Travel from Salzburg to Gerlos and around Gerlos, Austria
Well, Wednesday I got up and was attempting to run on a perfect schedule. Isabell had given me perfect directions as to how to get to Gerlos including all the train and bus connections, so I just needed to make sure I was at the right place at the right time. My first train left at 1031 from Salzburg to a place called Jenbach. 1031 is actually a pretty decent time to leave so I was not even concerned about getting up. I even had time for breakfast in the morning…..which was included in my room cost so I made sure I took that up both mornings.
Anyway, made it to the train station in plenty of time to make my train and then I just had to make sure I got off the train at the right place. Zurich was the train's final destination but I needed to be off a while before that. I found myself a nice giant empty table in first class and pulled out my computer. I decided that I would avoid sleeping because there was a chance I would then miss my stop. Of course the train was originally going to be 15 minutes late (which made me a little worried) but it was actually only 7 minutes late so it was ok.
So I got off a Jenbach and had about 12 minutes to catch my next train connection. Isi told me to take the 1222 Zillertalbahn to Zell am Ziller. I know, that meant nothing to me either so I was hoping someone could help me. A nice lady directed me to the correct track and then I confirmed once again when I got there that this was in fact the correct train to get me to Zell am Ziller. Now let me tell you the Zillertalbahn is not the first class, fast trains I have been taking throughout Europe. This was more of an creaky, slow, rickety old thing…..but it got us there and that is all that counts and I got to see more of Austria fly by (well ok........ move by very slowly).
A little bit more of Austria. No sunshine today...but that's ok.
From Zell am Ziller I then had to take a bus up the mountain to Gerlos. Now I told the bus driver where I was going (the bus stop at Milchbar) but he misunderstood, (it happens) and I was trying to watch for it but somehow missed it (it is literally on the main road so not sure how that happened) so I went flying by it until we got to the last stop and the bus driver told me I had to get off. So at this point I was a little worried but I found a nice guy who spoke English who told me how to get back to Milchbar. It was a quick 5 minute walk so even with my pack and the snow it was no problem. Isi, in the meantime was busy at the restaurant but did see the bus go by and me not get off so she kind of thought I missed the bus but no I had just gotten slightly lost….but only a little lost which is actually really good for me. And the fact the Gerlos I only really one road certainly helps.
Looking down Gerlos' main street.....well really Gerlos' only street. Really does make it easy to get around.
Anyway, Isi and I found each other and we made our way to her place. She quickly went back to work and I took a nap. I was told I was getting to town just in time for Mathias’ (Isi’s boyfriend) birthday celebration and since Isi owns a bar (as well as a restaurant and a pension with her sister and mother) we would be celebrating there. First though I had to be introduced to some more Austrian beer (there may have been a little too much of it) some Austrian game (and I mean like deer or reindeer or a deer of some sort…it was good), Austrian Schnapps (it was also good but I did not have as much as Debi apparently did last time she was in Gerlos….oh yes I heard stories) and some of Mathias’ Austrian friends (yeah, for Austrian friends). The boys taught me how to order beer in German and attempted to teach me the longest German word I had ever seen (it basically meant something along the line of a pork chop but not what most of us would know as a pork chop....or something like that). Trust me after a few beers I thought I could say it but I odds are I could not. I am still practicing and I am sure by the time I get home I will have it.
Anyway, after dinner it was off to Cheers (yes, that is the name of Isi’s bar) for more beer and some more schnapps and eventually some jaggermeister (I blame Phil for that) and some water…yes there was some water. Eventually there was some dancing (I think) Mathias made a pretend phone call to Debi (he does not remember that), Mathias fell asleep in the bar (he remembers that) and eventually we all went home.
This is Mathias. I must have taken this picture early because he is still awake.
The next day (Thursday the 11th if you are keeping track) the plan was to head out skiing…however by the time I rolled out of bed I figured I would wait a day. Ok I was not feeling that great and I had not skied in 10 or 11 years so I decided some walking would be much better.
Some of the sights I found around Gerlos. So pretty.
So I headed out to explore Gerlos and around. Isi told me where I could find some nice trails so I headed that way. I ended up walking for a while until I decided I needed to sit in a snow bank to take a picture….and that made me cold.
Yes, I am playing in the snow. This is the most snow I have seen in a couple winters so even though it was cold I had a little fun too.
So I headed back towards Milchbar, but not before I laid down in a snow trench to take a picture…..and that made me cold, so I walked a bit more and then headed to Milchbar. Isi then fed me, and gave me hot chocolate (well actually Mathias got that for me) and then I was warm.
Hiking around Gerlos.
It was so nice.
I think I spent the rest of the day napping and then I eventually went to Cheers for a beer and then Isi took me home and fed me more food (she was trying to fatten me up I think). But it was all so good. And then I went to sleep. I love vacations. What a perfect day.
And Friday rolled around and I decided I was hitting the slopes. Now as I mentioned before I had not skied in about 10 years, although I figured it would be ok. First though I had to try to fit my not so little body into Isi’s very little snow gear. I did it though and it kept me nice and warm. Isi then fed me lunch. Friday was the first real day for the season in Gerlos so there were a lot more people in town and the restaurant was officially open to the public. Once I ate lunch it was down to rent some ski equipment. I have to say it felt a lot better than I thought it would. Then up the hill. You have to take the gondola up to the actual hill and maybe I have just been gone from ski hills for so long but you need to swipe an electronic card to gain access to any of the lifts. I guess this keeps people from hiking up the hill and skiing for free. You could totally do it. It is not that far up.
Some more prettiness around Gerlos.
Anyways, once on the hill I was getting a little nervous. There were a lot of people around and I did not know the hill so was not sure which way to head. I had to learn which were the safe runs for me to be on. Over here blue means easy, red means medium and black means hard. I was certainly going to be avoiding the black runs….especially early on. A couple of easy blue runs and then it was off to visit some red runs and some new lifts and eventually a black run and the discovery of a few more lifts. So in all I skied for almost 4 hours. I was about to do one final run just before the lifts closed for the day, but my legs were just starting to burn so thought better of it. So instead I skied down to return my skis and then headed to Milchbar to see Isi…..and of course she fed me food and beer.
And then it was back to Isi’s place for a nap and a shower and to say good-bye to Mathias (he had to head back to Vienna) and then back to Milchbar for dessert and more beer and stuff like that (are you seeing the pattern yet?) and then a conversation with a really drunk old guy (he tried to set himself up with me and then tried to set me up with his slightly younger friend and the guy sitting with them who was closet to my age who just looked completely embarrassed the whole time). I then as introduced to a couple German guys and some how I ended up at Cin-Cin with them (which is a Dutch bar) and a very interesting place I must say. There I met this Scottish guy who was raised in Holland who could not believe that I would leave Amsterdam off my list of places to visit. He just did not understand the time restraint I am working with here and by then I really wanted to ditch the German guys….and the Scottish-Dutch guy and just go to bed. So back to Milchbar to say goodnight to Isi, we quickly checked the train and bus schedules so my travel day would be planned and then I went to bed. I love vacations!!!!
And that was my visit to Gerlos. It was a great couple of days, I had a great time skiing, I met some great Austrians and I cannot thank Isi enough for putting me up for a couple days. Hopefully I will have another chance to visit or better yet, Isi can make her way to Canada (or the US) and I can return the hospitality.
Julie
