Ski Trip - Ski Amade 2018 - Alpendorf, Wagrain, and Flachau

The sixth ski trip with the Specker gang for me, and the fourth time we went to Ski Amade. Again a wonderful trip, which was nearly prevented by snow in Dublin. Somehow with care and adventure, I drove to the airport amidst the snow, picked up Mick and despite the conditions and flight delays we made it. Arriving in Salzburg and meeting a few others there we made our way to Schwarzach im Pongau, and the Post Hotel. Skiing with Peter this year was fine a combination of leading and skiing behind him calling turns worked out well. Sunday and Monday were nice fine days, but Tuesday was a tough day weather wise and visibility wise. Wednesday was ok and better in the afternoon, and thursday and friday were excellent weather, ok we over did it and missed the bus because we were having too much fun. The usual fun and games with the group, guitars and sing songs, youtube and some naff musical tastes displayed, schock dice for those who part take  in that sort of thing. A great trip again, roll on next years..

Lithuania and Latvia

After a short visit to Estonia a few years ago via Finland, we decided to visit the other Baltic states so we went to Vilnius, Lithuania, and Riga, Latvia, two new countries for me to visit. We flew into Kaunas, and headed to Vilnius which I liked, the old town, the three crosses on the Hill, and the Tower on the hill above the town. The architecture is a blend of baltic sea, Germanic and Scandinavian, as well as some relics of the Soviet era. Some quirky art stuff, as well as the Frank Zappa bust (still not sure why it is there) we visited, the museums like the museum of genocide had a native bias perhaps. Onwards we went, driving the Toyota Yaris, going to Riga, kinda Zig-Zagging it to the Hill of Crosses, which was amazing to see, but also the countryside which is quite flat. On to Riga, which seems bigger a bit grubbier but with some amazing architecture, monuments and public spaces in the city, very similar to many Baltic cities, but with a noticeable Russian feel, from the Language especially, I heard more Russian than Latvian. We went to visit the Rundale Pils (Palace and Gardens) about an hour or so outside Riga, which was very nice on a sunny September day. On the way back to Riga, we took a detour to visit the Salaspils Concentration Camp, which was hard to find and quite hidden in a lovely forrest parkland, not much there and not given the reverence it deserves in my book. A night out in Riga was lively but thankfully not infested with UK Stag parties as it is at other times of the year. A quick visit to Jurmala forrest and beach area, and a paddle in the baltic, before heading to town to see the All-Ireland. Overall I found it quite interesting and easy enough to navigate with one of the guys on google maps assisting. I would recommend both Riga and Vilnius, and if you can on a longer stay work in Tallinn, but get out of the cities and see some of the countryside.


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Westport & Carrowniskey Surf Trip

Another venture to attempt surfing, second time in Carrowniskey, and staying in Westport Harbour. Nice place and the weather behaved itself, and it was sunny for our surfing! I like Westport Town, good buzz about the place, ok it is a bit further to drive from Dublin than other venues, perhaps the road could do with an upgrade, and Carrowniskey Beach is a further drive beyond Louisburg along the southern side of Clew bay, we had a fine clear view of Croagh Patrick, although didn't venture up it this time. I am always impressed with the amount of things to do in the Westport area, ok cycling and surfing appeal to me, but there is also golfing, horse riding, hill walking, fishing, boating, take a trip to the islands, visit the stately home, venture on to Newport or Achill for a day. As ever a very enjoyable trip, no doubt will end up having a return visit some day.

Ski Amade 2017

Third year with Specker Ski Trip to Ski Amade in Austria. Again a great trip and ski resort. Ok some early morning Ryanair flights to negotiate but all went smoothly. I would describe the weather and conditions as two very sunny days, two snowy days, and 2 mixed days. A massive ski resort with many different runs to do, and outstanding scenery. Overall it was quite warm and on the sunnier days some of the lower slopes were quite sugary and slushy, but overall some excellent skiing was had. Most days finished off with a Coffee and Cake across the road, sometimes still in ski boots still on. Dave and Eileen and Seigi Tours arranged things well for us, and Hotel Post fed and watered us very well. Good company with stories and laughs as usual. A good night with a sing song and laughs to see is off, I promise I must learn some songs for next year! he says presumptuously, and I look forward to going again.

