FIS Alpine Ski World Championship

We are lucky to be in Garmisch during this awesome event when the ski slopes we see out of our window are the same slopes they are showing on EuroSport channel all day long. Not only we get to hear the loudspeakers announcing Lindsey Vonn and Ted Ligety but also to go out on the bleechers and watch the women's downhill training run and support Team USA.

Das ist Lindsey Vonn. She and some other athletes were awesome to give our kids their autographs. (This one and the next picture were borrowed from Garmisch Elementary School website.)

 I should clarify, that it was Nadia and David who got to go to the Alpspitz Ski Resort as part of their school activity while Scott had to work, babies had to nap, and I had to cook dinner. But I heard the loudspeakers all right.

Last Saturday we walked into down town Garmisch and eyewitnessed a celebration party of the Swiss Team.

Amazing, how easy Europeans can become friends with the help of some beer. I'm kidding, of course, they are nice people without beer too. But without beer they are more reserved and polite, and with beer they are all one big happy family. (Under no circumstances am I here to promote beer drinking, it's just my personal observation.)  

The musicians were great and the crowd was even dancing. The trombone guy seemed to be their alpha-musician, he yelled: "How many Swiss people are here?" 4 people raised their hands. "How many Germans are here?" The majority of them raised their hands. "How many of you want to be Swiss?" Everybody raised their hands. It was a good party.

I wanted to be Swiss too. Or German, so I could understand everything else they were saying.

See, how happy my family is cheering for Switzerland?

David found this little Swiss flag on the ground and became a Swiss fan for a day

Some Austrians passing by to their Austrian party, I believe. Friendliness is in the air, I can't get enough of it! People of many cultures are walking in groups singing their traditional songs without fanatism and without fights.

This is what Marienplatz looks like during the Championship

 Every business, from bakery to pharmacy, has Alpine Ski inspired window decor. This one belongs to the bookstore.

Kids are trying out the old-fashioned bobsled in front of the reastaurant

Nadia in a wolf hat at one of the many souvenir shops

David at the Milka chocolate pavillion set up at the Garmisch Marienplatz with free chocolate samples and a memory game for the kids (behind David.) 

Lots more fun stuff going on these days, like rock-concerts and award ceremonies at the Kur Park, bratwurst stands all over town, free bus rides for the two weeks of the event, international food samples at grocery stores. . . But most memorable is going to be the feeling of comradery and good sportsmanship, the feeling of belonging to the German community and to the world.