Alpine snow escapes customs duty and tax, under diplomatic guise

"It was thanks to the Austrian Embassy that the delicate commodity was allowed in the country as a diplomatic parcel," according to Saturday's issue of Zycie Warszawy. The nine-meter high and 30-meter long ski slope, set up on Plac Zamkowy in the Old Town, was a part of this weekend's fete to promote Austria's southern Tyrol region. The celebration included brass bands, folk dancing, crafts, local delicacies and a yodeling contest. (Reuters, Zycie Stolicy, June 13, page 2)