Furry Snow

I was going to write a post from Canada (I was home for Christmas) but I ended up not writing one. Tadaaaa

Coming back to HD (Heidelberg), I was getting myself mentally and physically prepared to deal without snow and without sun. Now that I AM back I still have to deal with minute sunny moments but I can't complain about the amount of snow! Its great! Only negative side effect: at night it doesn't get very dark with all the light bouncing off the crystals and that, added with major jet lag, makes it very hard to sleep at night. I do fall asleep, very hungry at this point, eventually (around 3-5 am) and then of course can't get myself to start the day 'till 3-5PM.

I don't mind my sleeping rhythm (also referred to as sleepy-rhythm), despite a resulting meager 2 hours of dailight that I get to see. But a life like that is not a solution!! I decided to go on a hike into the snowy mountains. Fresh air and exercise makes everyone tired! Here is what I did wrong:

1) I did not eat before (half way down the street I was exhausted and completely out of any possible energy reserves).
2) I kept on going anyways.
3) It was just past 4pm when I left my room (fresh out of bed) and allthough I knew deep down it would happen, darkness fell quite suddenly when I was half way up the mountain.
4) I kept on going anyways.
5) I was as quiet as possible in the hope to see some wildlife, being completely aware of my inability to even hold a hamster.
6) I thought following some deer tracks was a good idea.
7) Got scared to death by a dog that also followed the deer tracks but in the opposite direction.
8) I kept on going anyways.

I made it all the way up to the top, with frequent 5 minutes stops of appreciation. It was absolutely gorgeous. Not only is Heidelberg heartachingly beautiful just before entering the woods but the forest itself with such a thick layer of snow and that late in the afternoon was the most peaceful thing I have ever seen/heard/smelled (I hate the word 'experienced', it just doesn't do justice).

The way down was more stumbled than walked. It was quite dark at this point and I was getting rather scared of running into something furry. I was wearing my big coat, which makes it almost impossible to through snowballs: my only way of defending myself was alarmingly inaccurate.

But it all turned out ok (duh... I'm typing about it in the past tense). Now, it is probably one of those few times when the use of the word 'starving' is actually appropriate and not shallowy ignorant of real torment. I shall go hunt!