Currently

Seeing mountains all around me

Feeling snow under my (new) boots

Listening to this song (thanks to my employer's music tastes)

Wanting some privacy

Eating northern Italian food - polenta and beet ravioli

Enjoying my morning off

Smelling wood-burning stoves

Thankful for my casual, laid-back, American up-bringing 

Wishing my bag wasn't discolored by a close-call with a fire 

Writing out my lists and journals for this month (keeping me sane 

as the kids yell & scream all.the.time.)

*photo of Virginia, Enrico, and I after snow-mobiling out to a restaurant in the middle of the Dolomites

Cross-Country Skiiing in Harrachov, CZ ::part two::

I wanted to finish my first skiing experience {See my first post here}as I'm heading out to (hopefully) ski with my Italian employers in Cortina d'Ampezzo for the next two weeks.

Around this time last year I was attempting to slide my feet back and forth as I tried to push my body forward on these two slim sticks which were attached to my arms and legs. Nothing felt more foreign. Snow shoeing, no problem. But cross-country skiing! And with strong semi-pro Czech men! I spent half of the day wondering what I had gotten myself into. We left our little pension early, rented our gear, and headed out to no man's land. Literally, I had no idea where we were. They dropped us somewhere along the border of the Czech Republic and Poland. (So, I guess you could say I've been to Poland, but I don't count it because I only saw it's vast ski-culture)

Amy, my American confidant who also was skiing for the first time actually began strong. I, however, spent two out of the four hours at the end of the group. Thankfully, Dimitri, stayed behind with me, coaching me along. I'm so thankful for his encouragement. He really is a great memory!

After a break at a log cabin-turned restaurant, we finished the loop and headed back to our car. Somewhere. It was a wonderful break in a rustic place with people speaking Czech, Polish, and German. Eating hot food-goulash, soup, sausages, beer. Once we regained our energy, we took a group photo and slid downhill. I felt much better after our pit-stop. I finally was getting somewhere on my skis and enjoyed the time sliding down, then across flat plains of snow, then down again laughing all the way. I think Dimitri was worried at some points because I was going so fast. But I've always had good balance. I kept my knees bent, arms in, and head down so I wouldn't hit any branches. With my poles I kept beckoning the snow around me to help me go faster.

It was a lovely winter day in the mountains.

In the late afternoon we returned our gear, got into our cars and made our way back to Prague. Exhausted and spent, but full of happy memories and sore muscles.

Snow Shoeing in Harrachov, Czech Republic

Remembering this weekend gives me smile after smile. The reason I chose this destination for this week's Wonder Where Wednesday is because a couple of weeks from now I'll be heading to the north of Italy with my employers for two weeks of skiing and living in a winter wonderland. I'm pretty excited! Rome's sunshine is great, but I miss the overall feel of winter. I'm not sick of it yet like I was living in Prague; I have yet to really experience this year's winter. 

To my travel story....Last year I randomly went on this mini-ski excursion for a weekend with some Czechs who were friends-of-friends and one of my actual friends, Amy. It was sort of a last minute thing, but I'm telling you! The smaller, community-based weekend excursions and day-trips around the Czech Republic last year were some of my highlights and fondest memories! 

We all packed into two cars and drove north from Prague, playing car games and mystery games along the way. The road snaked along and eventually lost sight completely to the magical whiteness that abounded around us. Later, we strapped on our snowshoes (awkwardly, since it was my first time) and slowly walked into the great white wilderness like scuba divers. I admit, I felt a little self-conscious among such hearty Czechs who were basically born in snow. But they were kind and guided us 'newbies' along, showing us how to step and where to step. The entire weekend was so encouraging and a true taste of Czech culture! 

We meandered through the woods for hours, taking our time and enjoying the fresh air away from city life. We exchanged stories and jokes and memories and passions. There really is something special connected with walking and talking to people. Together we explored some old World War II bunkers hiding under snow, threw snowballs, and watched as families and couples skied past. 

We rewarded ourselves with a full, warm Czech lunch at a restaurant in an old house in a town that was only accessible by walking (with snowshoes) or skiing into. We sat around a large wooden table with full pints of beer and chatted some more while big burly Czech men guzzled down their beers and cheered around us. (We were clearly the only international group in town) Afterwards, we walked back to our car and slept soundly after a relaxing sauna visit and homemade beer from our pension owner. 

The next day would be grueling....my first cross-country skiing effort. But I did it! Over four hours of trying to move my whole body while simultaneously sliding my feet forward and not slipping backward with my next step. I finally started to really enjoy it at about hour three. 

Part Two coming soon...