Has it been a week already?!

Not surprisingly I hit it hard right out of the gate. I’d say I’m pretty exhausted but happy that I’m doing my best to maximize this time in Europe. I’m also pretty satisfied will my live abroad skills. It’s not that it takes any sort of special mastery to do such a thing, I just had a few moments last week when I realized there are some things I have taken for granted while living in the US (and in the Denver area where I grew up).  Finding my way around and variety of food and restaurant choices are the obvious differences to me, while remembering to enjoy our time could easily go by the wayside.

All Roads Lead to Panorama Blick

Sort of. Although it was easy to figure out the mountain biking routes from our apartment, it’s taken me a few tries to find my way home from town.  As the crow flies, we are probably within a quarter mile of the main road in the valley. This is where the coffee shop, grocery stores and all other commercial places live. The first time I tried to get home from town (I had hitched a ride down in the car with Chris), I got lost, had to walk the narrow road where cars drive fast and scale a steep grassy slope to get back to our neighborhood. The second try, I listened to Chris’ directions more carefully and found the secret passage behind the library that lead me to the correct way home. It wasn’t any less steep but definitely more pedestrian friendly.

Not So Great Food Expectations

Pizzas and salads are king in this region of the Alps. I’ve had to forget about my other favorite cuisines like Thai, Mexican and Snarf’s. It’s also shoulder season, meaning that the restaurant scene is pretty quiet here. It reminds me of our days in Eagle County when Vail was a ghost town in spring and fall. I’ve dialed back my foodie mentality quite a bit since arriving. Not having to get creative with cooking and restaurant research means more time and space for planning and executing outdoor adventures right?

Seize the Opportunity

Although I brought my work with me, I’ve committed to soaking up the experience here in Europe. I’ve made it a goal to get into the habit of making time to play and create every day. This means to simply get outside each day and soak up something interesting and local. Although it sounds cliche, I know opportunities like the one we have don’t usually come around more than once in life. I don’t want to think “shoulda, woulda, coulda” when our time is done here. I’m likely going to run myself into the ground at times with this attitude (Chris is already exhausted after a week of my antics), but it’s my plan for now.

I’m looking forward to week two. We celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday with a quick trip to Innsbruck!