Winter Surf trip Bundoran

Perhaps a bit foolishly we ventured for a weekend away surfing in Bundoran, Co, Donegal. The trip kept on being postponed, and it ended up towards the end of November that we eventually went. Ah well at least it will be a weekend aways we thought as the rain and hail and snow greeted us on our drive up through Meath, Cavan and Fermanagh. A cosy hostelry for our dinner and to ponder the folly of our endeavour with the usual messing and joking, we awoke to a crisp frosty morning, again dubious about attempting surfing. Nevertheless the surfing went ahead, dressed up in a burka-esque wetsuit and booties and gloves and cap, we entered the waters in Rossnowlagh. As ever the suit did the trick and we have a laugh. Returning to shore the cold did hit you, but a hot chocolate and bickie soothed it somewhat. An evening watching the all-blacks robust tackling and revenge on Ireland for beating them in Chicago, and a evenings craic was nice.

Iceland

Well a trip to Iceland was something which I always wanted to do. I alway wanted to see the weird landscape and in preparation for the trip my checklist of things to do and I attained them and much more. The land of fire and ice, I would add waterfalls and roundabouts. Hiring a car is a must and dealing with some quirks of driving in Iceland takes a bit of getting used to but is easy enough, many of the main things to see and do are within a day trip of Reykjavik, the golden circle, with Geysir, gullfoss and much more is a must, the blue lagoon, where the 2 continental plates meet, the waterfalls, volcanic sites, and glacier on a southern drive is amazing, another route we took was north west and round the fjords which is amazing. For me the highlights were the geysir, walking behind a waterfall, and walking on glacier.
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Surf trip to Westport

Went for a surf trip with my comrades Ivan and Lee, after attempting surftrips to Lahinch, Bundoran, and Strandhill, for a change we choose Westport, and surfing in Carrownsky, Louisburg, Co. Mayo. Was my first time in Westport which is nice quite touristy but a lot to do and places to go. We stayed in Westport Harbour a brisk walk for 15mins into Westport. The self catering appartment, was nice and clean, and nice living room, where we were able to watch the rugby (New Zealand v Wales and South Africa v Ireland), and soccer (European championships) We had booked surf lessons with www.surfmayo.com about a 30min drive west from Westport Harbour, and a little bit beyond Louisburg. The conditions were mixed for both days we booked, the instructor was very good, and the boards were excellent. Saturday we were lucky to be the only ones so a lot of personal instruction and Sunday was busy and we had a lot of waves which was tiring somewhat but still great fun.

Ski Amade, Salzburg Skiwelt 2016

Again this year I went skiing with the guys on the specker trip to Ski Amade, Salzburg Skiwelt, in Austria. It is a massive resort and a good variety of runs etc., testing enough for the likes of me. The weather was a bit better than last year there was two sunny days one very cold and one very snowy day, and two ok days. The last 3 days I found skiing totally different than the previous day (for ice, to powdery snow to slushy). I found the lift people very helpful and considerate to the guides and VI skiers and most other skiers were understanding and very interested.

The resort was full of dutch people? apparently one of the weeks of the dutch mid-term, and the dutch downhill championship was on this week. Dutch Skiing Championships!!!!! for a country without a mountain I hear you say. Maybe we should have the Irish championships there next year;). The gang was the usual faces a good gang, and good craic was had, a couple of nights of sing songs, and other nights of cards, and the usual cabal who practice the dark art of “Shot Dice” a mystery to me, we all found ways to have a laugh and fun. Skiing with Mick my Phibsboro Chess Club colleague (who got me involved with this gang originally) was good fun but for someone unfit like myself the former para-olympian left me wrecked after a week of trying to keep ahead of him. My Skiing is not improving, but my enjoyment of it, and this trip each year seems to grow. The guys in the Hotel Post, and from Siegi Tours treated us well and I would highly recommend them and many thanks to Dave and Eileen and Pete and Eveyln and Caroline and Peter and Windy for their organising etc.(sorry if i left anyone out). I hope to go again next year, my skiing is not improving, but my enjoyment of it, and this trip each year seems to grow.

Ski Amade Austria - Ski trip

After a late decision I enlisted to go on the Specker ski trip again this year, and again it was amazing (super-cool to quote the Siegi rep.) holiday. While the weather wasn't great only one full day of sun on the slopes and a couple of days where there was white outs for a long time still it was a great trip, and the under ski conditions were excellent. We only covered a fraction of the Ski Amade region, and I would say it is a place I shall return to. Guiding was quite easy and fun for me this year, since i was guiding a VI skier who followed me, I had a full day effectively free skiing when i just followed another guide an excellent skier. Over the week it seems i guided for about 100km and skied freely for about 30. The lift workers were very nice, and helpful especially when you were with a VI skier. A couple of nights sing song as well as an interesting Austrian culture night we had some craic. The hotel was fine and the food excellent, I like German/Austrian food, they were also very helpful in the hotel and with the group. One thing about the ski-amade region is the engineering of the ski-lifts, the gondolas and chairlifts were impressive, but the g-link was an amazing feat of engineering. My flight to saltzburg was at some inhuman hour but had to be done, the saltzburg airport was pretty basic especially behind at the gate, one coffee shop, and 4 euro for a coke... I suspect i will end up going again.. and hope to do so.

