It's lovely to combine two purposes for a short side trip: To visit old friends and to re-visit one of the worlds most beautiful areas: Tirol, Austria...
The mountains are already snow-covered right down to about 500 meters. The green forests of the lower regions sport a sugar coating of snow like a decoration on the lush green of their needles. The summer season is over and the winter season has not yet started. There is only little traffic on the roads, the country inns are not jammed with tourists, people go quietly about their business, the few travellers, such as we, are well served with friendly efficiency and a smile. Everybody talks about the most important subject of the day: Hermann Maier, the "Herminator" one of the greatest skiers Austria has ever produced (and they have produced many) has announced, amidst tears, his retirement from the sport of downhill skiing. Generally people are glad that he is bowing out while still one of the best. "After all," they say, "he is 38 years old and competing against 20 year olds in a sport demanding that they hurl themselves down the mountain standing on two pieces of wood, at speeds exceeding 130km an hour...it's really a crazy sport."
Anyway, that's what they are talking about and I listen and enjoy the seeming innocence of the conversation.
I take some pictures and go on my way.
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