As I write this, I'm sitting on the couch of the grandparents' flat in Sankt Gilgen am Wolfgangsee. St. Gilgen is a fantastically storybook-worthy little village, snuggled on Wolfgang Lake at the base of a few mountains near Salzburg. Through the window, I can see snow floating down at a slight angle. I can see snow-covered rooftops, white-frosted evergreens, the sharp peaks of the mountains, and the lake, with a few lights shining from the other side.
This place is a winter wonderland! I really feel like I'm being illustrated into a children's book, or on the set of an old Christmas movie. We walked into the village to see a local tradition to welcome the new year, and I was in awe at the beautiful old buildings with so many details to the architecture, and holiday decorations in every window. The small crowd of onlookers in thick coats, scarves, pom-pom hats, and gloves only reminded me more of the storybook village comparison in my head.
I'm completely smitten with this place. If I were going to live in Austria for the rest of my life (don't worry Mom, that's not the plan!), I would definitely choose this area around Salzburg. I've only seen it in the wintertime, but I've seen The Sound of Music enough times to know that it's just as beautiful in a different way in the spring. The mountains and the evergreens remind me more of home than any other place I've seen on this continent. Funny, isn't it, how I live in Europe, yet I think the most beautiful place here is the one that looks most like home?
I also had my first sledding experience! I know, almost 24 years old and I'd never ridden on a sled. Call my mother and tell her I was deprived. Or just laugh at how slow we went but how excited we were anyway:
And then laugh at the snow-woman version of me.
I'll leave you with a couple excerpts from my journal from this week:
Thursday, 6. January
"…The great aunt and great uncle (who also have a flat just a few minutes' walk away) came over this afternoon and stayed for the evening.
Onkel Erich is the Austrian version of Uncle Lloyd, alias Tickle Monster. He's a broad-shouldered old man. He's got a friendly smile, bright blue eyes, a protruding chin, and a silvery-white comb-over. After dinner, I settled onto the couch with the girls and him as he read a story from Grimm Märchen [Grimm Fairytales]--it was Rumpelstilzchen, but his own, special, personalized version, evoking abundant giggles from us all. I've officially decided: Old Austrian men will always have a very special place in my heart. Especially if they're wearing Lederhosen."
Friday, 7. January
"…I'm looking after the girls, and we just pulled ourselves away from the window. It's snowing again, and we just watched the snow plow clear the street to our apartment. My first viewing of a snow plow in action!
I seriously feel like a child. I've mentioned before how much more magical Christmas is with little ones around…well, now I'm the little one, entranced by the falling snowflakes, whether tiny specks or dime-sized clumps. When the wind blows and they twirl and dance around the trees, it's nearly impossible to tear my wide eyes from the window. Unless it's tea time. Then I'm willing to concentrate long enough to add some milk and sugar before returning to my seat by the window and my winter entertainment."
Grace and peace,
Hilary
Here's another little glimpse of the mischievous Onkel Erich:
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