Travel Journal – Roam the World with Wonder: Exploring the Beauty of Every Journey

As I stand at the base of the mountain, surrounded by towering peaks and the promise of adventure, a mix of excitement and nerves courses through my veins. Today marks a significant milestone – my very first time on skis. With the sun casting a warm glow on the snow-covered slopes and the crisp mountain air invigorating my senses, I’m ready to take the plunge into the exhilarating world of skiing.

After mastering surfing earlier in the year, it seemed only fitting to tackle skiing next. Moving to southern Germany almost mandates learning to ski, as everyone seems to talk about it once the Advent season begins. It feels like people here learn to ski before they learn to walk.

Join me on this journey as I navigate the highs and lows of learning to ski. From the initial wobbles and falls to the triumphant moments of mastering a new skill, I’ll be sharing the exhilarating highs and humbling lows of my skiing debut. Whether you’re a fellow newbie seeking guidance or a seasoned pro looking to relive the thrill of those early days on the slopes, come along as we carve our way through powder paradise together.

The Ski resort & Accommodation

The chosen ski resort was Zell am See, specifically the Schmittenhöhe, as I had already explored the region in the summer with my partner. This ski area caters to every level of skier (blue – beginner: 30km of pistes, red – intermediate: 28km of pistes, and black – advanced: 19km of pistes). The daily price of €65 for adults is quite painful for the wallet, but it grants access not only to the Schmittenhöhe but also to two other areas (Kaprun and Maiskogel), increasing the available kilometers of slopes. The three areas of Kaprun, Maiskogel, and Schmittenhöhe can be accessed interchangeably via ski lifts or buses. We didn’t stay directly in Zell am See but rather a short distance away at the Hotel LukasMayr in Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße. The Hotel LukasMayr is a 3-star hotel offering half-board, which is highly recommended after a long day in the mountains. This meant we didn’t have to worry about breakfast or dinner and could help ourselves to the buffet after a long day. Only drinks during dinner had to be paid for separately. We enjoyed our stay there, and for the price, the offer was really quite good.

Ski school & Tips for Beginner

Following the advice of our skiing friends and colleagues, we opted for three days of adult ski school. Fully equipped with borrowed gear from friends and rental skis, we made our way to the base station in the morning. Despite having purchased a four-day ski pass in advance, upon arrival, we discovered it wouldn’t be necessary. Fortunately, the lady at the counter was kind enough to refund our tickets, allowing us to save quite a bit of money, which we then spent on the rather overpriced culinary offerings at the mountain huts (I’ve never eaten such expensive fries!).

The ski school was conveniently located right at the base station, offering the perfect setting for learning to ski. Unfortunately, it was very cold at night, and during the day, temperatures climbed into the plus range, causing the slopes to freeze in the morning and slowly thaw over the course of the day. As beginners, and probably even as regular skiers, this wasn’t ideal. However, we didn’t want to complain and managed to handle it with ease. Our group consisted of 8 people for the next few days, which, in my opinion, was a bit large. With our ski instructor rotating attention among us, we often found ourselves waiting for our turn. Nevertheless, we quickly grasped the basics of “pizza” and “french fries” skiing, allowing us to navigate our first turns with relative ease.

After hours on the small slope and countless rides on the Magic Carpet ski lift, we finally tackled our first little blue slope. The T-bar lift was a bit tricky, and the first few times I spectacularly fell when getting off, but after several attempts, I got the hang of it. The slope was a bit steeper than the hills we had tackled before, so I descended cautiously at first. After a few runs, I became more confident, but then fatigue started to set in. Learning to ski is more exhausting than one might think, as it requires intense concentration and initially, you tend to tense up and use all sorts of muscles.

Tackling the slopes

After three days of ski school, we were still complete beginners, but we didn’t want to miss the chance to explore the mountains on our own for a day. So, on the last day, we purchased a day pass and took the gondola up to nearly 2000 meters. The weather couldn’t have been better, with brilliant sunshine overhead.

