Lawnmower”. Funniest thing I’ve ever seen. The rest of the night was spent drinking and more dancing on the tables.
.: 5th April 2003
Today was a slack off day. Woke up late, had breakfast and then went back to bed. Most other people went on a mountain bike ride. But I used the quiet time to my advantage and got more sleep. I then checked my email and slept some more. It was great. Finally got to sleep off the rest of my flu!! That night was a quiet video night. Just sat around and watched Charlies Angels.
.: 6th April 2003
Today I woke up to snow!!!!! I opened the curtains to find everything white and snow falling. It was so pretty. I immediately went outside to take photos. I actually got my bags to the bus early this morning. On previous days I had not because I had been so sick, but now it seemed like the worst had passed and I was finally getting over it! So happy!!!
