I think it’ll take a week of just doing nothing, that’s what it’ll take to slowdown enough to take in and appreciate the view that is bursting in my hotel window.
My balcony opens onto a backdrop of clear blue sky, as the sun gently drops behind the peaks of what seems like cliffs rising from the lake like sentinels, guarding the way ahead. It’s hard to get the perspective of the mountains rising out of the crystal, clear lake in proportion. Not until my eyes fall on tiny buildings dwarfed right at the point where the cliffs rise out of the water. With the perspective of the buildings, I begin to grasp the scale of the scene I excitedly study from the comfort of my balcony.
The stark contrast of the warm heath of the hotel, delicious, hot food and polite faces of the staff, to the rugged peaks and the deep blue of the lake, never fails to fill me with awe and wonder of nature. I don’t get to be in a place like this every day and I’m glad, it would be a shame to grow familiar and take this quiet, serine but breathtaking beauty for granted. It’s such a contrast to the usual pace of life. At this point in my life, I need this, with the problems going right now, probably the whole world needs this!
Coming from hectic cities, which are such a struggle to survive in, this place is almost too difficult a change and takes several days for my thoughts to stop falling over themselves to get in sync with the water, air and mountains.
Austria’s public holidays have caught me by surprise more than once. But what a welcome break from the pressure of work when one such public holiday pops up in the middle of the week. I am writing after just such a day. I knew just what to do, I know of a walk I can take from the bottom of the lake up a logging road into what turns into rugged wilderness. And it’s only a short drive from the comfort of the hotel.
Ahh, back in nature again, the crisp winter wind blowing, the sound of the stream gushing as it dashes from deep turquoise pools, to abrupt waterfalls, all the while singing cheerfully along way below my path. The road steadily climbs up and away from the things of man, thrilling my soul with every deep breath crisp, mountain air.
To add to the symphony of all I see and hear and feel, snowflakes start to descend and the wind displays its playful mood as the soft flakes dance from side to side and they gently descend in perfect unity. It all seems so right, when I think of the comfort of my room and the delicious meal that will be served this evening, as I walk in the wild alone on a day when I would normally be working.
Austria is a country of strong contrast, the warmth of the food and hospitality and rugged peaks with untamed wilderness areas. Another surprising contrast came on the last few hundred meters of my walk. I am used to so many cold, hard expressions, frightened eyes avoiding my gaze, pain and suffering. As I descended the path an elderly lady and her daughter were starting on their way up. The she boldly stepped across into my path to stop me, her smiling eyes reached out to greet me as if I was her long lost son. She held me in her warm gaze, the first face I see after descending from my time in the wild.
Not only did the kindness and friendliness of her expression reach out to me, but she but stepping closer she reached out her hand in affable greeting. With the warm and ardent grasp, the affectionate exchange was in no way diminished by not being able to communicate in words, as she spoke no English and my German needs work. I knew that expression; it was universal and could warm a world full of cold difference. That exceptional little, old lady made my time in Austria and the Post Hotel complete.
You might think this description is exaggerated but I think this part of the world is grossly underrated. If you have been working with families living in squalor, children suffering with cancer and in countries with struggling economies, you would view the world through different eyes too. I have been doing volunteer work for the last twenty years and have found a new appreciation for each and every blessing. Michael Kennedy