Kristallwelten - Sep 18, 2009 - Kitzbühel, Tirol, Austria

Today was all about crystal. As we have a group of about 100 now, we split into two smaller groups and took turns at visiting Crystal Worlds and doing a crystal workshop at Haus Marie Swarovski.

I was in the group that went through Crystal Worlds first. Group photo in front of the giant, which will no doubt be in the next collector magazine, and then we went in. The place is very interesting, with one room that is like being inside a giant crystal, and quite a bit of modern art as well as Swarovski pieces. Of course, the exit is into the Swarovski store, which I think I mentioned is the largest in the world - which is as it should be, the factory is right outside! I had a wee man help me to shop (a personal shopper!), and I got everything on my list, plus a couple of pieces I was going to get when I get home, one of which is not released yet, but they will send it when it is produced in a few weeks - the herd of cows is growing...

Roger, sorry sweetie, but we are going to need a bigger cabinet - not only did I do some shopping, but the gifts from Swarovski every night have continued, and also a welcome gift when we got to Kitzbuhel, because of the group joining us for Crystal Weekend, I guess. I can't wait to get all this stuff home next week, and unpack all the little blue boxes, it will be just like Christmas in September!

Once I had done all that, I had cocktails in the member's lounge, in the fancy glassware with crystals in the stems, and in there they have a display of a lot of the crystal they have produced over the years, which was really interesting. They had the black bull in there, which is my favourite piece, and of which they only made 1000, and the rhinoceros from last year, both of which were Numbered Limited Edition item 1.

We went for lunch in the Swarovski canteen, and then it was time for the workshop, where we met some of the designers - Anton Hirzinger, who designed the rhino and this year's member pieces, which are gorillas, Heinz Tabertshofer, who designed last year's pandas, and Elisabeth Adamer, who created the annual edition Christmas bear I am bringing home, and several other pieces on my wish-list. Then we spent a few hours creating our own masterpieces, gluing and sticking tiny crystals onto a clock and a picture frame. Not sure these are the best choices for pieces to travel with, but there's no way I was leaving them behind. I found it great fun, very therapeutic.

In the evening, we drove up into the mountains to a Gasthof where we had dinner and drinks, and entertainment from musicians. They started with traditional Austrian music, then moved onto some pop music, several of them songs I knew. Was a bit strange, hearing 'Summer of 69' and 'Cotton Fields' played on a trombone and accordion, but the wine was flowing, there was singing and laughter, and I seem to remember a conga line around the room at one point. It was a wonderful evening.

Tomorrow is the gala dinner, which marks the end of our Crystal Journey. First though, I have a trip to Krimmler Waterfalls in the morning.