Summer -- part 1

It was out longest trip ever. It was also supposed to be a budget holiday with a lot of camping. It was not to be.

First, we drove from London to Neustift. We very nearly didn't make it. Heavy rain, traffic jams in Germany, and being up all night all contributed to a phone call to the camp site to cancel the booking at about 1800. There was no way we could pitch a tent: we were too knackered, it was too late, and it was miserably cold and wet.

So to a get roof above our heads, I called good old friend Patricia, owner of our "best loved hotel" award many times over. I told her we were just passing through on our way from London to Budapest and needed a room for one night. A luxurious hotel apartment on the top floor was promptly allocated to us, with the key hidden in a large pot of red geranium at the entrance -- their usual procedure for guests turning up after reception closes at 1900.


We had the best night's sleep -- but it came at a cost of £100. Hardly a budget hol!


We emerged for breakfast at 0900. The sun was shining, and Neustift looked its very best: glorious Alpine scenery, ski lifts already running, tiny spots of colour -- the first paragliders descending from the Elfer --already visible in the sky. We could not just leave paradise behind after one night.

But equally, we couldn't afford to stay at £100 a night. So a long chat, big hugs and farewell with Patricia followed, with her emphatically wishing us a safe journey to Budapest.

I decided not to tell her that we were actually only moving over to the campsite for three more nights to enjoy our Alpine mini break. It was a big mistake.


On day three, Noni and I were walking down on the zigzag road from Elferhutte after conquering the Zwolfernieder ... sunburnt and happy, about to meet the men at the Elferlift station.



When going round the last bend, we bumped into two lonely figures -- mind you, at that point, everybody's coming down the mountain to catch the last lift to the village, so it was very ususual to see people going the other way. A man and a woman, in trendy hiking gear, the woman wearing a huge pair of purple sunglasses.


Which she promptly removed when she saw me, shouting excitedly: Erika, are you still here? I thought you were in Budapest!

It was awkward, but Non says I sounded all right, explaining how the kids wanted to stay and as we had a tent with us to use later on in the hols, we decided to stay.

Still, it was a very embarrasing moment ... but at least I found out from Patricia that if you wanted to watch the best sunset in the world, you should be heading up to the Elfer at 1700...