Ski Weekend

Last weekend was an active one! It all started on a cloudy and cold day, one of those days when I would normally sit in bed surrounded by blankets reading a good book or watching a movie. But last Friday was different. We gathered our ambition and headed towards the mountains. We were on a pretty humble budget, so our destination was the Harghita Mountains, which are at approx. 80 kilometers from our hometown. Our accommodation was a simple cabin on the top of Bogdan peak, which was perfect because it was both cheap and very close to the ski-run.

I love this place and these mountains. I’ve been here several times while growing up, and in the last few years we came here at least 2-3 times a year (in the summer too). It’s special for a number of reasons. It’s the place we come when we need to gather ourselves, when we seek some peace and quiet, or when we just want to escape it all. It’s our ultimate relaxing place. The mountains are perfect for hiking, there’s a stream flowing through them, and it’s the perfect place for some R&R.

the stream

We used to come here skiing the past few years, but this year they changed the place and made the ski-run into a more advanced one. I have to admit that I’m not a pro skier (but the opposite), so the minute I saw the ski-lift and the ascent of it (also, knowing that I hadn’t put my ski boots on the last two winters), I immediately said no to it and started practicing on the brink of the sleigh line. I didn’t want to jump in the saddle just yet, because I wasn’t sure how much I remembered the “art” of skiing. So I spent the first day exercising, slowly, like a snail.

the plan of the ski-run

the ski-lift in all its glory..from both sides

At the end of the program, a big tractor with tracks came down to take us up to the cabin, along with our bags and belongings. Here’s a photo en-route:

on the tractor (or crawler?)

aaand after arriving

The second day arrived. Struggling with butterflies in my stomach, but there was no turning back as I promised myself the day before that I’d face my fears and ski for real this time. The first slant was veeery  slow, but as we got to the middle of it all, I started to feel more and more confident. But the real test arrived. I was mostly afraid of the ski-lift, because in the previous years I fell down from it a bunch of times. (note: this is not a chair-type lift, but rather it has a little plate which you need to put between your legs and off you go). My heart was beating fast as I was ascending, and thankfully, I didn’t fall at all that weekend. Here’s a photo of the struggles and try-outs (because at the beginning I couldn’t really call it skiing). Luckily, my man (who was my teacher as well) was kind and patient enough to go and bare with me on my first try 🙂

(look at how the kid is going while I’m…well, standing there!

beautiful view from the bottom of the ski lift

I saved the best for last! Although the weather was cloudy all weekend, I managed to make some shots of a beautiful and clear sky the last morning. The intense blue color along with those white, snowy trees made the whole atmosphere like a fairy-tale. Check it out:

Also, a bit of news. I started tumblr-ing (or how you guys call it), so if you want to follow me, you can find me here. Although this was the last thing I needed before my exams start in 10 days, I have to admit it is a great source of inspiration. If only I hadn’t become so hooked! 😀

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The Saint Mountain of the Szeklers Old Man’s Cave and Izbândiş Spring Weekend at Zetea barrage lake Colibita – The Lake of Summer Escapades