Busy in the mountains

When things don't go as planned

A few days skiing with by bestie in the valley that we have been coming back to summer and winter for nearly fifty years. I know, I'm a lucky girl...

Every winter an eclectic bunch of friends with kids in tow (just like our mother's used to in the 70's) gathers at Mia's chalet to enjoy the Swiss mountains and each other's good company. It's like slipping your feet into those old slippers that despite the age are still your favourite! Those couple of days skiing together every year are magical... no matter what the weather conditions we always have fun.

Until the moment things don't go as planned... in 50 years of skiing... for the first time... I am wearing a cast. I wish I could say I was showing off snowboarding with the youngsters but truth be told I fell over standing on the slope while waiting for the others.

Yep, my wrist is fractured in two places and it will take patience. The good news is I do not need to operate, a cast for the next six weeks should do the job! Also I was smart enough to fall on my left hand; being right-handed you realize that is a big plus when you only have one hand to work with.

Last but not least, I got to extend my stay in the mountains for a week feeling more comfortable with a first important check-up in a public Swiss hospital where they have thousands of skiing accidents to take care of every year.

So, all is good, I cannot complain and the nurse promised me they would stock up on pink bandages for next winter!!!

Change of scenery

Going from the Arabian desert to the Swiss mountains is a shift that makes the mind boggle. However, it took less than 24 hours to feel at home again, especially thanks to the beauty of this countryside.

One day it feels like spring...

... and the next we are in deepest winter.

Who said there is no snow?

Feeling on top of the world

Bringing out the wild side!

Picture perfect Switzerland

A glorious day for skiing...

... with a scrumptious ending.

Grazie Amore, Merci Mia!

It's time to say goodbye or better "Au Revoir". Heavy-heartedly I am sitting in the chalet on my last day looking out into the rain which is sweeping away the snow in the lower valley. Expat girl went off skiing with our friends to make the most of her last day skiing this season. She just sent me a selfie... it is snowing on the top of the mountain and looks awfully cold on that ski lift.

It has been a holiday to remember, not only because I have been looking forward to spending time in the mountains (away from Paris' gilets jaunes atmosphere) for months but also it was an exceptionally long one; nearly three weeks!

Due to family planning with hubby travelling, Expat Girl skiing with her friends the other end of Switzerland for a week and Expat Boy starting Uni a week before the school hols began I just added one onto the other... as one does, right.. et voilà! This gave me time with my bestie, time with my son, time with my daughter and time by myself. Only sore point: I miss my hubby!

Skiing is not his passion and therefore business travel is the perfect excuse although I know he would have loved a little break in the mountains with a stroll through Gstaad.

So, thank you Amore, for making this holiday possible. You know how I cherish my ski break and even more when it coincides with my childhood friend. So many memories have been made up in this little village, and she is part of all of mine as I am part of hers.

I grew up in Zürich and life has moved on. Our family base is in a different country now, but this chalet is the closest thing to home from my childhood. I consider myself very lucky to be coming back year and year again since 1970! Merci to Mia and all her wonderful, colourful, entertaining family! C'était une vacance de rêve.

Lucky Swiss girl

Lucky, lucky me... I am STILL skiing and the sun is STILL shining! My friends are starting to wonder if I will ever return to Paris. Let's just say I feel blessed and spoilt for having had such a wonderful and long ski holiday with family and friends. I feel at home and it feels good!

The only one missing was my hubby but I have a strong suspicion he planned his business trip in order to avoid the slopes?!?

Hashtag: I love skiing in the sunshine

Early risers get the best slopes

When the gondola is too steep to look down....

Nature in all its force

Feeling on top of the world

No words, no filters, no noise... simply perfect!

... until you get stuck on the chair lift...

All I need is... chocolate!

Chocolate is my passion. It is my addiction, always has been, always will be. During my visits to Switzerland I do not miss an occasion to indulge in my passion, especially during the ski hols. Chocolate tastes the best on a slope. Overindulging in chocolate... NEVER! Chocolate is happiness! Yes, I admit, I am a chocoholic!

