Missing him terribly

Despite having told myself that I would not blog about my big boy leaving home because it was too personal, too close to home literally, I cannot help but miss him terribly. I am sitting at my desk listening to one of his favourite Latin singers and have tears running down my cheeks.

For years his goal has been to enrol in one specific university and I know - after having started his studies last week - he is very happy where he is. Knowing that he has found his passion and is following it in his own best way mixing work with friends and fun gives me serenity. It gives me pride and comfort seeing him fulfil his dream. What more could a mother want than to see her child setting a clear path, following it and succeeding in what he has set his mind on?

I did not give him any rules before he left. I did not make any recommendations. By my book, if hasn't learnt it by now it's too late to teach him anyway. Everything he is suppose to know he has picked up from his dad or had hammered into his head by his mother. His sister keeps him grounded with a complicity that despite their four year gap has them thick as thieves.

I miss his sleepy head in the morning, his grumpy look at breakfast, his deep voice calling down the corridor, his clothes hanging over his chair. I miss seeing him at his desk every time I pass his room, I miss hearing his Latino music blaring out of his stereo. I miss him strolling into the kitchen wondering what's for dinner. I miss his sense of humour, his teasing, his complaining. I miss his tension the days when Napoli soccer team is playing, I miss having a bunch of teenage boys in the house playing playstation and then staying for dinner. I miss his grin, I miss his mischief, I miss him!!!

A little Swiss mountain village

While there was a great deal of skiing happening despite the bad weather... mainly by the female contingency of the family, I might add... I did get some shots from the charming village that has been the next best thing to childhood home.

Rougemont nestles into the pre-Alpine landscape and is the highest resort of the Pays-d’Enhaut holiday region in Canton Vaud. The name stems from the red rock outcroppings north of the village.

Rougemont has preserved its rich cultural and architectural heritage to the present day.

 Some of them are over 400 years old and richly embellished with carvings and frescos, decorated with flowers and inscribed with the names of the builder and first owner. 

Old customs contrast with diverse modern leisure activities that are on offer in both summer and winter.

Not much shopping in this corner of the valley...

... but oh so many opportunity to take pictures.

Old tools recycled...

... modern doorbells clashing... 

... endless secrets hidden behind closed doors... 

... even the stacked firewood looks orderly.

Baby, it's cold outside!

Skiing La Videmanette

Ever since I was a little girl I've been skiing on "La Videmanette". Opening the wooden shutters of my chalet bedroom in the morning this Swiss "Grande Dame" would greet me some times with happy sunshine others with a grey veil around her peak. Some things never change.

The Videmanette's limestone is one of the most unique rock formations in the valley. Popular with skiers, gliders and climbers, the summit almost feels like the set of a science fiction movie. From the observation deck - at an altitude of 2,200 metres above sea level - one can spot Les Dents in one direction and the Eiger in the other.

Today the fun commences here with a spectacular view and valley-bound descents into the fog-engulfed slopes...

Rise and shine...

Maybe more rising than shining?!?

A nice surprise: the sun came out to greet us at the top of La Videmanette.

It looked like a different story from below.

The view up towards La Videmanette from the gondola.

The view looking down into the valley.

Can I take this panorama with me to Paris? Please?!?

I do miss the Swiss mountains!

Pretty in white

Pretty but cold (-8ªC)

Stunning forces of nature

Scary mountain ride

15 minutes of sunshine

Happy on my skis

The first day of the rest of your life

It’s buzzing!!! Buzzing with electric energy, with nervous teenagers, with anxious parents, with excitement, anticipation and the foreboding of embarking onto a new path of life.

391 new students are registering today at the Swiss university that Expat boy has decided to enroll in. Queuing to receive the welcome kit with the personalized checklist of thing to do at specific times with a campus map attached as not to get lost.

The process works like clockwork just as I would imagine the army to work in this tiny well-organized country. Moving along from one post to the next from the Swiss authorities desk, past IT, to uniform pick-up until we reach the compact - and yes, perfectly compartmented - student room that Expat boy will share for the next six months. Welcome letter and Toblerone chocolate are neatly laid out on his bed.

Watching my big boy find his footsteps in an environment that he’ll be calling home for the next four years I cannot be anything else but hugely proud of what a handsome young man he has turned into. Very agitated but nevertheless poised never loosing his Italian cool he walks through the parcour worried about what could go wrong but excited about the prospect of University life.

I observe other parents from all parts of the globe seeing their kids off on their new adventure away from home. Judging by the diversity and languages I am surrounded by it seems like the natural continuation to the International school Expat boy just graduated from.

I am happy in the knowledge that my boy has chosen the right path and that this place has not only been his goal for the past four years but it is also the perfect fit for his personality and his choice of career.

It has been a very long time since he has called his Mama for help so many times in one day and I restrain myself from taking pictures as not to embarrass him... nevertheless he will always remain my big baby boy whom albeit having his Father’s character has his Mama’s looks.

Since he was a little boy I have told him to work hard and play hard and today we have come full cycle. The closing phrase of today’s welcome letter was:
“We wish you all the best for the next 4 years: success, memorable memories, friendship... but don’t forget: “WORK HARD, PLAY HARD”

Go get’em pumpkin!

Motivation is all it takes...

