Ups and downs

Downhill skiing is a strange 'sport'. A mechanical lift of some sort takes you up the mountain, and then gravity takes you down. There does not seem to be a lot of exercise as such involved - although at the end of the day muscles in obscure places ache. You need large amounts of gear to keep warm and moving, which then hinders movement as soon as you step off the slopes. It is usually either exhilarating or terrifying (depending on gradient), and always cold. Luckily the scenery is stunning. The white snowscape is such a contrast to the city streetscape of home, and engenders a sense of peace and otherworldliness. Very zen.