Altm�nster, where the camp is, is situated in central Austria, on a lake called the Traunsee. It is less than an hour from Salzberg in the northwest. The lake is really something spectacular, it has about 6 towns surrounding it, Alm�nster being one of the smallest, and is used for fishing, but mainly recreation. There are a thousand boat houses and jetties dotted around the lake. The most spectacular thing about the lake, however, is the mountains. I know most people would say that mountains and lakes dont mix. Haha, come here, the mountains literally run into the lake, i think due to some volcano formation. Whatever the reason, the scenery is beautiful and makes it the sort of place you love to just stop and look around and see everything, it was awesome.
Yesterday we went up one of the mountains for lunch on the top. It was a really great walk. It was eerie the snow became heavier as we went up. It made for some great snowball fights, mainly the aussies and new zealanders against the south americans, although at times, it was far too tempting, and i just had to be completely non-diplomatic and pelt a new zealander in the head with a snowball, ah, what fulfillment! The lunch at the top was less a lunch and more desert. For starters we had a goulash, or goulachesuppe as it is here, which was outrageously sweet, followed by something like french toast, filled with a plum paste inside and dusted with icing sugar, as everything else is! But is was ok, i knew we had a big dinner coming that night so not to worry too much.
The way down was awesome. Because it had been snowing when we got into the hut and when we left, the views of the green hills and dark mountains surrounding the traunsee had transformed into a completely white winter wonderland. It is as though someone had dropped a huge white blanket over the whole of the landscape. It looked incredible!
And as if that day itself was not enough the end of it was even better. We went to a local rotarians house, sie hei�t Monika, and we had a traditional kn�del dinner. Kn�dels are dumplings and come in many shapes sizes and forms. The most common being lebenkn�del (liver dumpling, usually eaten in a beef broth) or semmelkn�del (made from semmels - bread rolls, a bit like a savoury bread and butter pudding bal) and others include bacon, semolina and even sweet ones for desert. It was an awesome dinner, i had way to much to eat and it was really nice to sit around with the other exchangees and chat, a really great way to finish a really great day!
Paz