After a gruelling nine hour car trip from Paris to the Swiss Alps with heavy traffic from the word "go" we finally arrived at our destination to find the ski shop closed - meaning that we need to have our ski bindings checked the next morning before we set off for the mountain - as well as the local supermarket which basically translated into "no dinner".

A quick pit stop to unload the car and I am back on the road heading towards the next biggest Coop to buy dinner and the next day's breakfast. If you are a Swiss Expat a trip to the local Coop can evoke all kinds of vibes. For my family it symbolises all the food that we crave when living abroad. It's a guaranteed cure for homesickness.

Much to everyone's disappointment the next day it was pouring with rain. Little did that stop Expat girl's enthusiasm as she rallied the troupes to go skiing.

An hour later, there we were, on top of the mountain practically on our own with zero visibility but an unbeatable motivation, wanting to relish in that feeling when you hit the slopes for the first time in a season.

Nothing was going to stop us. We skied beneath the rain until we were soaked and our jackets were weighed down and we could wring them out. We skied until we were freezing and the water dripped inside of our googles. We skied until we had found our rhythm on the slopes and curved graciously down the hill. We skied until we had had enough...

A few years ago I would never ever had ventured out to ski in the rain. I am starting to wonder if - after living in France for seven years - the Parisian meteorological landscape is starting to get the better of us?!?

When you can't wait to hit the slopes...

Last time Paris saw this much snow was in 2013 when an inspired skier posted a video of himself skiing down the front of Montmartre. Needless to say it went viral.

This year there have been quite a few copy cats hanging around Montmartre's "slope" waiting for their 15 minutes of glory.

However, I was surprised to find two fully equipped skier attempting to ski the Trocadero gardens yesterday?

I guess these two just couldn't wait to hit the slopes... oh wait, is that my daughter?!? Just kidding.

The silence of snow...

The only way to describe Paris today would be with the German proverb "vom Regen in die Traufe kommen". The French version would be "tomber de Charybde en Scylla". The English would say "out of the frying pan and into the fire" which however does not mention any rain.

For it is the rain we have been fighting for months, literally, hoping the Seine would not completely flood Paris' bridges. The river has not even started to roll back when ... the snow hits us!

Snow has paralysed most parts of Paris the past 24 hours. Transport conditions are complicated, with buses out of service, trains cancelled, metros suffering, Uber collapsed, taxis unavailable and police encouraging the public to stay at home and not use cars.

Schools are still open albeit the school buses not running and the kids are having a blast rampaging through the snow. It is cold but the scenery is unique.

And when I stop to look and listen, it is the silence that I feast on, for never has the city centre been so muffled to the point where I can hear nothing but the fresh snow crunching beneath my feet.

La grandeur et la splendeur de l'architecture parisienne

The Eiffel Tower hiding in the fog

It's a true winter wonderland 

Never a man to be afraid of the cold!

A fairytale picture

When a panoramic shot says more than words 

The Metro's having difficulties as well.

Hiding in the woods

La mairie de Paris is open for business 

Nestling in a French bistro for lunch while the storm continues outside.

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

When the girls get together it is bound to be fun. What better occasion than the opening of Boucheron's exhibit celebrating 160 years of the first high-end jeweller to open a shop on the today infamous Place Vendôme?

Nestled in the courtyard of the Monnaie de Paris - a building which is worth a visit in itself - we were invited to follow the founder's footsteps by experiencing a thematic approach retracing the jeweller's creative process. Since 1858 Boucheron has embodied excellence in jewellery. "The Maison has a bold style, a free spirit and keeps on inventing the classics of tomorrow" is their slogan.

The exhibition began in the opulent Salon Chinois, where M. Boucheron (or his impersonation) welcomed us into his secret cabinet commissioned in the early 20th century and used as a place to discreetly host its top clients. Within its library, animated books revealed more about the company itself, Frederic Boucheron and his iconic creations – including the enduring Question Mark necklace that still features today – as well as the more contemporary Serpent Boheme collection, which has remained a core part of the brand's offering since its introduction in 1968. We found out how a piece of high jewellery is made, from seeking inspiration in the archives to bringing the final enhancing touches to a collection.

While showcasing 250 precious pieces, a purpose-built geodesic dome in glass and steel anchored the experience squarely in the digital here and now, the dedicated Vendôrama app, in fact, was an integral part of the experience.

The visit culminated with a set piece tailor-made for selfie-centric times; a scaled panorama of the Place Vendôme, proving that diamonds are a girl's best friend by immortalising our happy faces with a 360-degree camera coverage and silver confetti. Marilyn Monroe would have loved it!

Let experience begin...

Each visitor received a silver bullet to complete this chef d'oeuvre

Taking Victoria's Secret modelling to a whole different level

Le Salon Chinois de M. Boucheron

Peeking into M. Boucheron's orders from 1887

Finishing la soirée avec une petite coupe entre copines.

I'm off to the Caribbean...

So, I've decided I have had enough rain to last me a lifetime this winter. Don't anybody ever tell me how bad the weather is in London, Paris is worse! I am off to the Caribbean... if only in my dreams!

A whole new outlook!

If I were a letter, I'd post myself to this destination!

The locals here are so much more laid-back.

Palmtrees wherever I look 

I'd get my flamingo friends out for the day... 

... and have lunch with a view...

... go snorkelling in the afternoon...

... and have a little workout before dinner!

Unfortunately, reality at the moment looks like this!