The first thing on our agenda was to study the map with the marked pistes. We had done some research the day before and found out that Glocknerwiese is supposed to be very suitable for beginners. However, getting there was not so easy for us, as we took several extra rounds on the chairlift until we finally reached the right piste. Glocknerwiese is a very wide slope with plenty of space for practice. My first thought, though, was that it looked much steeper than the runs we had mastered in the past few days. After a brief pep talk to myself and a prayer to the universe, I set off downhill. At first, I was very stiff with the skis in a snow plow, but after a few minutes, I was able to relax a bit and enjoy making turns. Braking before the chairlift still worried me, but luckily I didn’t crash into anyone (phew). After a few runs, we were pretty hungry and decided to take a lunch break.

After indulging in a well-deserved Germknödel swimming in vanilla sauce, we headed back to the slopes. We had enough of the ‘beginner slope’ and wanted to try out a few other blue runs. Unfortunately, we didn’t read the signs properly, and we accidentally ended up on a red slope, which was much steeper than anything we had skied before. I felt like my ‘pizza’ wasn’t enough there anymore, and I fell several times in a row, simply sliding down the mountain on my backside. It really dented my ego, and I needed some time afterwards before I was ready to continue. After that, things went much better, but I still had a lot of respect for the speed, and I need more practice before I can shake off the fear and feel comfortable going faster. The last run we did was actually the most beautiful, as the sun began to set slowly, and the view was magnificent. This slope wasn’t as steep, and it ran perfectly straight, allowing us to pick up some speed without much risk of hitting anything or anyone. Afterward, we stopped at the lodge for drinks and food, enjoyed the sunset, and then took the lift back to the base station, exhausted but happy.

In hindsight (More Ski Adventures in the Future?)

The first time skiing was truly a completely new experience, often pushing me to my physical limits and requiring me to overcome mental barriers as well, simply trusting in myself and my abilities. The Schmittenhöhe ski resort is indeed a beautiful one, with plenty of blue and red slopes catering to beginners and leisure skiers alike. The accessibility of the lifts and the parking situation in the valley aren’t bad at all, as we managed to find a parking spot every morning. However, this might change during peak season when more people flock to ski and snowboard. Nevertheless, there’s a shuttle bus service available that runs relatively frequently and is free to use.

Taking ski lessons for beginners is fine for getting some basic skills down. However, in hindsight, I would suggest booking a couple of private lessons as you can learn much more and with greater focus. Having an instructor solely dedicated to you or a small group allows for faster progress in building confidence on skis, mastering better turning techniques, and especially learning effective braking. Often, I felt that the ‘pizza’ technique wasn’t ideal for braking on the slopes, and there were moments of hoping not to collide with people waiting at the ski lifts. Overall, it was a lot of fun, and I definitely want to go skiing more often and take advantage of living so close to the mountains while I can.

The sea has captivated me my entire life. It’s always there, a constant factor in my life, yet it looks different every day. Sometimes the sea is rough and unpredictable, with high waves breaking on the shore and carrying everything away. Other times it’s gentle in the sunlight, sparkling like millions of diamonds. No matter how far I live from the sea, I hear its call and its pull on me back to its shores. For many, there’s no better way to immerse themselves in the power and beauty of the ocean than through the exhilarating sport of surfing and that is what I had to experience for myself.

In this blog post, we’re delving into the personal journey from the anticipation building on the drive to the coast (and the nerve-racking drive on the “wrong” side of the road itself) to experiencing the thrill of surfing for the very first time in Cornwall. Oh, and spoiler alert: Me and my partner also embarked on a brief hike along Cornwall’s stunning coastline, which turned out to be quite different from our expectations. But more on that later.

The Journey Begins

Nestled along the rugged coastline of southwestern England, Cornwall boasts some of the most picturesque beaches in the United Kingdom. It’s a place where the land meets the sea in a dramatic collision of cliffs and waves. My partner and I set out on our first camper van holiday together. As someone who had never driven on the “wrong” side of the road before, it made me anxious, resulting in sweaty palms and plenty of swearing due to the seemingly narrow roads and countless roundabouts. I was relieved to spend most of the journey in the passenger seat, taking in the scenery and enjoying the ride.

