Day 8 rain day/ rest day

Woke to gentle rain and a had a relaxed breakfast with most if the team this am. Rob dutifully made the team captain meeting @ 8:30 and emailed us the official news while we ate an interesting bread-like quiche-like creation with ham and cheese inside and sipped fresh coffee with streamed milk thanks to our hostess Ana 

The cats were sleeping on the bench below and the day had a calm and peace about it. 

Last night, before dinner, we tried the local drink called "cloud" by mixing one part Mastika and Mentha together. Lets just say "cloud flying is dangerous". 

Horse drawn carts are a normal sight here, though I suspect even more so, in the more rural areas. We only see them occasionally here in town. 

Thanks to Swiss pilot, Joel Debons for snapping this photo of me landing yesterday ahead of the rain. Cheers! Here is another one I shoulda posted yesterday:

The view facing away from the rain was so nice too:

Brett and Eric walking to the van yesterday.  

This is the launch pad on the chair lift.  It goes pretty quick so you want to stand in the right place and be ready. 

Water fountains are found in several places around town. The water is safe and tastes good too. There is a flowing little steam of water that is channelled through town too. I imagine how fun it would be for my kids to race paper boats in it.  (At least I am tempted to)  The local dogs know how to use it best:

The cobblestone streets are interesting to look at. The pattern must keep the stones from shifting or perhaps it just looks nicer this way?

The Main Street seems to have just paved over the cobble stones. 

Here the stone sidewalk meets the little stream and cobblestone meets pavement. This would be the finish line for any paper boat races too. 

This is my favorite flower that I pass each day I hike (400 vertical feet) up from the chair lift drop off point to our Team USA camp near the top. It would be a challenge to keep my youngest daughters at home from picking it, as they love to find and collect things like Tinker Bell. Ok, me too. 

With the recent rain, workers across the street and even in an adjacent yard next to ours, workers are busy roofing. 

Tiles are made here locally.  While flying, towns are easy to spot because all the rooftops are this color. 

Our humble kitchen has a washer but clothes are hung to dry outside in the yard. 

The small tale is full of snacks and laundry is lined up on the floor. 

Our small fridge is packed with food and adorned with a few magnets. The American flag magnet caught my eye and it changes when viewed at different angles 

911 truly was felt worldwide it seems. 

The local graffiti artists have a sense of humor too. 

And some of the competitors too. 

Cheers,

Marty