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| Not an actual photo of Lech, but it is what the little town of Zug looks like to me at night |
Other than a new classic concert or a jam festival in town, the only things that change in the months we are away from Lech are slight renovations at some of the hotels, or a death in the village. We are as comfortable here as we are anywhere on earth.
I once heard a saying that the ultimate happiness would be a re incarnation as an Italian baby; how that would symbolize the ultimate level of comfort and love. Second to that must be to be reincarnated as a guest at a five star hotel in Austria. There are few times one is looked at with such concern and attention.
The Austrians use an expression that we hear no where else: "Selbst Verständlich", which literally translates to "Self understood". It is used in response to an order or a request, as in:
"I would like a Christmas tree delivered to my table, and I want it with whipped cream and a cherry on top."
Self Understood!!!
It means not only have you been understood, but your dippy needs celebrated. Frederick remarked how happy he was to hear the first one when we arrived.
Summer is better than winter here. F would disagree of course- (who wants to walk when you can ski) but the après crowds stuffed into pink ski suits are a blight on the town. Lech endures it, but God only knows why.
F never hikes with us because he, like all humans, develops a "hiking hatred" - the unique feeling of loathing for one's fellow man, even if that fellow man gave him life, when hiking up something really steep. I have spoken of this often on this blog; how the pain and misery leads one to feel an intense dislike of every single person one encounters, including and especially, the people who are ahead of you on the trail. You want to kill them.
So Frederick hikes alone, and we meet for lunch.
Thomas announced he has lost 4 kilos over the summer, which is a lot (close to 10 pounds). He does not know this is somewhat irritating, especially as he announces this while eating ice cream drowning in coffee. I have not lost (or even misplaced) 4 kilos, and have hit the travel/eating wall; I am seriously looking forward to eating beans and rice again.
So summer is closing up, and it is back to crazy land. My little friend by the pool: a Swedish/Danish couple with two edible babies, told me that Amnesty International has issued a warning against traveling to the United States. Something about the risk of being shot by an assault rifle- a position they feel is too uncivilized to sanction with a visit.
Meanwhile, I am doing my part by listening to 4 podcasts a day and speaking with lawyers in Puerto Rico. Heroes come in all shapes I guess.