Gdansk-Sopot and Hel

My 2nd trip to Poland, still struggle with even the token pleasantries in the language.

Sopot nice sea side resort, with a long pier, while the weather was very good, the town had an end of season feel, and that its rumour party reputation was not as evident as you would have thought.

Gdynia and Hel, I like travelling on trains when I am abroad, and the trains in Poland I found quite efficient but our venture into Gdynia was cut short by us missing the train, and while promised to return later, our prolonged trip to Hel put paid to that.

Hel I found very nice, the end of a long bar, spit of a peninsula poking out into the Baltic Sea sand, sea, sun, seals and schnitzel. The Seal Sanctuary I am not sure about, they looked pretty lazy languishing in an artificial place for them.

Gdansk was a real surprise, the old town is a must see if your in that part of poland, how the buildings survived or were revived is testament to the spirit of the poles. The history of the war, of the communist era and of the shipyard strike. Everywhere from churches to the shipyards you see pictures of the Pope now St. John Paul II, the pride and respect they have for their pope and what he represented and gave to them during the final years of the communist era is tangible. There seems to be a lot of investment and development going on and time will tell if it is being well spent, so far they seem to be doing a good job.

It is a place I hope to return to some day, i missed the chance to get over to see Kaliningrad/Koingsberg but maybe next time.

Oberjoch Specker Ski trip 2014

Well I decided to go again on the Ski trip to Oberjoch in Germany. The weather was very nice maybe too nice the area could have done with more snow, however the slopes were finely pisted and good skiing was had. I had the new experience of guiding a blind skier for 4 days, and calling the turns from a few meters behind him, eventually we worked out a pattern and we traversed the mountains easily enough stopping off for the mandatory currywurst, hot choclate, Ski wasser and goulash on occasions.

For two days i was with a V.I. skier who followed me trusting soul he is. Had a few burns on my own which was when i had my traditional couple of spills, thankfully no one there to witness these;) Also the mandatory couple of visits to Josefs had to be done.

Good restaurants as I have always found in Germany, and evenings such as the mad frenchmans restaurant, Schnitzel Night as well as a couple of sing song nights, a few musical darkhorses there, as ever if invited i promise to learn a few songs for next year. A big thanks to the Dave and Eileen for organising, much appreciated.

Czech Republic for Neil and Danielas wedding in Kromeriz

Well a few days in the Czech Republic Neils & Danielas wedding in Kromeriz (can't do the accents), really enjoyable nice place and delighted i went. Went via Brataslava, and got mistaken for a German in a restaurant for some reason. Kromeriz was lovely, a place I would otherwise never have visited I suppose. One thing i really like holidaying in Europe is travelling by train, I went to Prague on a bit of an journey, via Hulin and Olomouc, then the mainline to Prague. Prague is lovely ok parts are a bit sleazy but I liked the Architecture and History, the castle the jewish quarter, the bridges the river. Alas got mistaken for an american or english person which kinda annoyed me.  Watched the intercontinental cup with a few jewish americans, nice guys but I had to explain offside, and "No the game is not divided into quarters!"
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Oberjoch Specker Ski trip

Well after being asked to go skiing by my chess team colleague for manys a year Mick, it seemed to suit me and I enlisted to go to Oberjoch, in Germany for some skiing, staying in Bad Hindleberg. A little different from my previous ventures skiing, as part of the specker gang I got paired with Cove, and we grouped together with mick, terry and annamarie. The VIPs easily show you what a coward you are, but we manned up and did a good bit of off piste, only one dramatic fall by myself and i have bribed the person who took the photo not to show it...

The group was good craic and the organisers deserve a massive thanks for making the trip such good fun. Apologies for my guitar playing on two nights, I should really learn more songs, and not sing!

Oberjoch is a small resort, with 9 lifts, 3 double t-bars and 1 chair lift, great plans to put in some new chair lifts which would be great and to link it to the next valley. Oberjoch is on the border with austria with one of the runs on the austrian side where my phone kept beeping text messages. Bavaria is very like Austria, I find it hard to tell the difference. I like German food, which is funny, and Austria food, that grostl like thing i had was stupendous I also had 3 Currywursts through the week, it now seems i have a check list of ski cuisine, bratwurst, currywurst, appelstrudl, schnitzel and grostl.

