Maria Alm 2

Monday, the 6th, 57° at 7:30am, a few high clouds but the promise of a nice day.  

Since we couldn't buy any provisions yesterday, we thought we'd try the in house restaurant for dinner.  I had a French onion soup and two trips to a nice salad bar (small plates), Geneva had a child's portion of her favorite, Schnitzel with French fries and she still could not finish it !!  The portions are quite big.  All this and white table cloth, for €17 or $22. (mind you, restaurant meals generally tend to be expensive here, but what food ! ).  

We ventured out mid morning to get our groceries in Saalfelden, the next large city a short drive west from here.  It was a gorgeous day.  The little settlement where RCI is, is called Hinterthal, then comes a larger town, Maria Alm, and then Saalfelden.  When we came 'home' we had a nice brunch and then I made my traditional vegetable soup that we had tonight for dinner and will last for at least a couple or three more nights for supper.  

The staff here is not especially helpful, tho friendly enough, but not very accommodating.  I bought a wrong map but she wouldn't exchange it or gave me my money back.  To wash clothes here costs 3€ for a washing load and 3€ for drying !!!  That's $7.80 total !  We hope the machines are big enough to hold a good load.  Washing at the RCI in Italy was free, just the cost of the soap.  

Every day tho, a couple of ladies come into our apartment and tidy up, make the beds, change the towels, vacuum the carpeted floor, mope the bathroom and toilet, they touch nothing in the kitchen, nice.

My daily ritual of getting fresh "Semmerln" (breakfast buns) in the morning will continue here, for its a must for most people.  Last Sunday morning we had the breakfast buffet at the in house restaurant, and while it was relatively expensive, 20€ for the both of us, we surely got our money's worth, at least I did.

This morning, Tuesday, we had a wonderful b'fast in the apartment.  I went to the nearest 'Supermarket' down the highway, about 6 miles away, picked up a few items including Semmerln, sugar and Raspberry syrup.  We had everything else to make it a fine morning meal.  

Life here in Europe, including Austria, revolves around food shopping and eating it.  I suppose it's like that everywhere, but I notice it especially here because the food tastes so much better.  And it seems to me that the portioning is different.  People go shopping for groceries almost every day, small amounts, fresh amounts, just what they need for the next couple of days.  Besides their fridges aren't as huge !  Tho portions in restaurants are generous.  And still, the obese or fat people I've seen, I can count on one hand.   

My reporting on this blog of mine is of two types, one is describing what we are doing, the action, what's happening, and the other is thoughts, the whys and observations.