Starting small

I don’t want to start this post off by talking about the weather, as that would be so very British of me. And I guess my observation is more about the air than the weather, per se. Away from London smog, my senses are heightened. My nose, my lungs and my spirit are all very aware of the freshness of the air – clean, revitalising and intoxicating. Surrounded by mountains, freshly cut grass and nature at its purest, we find ourselves here – our first stop – in St Ulrich am Pillersee in Tirol, Austria. Here it is quaint, untouched and beautiful. There is space to exist, there is time to think, and there is inspiration everywhere you look. Life moves at a much slower pace here, though time continues to race – speeding away, taking us with it, reminding us to make the most of every single day that we have. Already I can feel the stress of city life ebbing away, and I am embracing this new way of living: it is calm, it is patient and it is peaceful. 

 

Today we went on our first hike – it was a one and a half hour trip around a picturesque hill called ‘Unterberg’, the smallest hill in this small village. It was an easy trip, covering approximately 5 Kilometres. The landscape was varied, as was the weather. We saw dark forests, imposing mountains – the peaks of which were obscured by the lingering fog, and vast expanses of the greenest grass, dotted with cows grazing peacefully. We crossed questionably sturdy bridges, from which we enjoyed magnificent views of powerful streams crashing into jagged rocks. And all this beauty today was just the beginning – a teaser, if you like – before our grand journey into the mountains tomorrow, where we will embark on a 6-7 hour hike, exploring the glorious mountains of this scenic little village.

Until then, we are lucky enough to be staying in our beautiful family home here in the valley. The ‘camping’ part of our journey is yet to begin, as we ease ourselves slowly into our new way of nomadic life. Enjoying the comforts of this perfectly located hut – the terrace with a breathtaking view of the mountains, the welcoming interior, and the warmth and comfort of a home that only family members can bring – only adds to what is a wonderful start to our trip.