Helsinki and Tallinn

My first time in both Finland and Estonia, and I quite liked both. Flew into helsinki, very much like other nordic towns prices were quite high, but not that different. A mad taxi driver took us to the harbour and we got a ferry to tallinn which took 2hours, it is very much like a baltic town, not unlike some northern german ones, the old town is very nice, seen Paul Keres chess house, some nice old buildings and a night out prices were cheaper for food and drink.

The problem with tallinn is that if your anglophonic they assume you are an english stag party.. Returned to Helsinki on the ferry, and went for a walk to some park met a hedgehog and down by the coast and harbour, via the olympic terminal and back to the town. The Ice bar which is a must was disappointing since it was empty, wrong time of year perhaps. The cloakroom charge for every coat is annoying and kept you from bar hopping too much. Finns are mad, and i like mad people and a few good laughs and a late night.

Did the boat trip to Suomenlinna Island and Sea fortresses is excellent, the trip in bay was nice and the island is amazing well kept, well worth the UNESCO status and a visit is a must. The Harbour market is very good if your a tourist and the food, was so enticing alas we skipped it planning to visit later. A quiet night out yet we still managed to stay all hours talking to some strange Finns. The late night meant we nearly missed our taxi to the airport but the pleasant finns waited, the return flight via stockholm, reminded me of the benefits of the euro and annoyance of looking for credit card for snacks in the airport. Overall I liked both helsinki and tallinn, there was lots to do and lots we didnt do, and things would be much better in the summer. I would go again, which is the sure sign for me that i liked it. Next time, go during summer, go to olympic stadium and get that grostel like dish with meatballs at the harbour, hire a bike and take another bay tour. Two New Countries so
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Copenhagen (and Malmo) June 2012

Well a short trip to Copenhagen, while i have been in denmark before sail to the islands of Falster and Mon, I have only passed through Copenhagen, or spent a day there. We went there as a kinda consolation to not going to Euro2012, but we found an trip nearly as expensive (what logic)! A day trip to Malmo across the Oresund bridge was a must, what a feet of engineering, Malmo indeed like copenhagen reminds me of other nordic cities like oslo, gotenburg and stockholm, and indeed not unlike some German cities particularly the baltic coast ones of Rostock and Stralsund, it was a pity it rained, some kid whistling celebrating their graduation was a menace but good to see.

The bus tour up to the mermaid (at least this time it was sunny and warm not like many years ago) still it is a bit underwhelming, but the trip was nice, and good to see the fortress and castle and city, the 2nd bus tour up the the Carlsberg factory was also interesting even as a non-drinker couldn't believe their old swasticka logo! but interesting it was, so much so we got delayed and missed the bus back. A good place to go out, we found the former meet processing area full of danish bars and non-touristy which was good, the touristy places people were friendly and good fun, they have a strange liking for '80s music. I felt it a safe place to be. The hotel was pricey yet quite basic, then the all seemed to be. I would go again, take the trip to the commune, or up to the hamlet castle and maybe take the ferry across the sound. I would also hire a bike, unusually for me i didn't, but as such a flat and bike friendly city it is an excellent way to see it. Overall it is a nice place to go out, using kroner is a hassle and reminds you of the convenience of the euro, i ended up with a pocket full of both swedish and danish change.

Berlin Sept 2011

Well Berlin another visit, this time for 4 days,

Alexanderplatz tv tower was very good for the view and restaurant, the olympic stadium is amazing well worth the visit, the brandenburg gate climbing that statute that is in "far away so close" tested the hamstrings but worth it for the view.

This time I didn't hire a bike nor do the segway tour, due to my fractured hand, which took the polices' attention when we wandered into an SPD rally in Potsdamerplatz, where i had some top notch currywurst.

Museum Island, the Catherdral, humbolt univeristy, cool buildings on the eastern side, and funny pedestrian crossing lights...

Funny to see eamo get addicted to Currywurst, which I understand... Staying at checkpoint charlie, just near a Ubann station, and the 3 day pass was great value for such an efficient public transport system.. even our chase scene efforts to just make the flight were facilitated by german efficiency...

It is perhaps my favourite or second favourite city, and I didn't get to do all the things i had planned... so next time

Surfing in Bundoran

Went for a weekend trip with Ivan and gang to Bundoran, Co. Donegal for some attempts at surfing. I must say I was impressed by the surf n turf guys and the set up they had(good to have a cuppa and biscuit after a few hours out), if only my surfing was half as good.

