Kimber Gabryszak: - Skeleton racing - Mountain biking (especially downhilling) - Travel - Family - and much MUCH MORE!

Monday, March 02, 2009

Königssee ICC - Summary & Pictures Part 1

EDIT: To clarify, I'm not back in Europe, I'm just posting updates on the part of the trip that didn't get blogged about while I was there (too sick). I know, these random out-of-time posts can be confusing!

Now on to Königssee. Königssee Germany is located right across the border from Salzburg Austria, so our drive took us from Austria to Germany to Austria to Germany. Entertaining!

By the time we got to Salzburg, I was getting pretty sick. Day 1 in Königssee I was coughing quite a bit, but still had enough energy to go with everyone (US Team, some of team Canada, and Lucy from Australia) to the swimming center. Which was a blast!

Stokes in the pool:
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There was a hot spring section, but as we had to go underwater to get to it, obviously the camera didn't go with so no pics. A waterfall turned on partway through, so you could be in the hot water, with cold water pounding on your head. Being sick, I opted out, but most everyone else enjoyed it.

There was also a current pool...strong jets pushed the water in a current through a circular path. Now THAT was fabulous! The current was so strong you couldn't go against it, and we'd jog or swim or run backwards with it. Lots of bumper-car like shenanigans going on.

Current coming towards the camera:
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Pushing everyone away from the camera, with Stokes and Tress pulling some of the aforementioned shenanigans:
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There was only one water slide, but it was hysterical. Long, dark with flashing lights inside, full kreisels and loops, we did it over and over. Here I am coming out (yes, I'm a baby and plug my nose!):
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I need a tan! Winter body alert!
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Brad makes a bigger splash than I do:
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There were swimming races, dunking, splashing, and so on. It was a fun day, and nice to let off some stress with some non-pressure fun! I kept getting sicker over the next few days, so I'm glad I was still well enough then to be able to enjoy the swimming day.

But on to other things. Our hotel was a quaint little place. Here's our room key:
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Salzburg - the second day in Königsee we went down to spend a half day in Salzburg, only a 20 minute drive away. We parked in a parking structure in this mountain. Maybe it was an old bomb shelter?
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The Salzburg castle viewed from near the parking garage.
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The market:
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Some salt:
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We walked up to it....the sign said "15 minutes" for the walk, to which I said "bull****" since I was by that point really sick and moving slowly. It wasn't TOO long, but poor Brad and his long legs had to move slowly on my behalf. This was part of the walk:
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In the castle.
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The castle was really interesting - supposedly one of the only (or the only, depending on who you ask) castles never to fall. Pile of cannonballs.
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Low stairs - Brad's taller than men in the Middle Ages.
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View from the top:
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Inside the museum:
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The city below:
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It was another fun day. Starting the next day, I was so sick and coughing so much that all I did was slide, eat, and lay in bed day and night trying to sleep and breathe. As a result, we never made it to the salt mines which are supposed to be utterly amazing, but I fully intend to be back in Königsee again soon!!! :)

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