A hot chocolate before hitting the slopes

Ovomaltine Müesli for breakfast

When - after lunch - the waitress brings you chocolate with your coffee ... without even asking

A quick snack on the ski lift

A Swiss speciality called Carac... filled with chocolate ganache

Hot chocolate and a Carac while writing postcards

Heissi Ovi with a plum crumble on the top of the mountain

Teatime at the chalet: another Carac

Hot chocolate and a blackberry tart

Tea with an Ovomaltine biscuit

My favourite chocolate bar "Chokito" with another heissi Schoggi

Mövenpick has come out with a new Chocolate flavoured ice cream... how can I resist?!?

A glorious week to be skiing

It has been a glorious week for skiing. Lots of snow, cold overnight temperatures, blue skies during the day and not many tourists. This is karma, over the years you win a few you loose a few when it comes to good ski conditions. You know you are REALLY lucky when your half-term break falls onto the perfect week.

It's not too cold, not to hot, the fir trees are deep green, the birds tweeting, the mountain restaurants not overflowing with people, the slopes are perfectly prepared, the snow crunching below your skis, the magnificent summit panorama, each peak glistening in the sun and the view, oh those views are simply breathtaking! I am in seventh heaven...

Gstaad's slogan: Come up slow down!

Looking over onto the Valais mountain range

View from the Videmanette

Rinderberg has a new little restaurant

Great for a hot chocolate break

Hitting the slopes again

Off piste?!?

Even the chairlift ride is pretty

Another panoramic beauty

I just can't get enough of this view!

On top of the world... skiing!

Busy skiing in Switzerland this week!

Skiing in the Apennine Mountains

Our family cannot sit still for very long, so less than 24 hours after having returned from London we were heading towards the Apeninne Mountains in Southern Italy to spend New Year's Eve with family.

I had been told one can ski in the Aquila region. I have been led to believe this for decades and have always smirked at the idea... after all I grew up on the Swiss slopes. Never the one to resist a challenge Expat Girl and I packed all our ski gear and headed South following Expat hubby's lead.

We woke the first day in Rivisondoli to some glorious sunshine. Off we went, both of us feeling quite excited at the prospect of exploring a new skiing area. Despite very little snow we ventured out to try all open ski lifts, deciding the gondola leading up to 2000m at Toppe del Tesoro was the best option.

What we were NOT bargaining for are all the Neapolitans and Romans who ski the same way they drive!

It was chaos all around. Expat Girl and I realized how accustomed we had become to Swiss skiing etiquette. On Apennine slopes skiers were coming at you from all sides, many of them were going too fast for their own good and - naturally - they'd stop in the middle of the slopes to have a chat or look around searching for their friends, then carry on without checking if anybody was arriving from above. Ski school classes formed endless lines zig-zagging from one side of the slope to the other and having come to a halt the children scattered all over blocking everyone.

The icing on the cake, however, was the Italian music blaring out of the loudspeakers at every restaurant. Come to think of it there were probably more people sitting on the terrasses catching the sun than skiing on the slopes... but hey, that's why they call it LA DOLCE VITA!

Glorious day at Toppe del Tesoro

The resemblance with Ticino is uncanny

Let's face the crowds!

Slightly worrying perspective 

A well deserved Hot Chocolate at the end of the day: 32 flavours!

Swiss comfort food

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”- Edith Sitwell

Food is a lot of people's therapy... when we say comfort food, we really mean that... did you know it releases dopamine and serotonin in your brain that makes you feel good?

Here's my week at home in pictures devouring lots of comfort food on the slopes and by the fireplace.

Nothing like homegrown grapes!

Bündnerfleisch as a starter with lots of Silberzwibeli

Moitié-moitié fondue comme il faut

La religieuse est à moi!

Homemade courgette soup with garlic bread

Ahh, the Bread... mmmh!

Hazelnut macaroons followed by...

... my absolute favourite tea treat: Carac.

A hot choclate to keep warm on a freezing cold day of skiing.

Häsch dini Ovi hüt scho gha?