Our first stop in the southwest of England was Eype, Dorset, where my partner spent many wonderful hours as a child, among other things, skipping stones. The weather was perfect, with bright sunshine and pleasant temperatures, something not always expected in England, even in summer. We sat on the sand and watched a breathtakingly beautiful sunset, which bathed the cliffs in golden light. The next morning, we set off before breakfast to hike a small section of the South West Coast Path. Once again, we enjoyed the best weather (little did we know) as we walked from Eype to West Bay. It was a truly relaxing path along green cliffs overlooking the coast. Since we planned to hike a portion of the South West Coast Path after our surfing course, this first section filled us with positive expectations for the next few days (oh, how wrong we were).

Fueled by a hearty breakfast, we set off for Praa Sands, where we had booked a pitch at the Higher Pentreath Campsite for the next few days. Unfortunately, we had booked too late and didn’t get a pitch with electricity, something I would prefer for next time. Unless, of course, you have a camper with a stronger battery or have put in a good word with the weather gods, because we spent the entire time of our stay battling fog, rain, and perpetual dampness. Nevertheless, it was a cozy campsite, with some extras and satisfactory restroom facilities (unless you place great value on luxury and the absence of spiders). The best part of the campsite was the beautiful view of the beach and the sea, as well as the occasional wonderful sunset. Praa Sands is a nice little town, but there isn’t much to do. So, it was perfect for me and my partner to relax.

Riding The Waves

Thanks to several protected beaches and a variety of surf schools, Cornwall is also a great choice for beginner surfers. For example, we took a two-day course at the Global Boarders Surf School in Gwithian, and I highly recommend it. The beach is sheltered, with perfect waves for beginners, and the entire team was super friendly and welcoming. The only downside, which is unavoidable, is that many groups of various surf schools surf at the same beach and it can get quiet busy. Often, we had to maneuver around or jump off our boards to avoid endangering other beginner surfers and ourselves.

On the morning of our first surfing session, I was feeling quite excited and couldn’t quite envision what lay ahead or how I would perform. I was determined not to embarrass myself, though I couldn’t quite pinpoint who I was worried about impressing. After a brief theory session, we headed straight into the water. Attempting to catch the first waves proved to be more challenging than I initially thought. After many missed waves and even more nose dives back into the water, I finally caught the perfect wave. Immediately, I got onto my knees and then stood up with slightly wobbly legs. When I stood up properly for the first time and didn’t immediately fall back into the water, I felt a surge of joy growing inside me, and I couldn’t help but grin. Of course, I wasn’t particularly fast or graceful in my first attempts at surfing, but the feeling of standing on the board, feeling the wind on my face, and the sun on my skin was simply amazing. However, I quickly found myself back on the beach and had to make my way back into deeper water. This wasn’t easy when the wind was pulling at my board, the waves were trying to push me back to shore, and all the other surfers were more or less trying to go in the opposite direction. At the end of the day, I fell into my sleeping bag, utterly exhausted yet overwhelmingly happy.

On the second day, I found myself less preoccupied with theory and more focused on getting the feel for the right waves and positioning myself correctly on the board. he nose dives became less frequent, and I found myself standing on the board more often. It was a fantastic and liberating feeling. I had missed the ocean immensely, and it was only here that I realized how much it truly meant to me. I felt an inner calmness and tranquility that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. The second day of surfing flew by all too quickly, but it was evident to me that it wouldn’t be my last time, and I had definitely uncovered a new passion. After these two days, I am still very much a novice, but there are already plans to further develop my skills this year, this time in Spain.

The South West Coast Path

The next day began with packing our backpacks and lacing up our hiking boots as we set off on the South West Coast Path. I had never heard of this long-distance trail before and hadn’t done any real research, but after walking the Camino de Santiago the year before, I was eager to hike a section of it. We took the bus to our starting point, St Just in Penwith. After a relaxed walk through the small town, we soon found ourselves surrounded by greenery and getting closer to the sea. The tall, rugged cliffs were a spectacular sight, and as we neared the edge of the cliffs and the sea, the views became even more impressive.

The path hugged the cliff’s edge tightly, gradually ascending higher and higher, while the vast expanse of the sea remained a constant companion. Despite the burning sensation in our legs and the strain of each breath, we pressed on, encountering few fellow hikers along the way. Occasionally, the challenging sections of the path were replaced by flat meadows covered in purple heather, and we could enjoy the views of the numerous coves. After about 8 km, we stopped for the first time at Sennen Cove, at the cozy Sennen Cove Cafe. It felt so good to take the backpack off our aching shoulders, sit down, and take off our heavy hiking boots for a moment to let our feet dry. The food was heavenly after the morning hike, and we almost had to roll out of the cafe because we had eaten so well. However, we weren’t done for the day yet, so we set off again promptly. We still had several kilometers ahead of us, and we had already let a lot of time pass on the trail.

