The sights are lovely; snowy trees, snowy mountains, houses rimmed with icicles.

We stayed in the former palace of a former count, with a huge dining hall and a cozy fire-place-room, sauna, bars etc. etc.

Then the real fun started...for those who watched like Tanja. Those who skied, or rather, snowboarded, only fell down. Balance is precarious with both your feet tied down while standing on a slope. We discovered several interesting ways to descend the mountains, and after a while even with the snowboard below and our heads above !! You never believe how many muscles you actually use while learning to ride a snowboard, and how they hurt !! And after a few days, we developed a rather interesting pattern of bruises all over our bodies. Who ever thought this was fun ????? (oops, that would be me.....)

See Saskia on one of her first attempts to stand, and Saskia (4th from the right) and Erwin(on the far right) in their snow-board class filled with screaming teenagers (and poor old us...)

And of course special thanks to our Flemish teacher, who we suspect has certain sadistic tendencies.....