Expat with Kids in Paris: snow

Showing posts with label snow. Show all posts

February 28, 2020

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.

March 6, 2019

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...

March 3, 2019

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?!?

February 27, 2019

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!

February 24, 2019

On top of the world... skiing!

Busy skiing in Switzerland this week!

January 24, 2019

Paris under the snow

This week we enjoyed half a day of winter wonderland in Paris. Just enough time to rush out for a jog and take some pictures before it all melted away...

Musée de la Marine looking romantic

For once the weather forecast was spot on.

Love those red berries under the snow.

Winter Wonderland at Trocadero Park

Musée de l'Homme

Too cold for a carousel ride

A grandiose shot of the Eiffel Tower.

Not a soul in sight.

Wall for Peace at Champs de Mars

No clients for crêpes but a hot chocolate sounds tempting.

Love it when you manage to get a palm tree and the Eiffel Tower in one shot!

January 6, 2019

A little magic at New Year's Eve

Ever since I met my hubby and dragged him onto the slopes in Verbier many moons ago, I have been hearing about how he used to ski in Roccaraso. Roccaraso is an Apennine ski town, 150km from Napoli claiming to be one of the largest Italian resorts outside the Alps.

It does have its history: The first ski race was held in 1910 and the first ski lift was the "Slittovia" in Monte Zurrone, built in 1936. Numerous competitions, both national and international, are held every year.

Not far from this ski resort where "see and be seen" seems to be as popular as in the ritzy St.Moritz, lays a little mountain village called Rivisondoli.

Rivisondoli rose in the 12th century in a strategic position along an important military and commercial route, the "Via degli Abruzzi" and was renowned for its production of weapons. A fire almost completely destroyed the village in 1792. Subsequently, the establishment of the Sulmona-Isernia railway helped the development of tourism. In 1913 the Italian Royal Family had its residence here.

Well, now Expat family was to take residence over the New Year holiday! The hotel design was a blast from the past as were the characters who welcomed us at the reception. Warm, helpful, curious and very local hosts who inquired how we had managed to get from Paris to Rivisondoli.

Family reunion was of course the reason for our trip and as my Dad used to say: "You wanted Italian, you got Italian!". Weeks ahead a general WhatsApp chat had been brought to life to discuss the menu for each day. Days were spent hunting for the perfect ingredients and hours of preparation by dozens of families before each of them brought their dishes to the table.

Fireworks had been shipped up in a station wagon and the New Year was rung in with lots of noise and bubbles... even a few snowflakes made it our way covering roads and christmas lighting, making Rivisondoli the little magic town my husband always raved about.