The next stretch of the trail was on slightly easier terrain, and even when it became steeper, we made good progress. Soon, we reached Land’s End, a significant milestone on our hike. Unfortunately, the weather had changed, and a dense fog enveloped the entire length of the coast, limiting our visibility to barely more than the next cove. The view must be overwhelming when the sun is shining, casting everything in warm light and causing the sea to sparkle in the sunlight. We quickly departed Land’s End, as this tourist attraction felt too crowded for us after our peaceful march. After that, it quickly became quiet again, and we were once more at one with nature.

The trail had several highlights to offer, such as Enys Dodnan Arch and Nanjizal Beach. Sometimes, spectacular views only revealed themselves after walking for some time and glancing back at the path we had traversed. For instance, we stumbled upon a cove with numerous deep caves that were completely hidden from view on the other side. With the first signs of exhaustion setting in after another 8 km, we stopped at Porthgwarra Beach and indulged in a well-deserved portion of fries and a Cornish pasty at the Porthgwarra Cave Cafe. At this point, we still had roughly 9 km of trail ahead of us.

The path continuously ascended and descended along the cliffs, with sections where we had to climb over rocks or hug the protective rock face tightly as the cliffs dropped several meters to our right. We had vastly overestimated our abilities. Upon reaching the next major town, we decided to take the bus to get closer to the campsite where we planned to spend the night camping. As soon as we disembarked the bus, it began to pour down rain, adding wet feet to our exhaustion. We opted to take the public footpath instead of being exposed to the speeding cars along the road. However, this path was in rather poor condition, and out of sheer exhaustion, coupled with the bad weather in the middle of summer, I began to shed my first tears. Fortunately, we eventually reached the campsite, set up our tent, and collapsed into our sleeping bags, utterly exhausted, at 7 p.m.

We set off through the lush greenery to rejoin the South West Coast Path. With just a little over 15 km left to our final destination in Penzance, we took our time, savoring the unique landscape around us. The wind gently caressed our faces, the sea sparkled in the darkest blue, and the cliffs were bathed in warm sunlight. With each step, our feet felt lighter. However, in Mousehole, nearing our destination, I began to feel the first blisters, and every step became a struggle. Additionally, the terrain and scenery changed, as the final stretch did not wind through green forests and meadows along the cliffs, but rather beside a well-traveled road on a paved sidewalk. We were relieved when we finally arrived in Penzance, and I immediately seized the opportunity to swap my smoking hiking boots for flip flops. We briefly explored the town, which unfortunately was a disappointment as many places were closed and did not seem inviting. Back at the campsite, we were glad to trade our tent for our comparatively comfortable camper. Despite not researching the terrain beforehand and overestimating our abilities with the number of kilometers for the first day, it was still a fantastic experience that I wouldn’t want to miss. In hindsight, I would love to go back and hike another section of the South West Coast Path, but this time with a comfortable place to stay for the night. The landscape and tranquility experienced on this trail are so different from anything I knew before. There are scattered small towns where you can stop for a break, but there are also vast stretches where you hardly encounter another soul and can simply immerse yourself in the wild nature —a truly liberating journey.

Reflections On The End Of Our Journey

As our journey along the South West Coast Path came to an end, I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible experiences we had encountered. From breathtaking cliffside views to unexpected challenges, every moment left an indelible mark on my memory. Despite the blisters and exhaustion, the sense of accomplishment was immeasurable. And as I looked back on our adventure, I realized that sometimes, it’s the unexpected twists and turns that make the journey truly unforgettable.

But our adventure doesn’t end here. There are still countless trails to explore, new landscapes to discover, and endless opportunities for adventure waiting just around the corner. So as we bid farewell to the South West Coast Path, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement for the adventures that lie ahead. Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I hope our paths cross again soon. Until then, happy trails!

Category: Travel Journal

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