The journey up we went via cavan and enniskillen, which seemed shorter even if the change from km/ph to mph was strange to adjust back and forth going through fermanagh.

Saturday weather was good, and rossnowlagh seemed a good spot, the rain on sunday initially dampened our spirits but once suited and out it was fine. The BBQ on saturday night was a bit of a laugh, and then the night in bally shannon was hectic, good to see Ireland win versus Macedonia.

looking forward to the next time.

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Ski Trip 2011 -Saalbach, Austria

Saalbach was so good last year we went again this year, again with Ivans crew. The quick summary of this trip is that it was excellent (even if not as good as the previous year). Three sunny days, then three snowy days, ok the hotel wasn't as good as last years Pension, and ok we didn't have the 2 days guided skiing but none the less it was brilliant.
The grumpy taxi driver initially dampened our expectations!
The first few days the sun was showing up the lack of snow so far this year, but on Wednesday they really piled it up with the cannons as well.

Thankfully no mishaps, the Hinterhaglm was again cringeworthily entertaining... a good laugh Josef und Josef...."allo", the Goat stall in hinterglem wasn't as good as i was led to believe. None the less the classic apres ski songs still invade your consciousness. My new blue ski jacket seemed to be the fashionable choice since i kept seeing similar ones, and the others kept mistaking people for me.
This year we made the tobaganning night going up on the piste maker, to a restaurant in the hills and tobaganning down, great fun an added bonus.
Meanwhile back at home the government was collapsing..
The cherry on top of the cake, was the last days skiing where we went to the far end of the resort, to the high point, and skied all the way back across to hinterglem, the skiing was excellent, and the posers we are meant we videoed some of it. Racing down as fast as we could to get one last gondola up as high as we could to drain the last bit of skiing out of the day and holiday as we could.
Always a pleasure to remove ski boots the final time on a holiday but a great one it was.
The classic apres ski songs were about again especially Peter Wackel - Joana

Oslo a Return Visit

Well over 10 years since i first stepped on Norwegian soil I return, it is over 8 years since i last visited so joining Ray and Fiona as they went to a gig(A-ha) was the excuse to go for me and Marko.
The Ryanair Rygge airport was closer to Oslo that I expected bout an hour to central station. We were lucky to get there considering the weather in dublin, there was more snow in Dublin than Oslo!! Nonetheless it was Freezing -14celcius, maybe the wrong time of year to go it is amazing how things change and things stay the same visited my old abode, and office, and the Palace, dinner in Egon and TGIs (had to be done). Met some nutcases over for the concerts, women of a certain age.

A visit to Frogner park, the fat statues and Museums then wander round Oslo.
Aker Brygge for dinner and some bars, then met up with old boss Jarle and his drunken companions... ended up making him miss the ferry and heading to 3brodre and talking about old times, very old places we were in! Should have stayed in aker brygge.
Got up to go on a bus tour which seemed not to run at times that suited us, also we missed the boat tour by some 15mins either we heard wrong or were told wrong!
Went up to holmenkolen but so cold we went up to a chalet for food, had to get the bus since the t-bann was out of action. Grunerlokka seemed the place to be later, but after 2 bars, we adjourned to the post gig crowd and their singing of a-ha songs. Ended up in a depressing blues bar....
Missed opportunities, missed ferry, missed boat tour, train not running the story of the trip. But a nostalgic trip reminded me of the good days I had there.

Saalbach, Hinterglemm, Austria,..

Excellent skiing, excellent apres-ski, accommodation very nice, and very very helpful. 2 days snow, 2 days sun and 2 murky days. Lots of wonderfully naff stomping apres ski songs from germany austria and holland - cant get them out of my head.
The Hinterhaglem - was an experience and skiing at night in the dark. The Pension was very nice indeed, and the owner Kevin took us out 2 days guiding us round the pistes which was great. Ok the snow could have been better, and the blue run to the door was closed but hell we were apres-skiing it on the other side.
On the chefs night off we missed the tobaganning down from a restaurant in the hills since we left it a bit late.
Sadly 2 zipper handles on my ski jacket broke, so paper clips were used as handles after serving me for 6 years its time to retire it.
A resort and the pension "Ezian", I certainly intend to return to in the future. Ah the songs are on youtube....

• hey, wir wollen die Eisbaren sehen
• Fliegerlied ( So ein schöner Tag ) Tims favourite from last year.
• Olaf Henning - Cowboy und Indianer
• Höhner - Viva Colonia