This is Grunau. The most amazing place on earth! It was my home away from home for two days. The hostel I stayed at is called The Tree House becaue, essentially that's exactly what it is!

In the middle of the bush, the town a 5km bike ride away. And let me clarify, the town isn't that big. All the major stores, chemists in particular are two towns away! Anyway back to the hostel. It's a family house, dogs, cats and the occasional mouse all roam the corridors. The owner and now friend Gerhart was just the most jolly man ever. Nothing can get this man down, he finds the light in everything. At the beginning of each day he would ask us what we wanted for dinner, dinner was always at 6.30 and we sat down to eat together. There were only 5 people in the whole "hostel" for goodness sake! Oh and did I mention, when I booked online I booked a 6 bed mixed dorm but when I got there it was a private room for me thank you very much!

Everything is put on a TAB, yes this is a dangerous thing but seriously everything was dead cheap. And after a certain point of the night, when everyone's had way to much to drink (gerhart included) he just stops writing it down! There aren't really any historical sites to see in Grunau, its all about getting back to nature. The 5 that were staying there were all busabout so we all just stuck together and did the nature thing. There's a waterfall about 1.5 hours walks away. We tried to find it but got majorly lost - plus they've got these flies that bite the hell out of you! Also took on the 46km bike ride to the lake (usually 44km but we went 1km in the wrong direction) but in the end it was well worth it. The most beautiful crystal clear lake ever. Bloody cold though! 10°C on a good day! With not a lot ti do at night we were forced to play drinking games and chat outside under the beautiful star filled sky.

Will definitely be back for ski seaon. Apparently that's when it goes off!