A week back home in Switzerland

Every year we religiously drive back to Switzerland for a week's skiing. This year the Gods were smiling down on us and we arrived to catch the first rays of sun after several snowy days. In other words: perfect skiing conditions!

The saying "Feeling on top of the World" takes on a whole new meaning when you get to spend a glorious week of skiing with your childhood friends and everybody's family gets to join the fun!

Where to start?

Skiing, eating or suntanning?

A feeling of Swiss nostalgia

Weather forecast a week before we left

The view on our first day of skiing

My skis might be vintage but they still get me up and down the mountain just fine

 A close encounter

 Chässchnitte uf de Alphütte

Teatime treat after skiing: Vermicelle at Charly's

Adelboden, a new discovery!

Anybody home?

The snow is melting rapidly after 6 days of sunshine

We could always try sledging down the mountain?

I am born to suntan!

I am intrigued!

 The village of Rougemont 

When teenagers are left without WIFI!!!

Santa skiing on the Swiss slopes

Who said Swiss don't have a sense of humour? Just look at how much fun 1200 Santas can have on the slopes of Verbier.

Skiers in appropriate costume were invited to ski for free in the Swiss ski resort for one day only as part of a special event to celebrate Verbier's official opening weekend.

Held for the third year in a row, it proved more popular than ever this year as around 1,200 Santas arrived to claim their free day's ski pass – double the number at last year's event.

Free wine, croissants and raclette were offered throughout the day, as well as the chance to win a season pass in a prize draw. Now, all we need is a bit of fresh snow for the holidays!

Lost in reverie

Back in Paris, sitting at my desk, I am prone to serious homesickness after a smashing week's skiing in Switzerland. It happens every year. It takes me a few days to return to the city rhythm leaving behind the stunning views, beautiful sunshine, crisp fresh air, peaceful silence and pleasant local welcoming pace of the Swiss mountains. We will be back next year...

A glorious day to start off our holiday

Swiss energy ski break on the top of the mountain

You know you're in Switzerland when you come across one of these lamps on top of a mountain 

Returning to the bottom of the valley at the end of a fabulous day of skiing

This is how the village got its name... the red mountain

L'église du village

Typical chalet from the "Pays d'Enhaut"

What's left of our snowman

Time for a real Swiss treat: hot chocolate with whipped cream

Local window ornaments

How cool is this window display?

Seriously tempting... can you smell the cinnamon? 

 

Oh no, the weather has taken a turn for the worst... time to go home!

FaMigros Ski Day at Bosco Gurin

Ready for a family ski race or a snowboarding competition? On March 8th, Migros is organising a family day at Bosco Gurin. After registering online, you can collect your race number between 09.00 to 10.00 at the "Village". The starting area will be at the Rossboda chairlift.

Whether on skis or snowboard, from three to five family members can participate. The process is very simple: there must be at least one parent-/ grandmother / grandfather, aunt / uncle or a godmother / godfather, a maximum of two adults and a child born in 2001 or younger, competing together. The time stops when the last team member crosses the finish line.

This fantastic experience on the snow only costs 110.00 CHF per family, for members of the "Famigros" and the "Swiss Ski" only 85.00 CHF. Daypass, race, lunch, medal and gift included.

Information and registration on www.famigros-ski-day.ch or directly at the counter of Vallemaggia Turismo, tel 091 753 18 85; info@vallemaggia.ch.

Venue: FaMigros Ski Day
Where: Bosco Gurin
When: Sunday, March 8th, 2015
Time: 9:00 collect race numbers, 10:30 race begins
Click here for the programme: http://www.famigros-ski-day.ch/Programma

Switzerland's favourite winter sports

Following yesterday's infographic I came across one with Switzerland's favourite winter sports. I love infographics, especially when they are about my home country. Since Switzerland is not part of the EU, unfortunately, it often gets left out on the European information charts.

Did you know that "only" 46% of Swiss state skiing is their favourite winter sport. I would have thought it were considerably more?! An astonishing 11% declare snowshoeing their favourite activity of the season, whereas 10% prefer tobogganing. 7% are avid snowboarders.  6% of the Swiss population each claim cross-country skiing and ice skating as their favourite winter pastime. However, 14% of Swiss don't like winter sports. Are you one of them?

Rivella Family Contest 2014

If you live in Switzerland, you will heard and seen - maybe even tasted - Rivella, created by Robert Barth in 1952, which is produced from milk whey. It's one of Switzerland's National drinks next to Sinalco, Isostar and Ovomaltine. Apparently, the name Rivella was inspired by the Ticino location "Riva San Vitale" and derived from rivelazione, in Italian, "revelation."

27 times Rivella's Family Contest organizers are building up their tents this winter throughout Switzerland. Don't miss the Ticino event in Bosco Gurin next Sunday, March 16th, 2014. Families can take advantage from this unbeatable offer: a day in the snow with the whole family for just CHF 85-.

What is the Rivella Family Contest all about?
Three to five family members start together with ski or snowboard down a simple race course. each team must have at least one grandparent, aunt/uncle or godmother/godfather, but max. two adults participating and at least one child born in 2000 or younger. The time stops when the last rider of the team crosses the finish line. Sounds like fun and an excellent excuse to get your family into gear before the snow melts.

Once you've crossed the finish line and the skis are stripped you can enjoy the activity programme organized by Swiss Ski and Rivella. The partners Reka and Switzerland Tourism also ensure attractive prizes.

The registration includes the following:
Race entry fee
Day ticket pass for max. 5 people
A warm snack at the end of the race
Children's entertainment by Swiss-Ski
Surprise gift for the whole family
Rivella six-pack

Register now here or for more info on Rivella Family Contest click here: http://www.swiss-ski.ch/.

Venue: Rivella Family contest
Where: Bosco Gurin (see map)
When: Sunday, March 16th, 2014
Time: 9:00 (race numbers to be picked up at Music Bar Rovana)
Race start: 10:30
Registration deadline: Friday, March 14th, 2014
Organization:
Gara Famiglie Rivella Family Contest
c/o Vallemaggia Turismo
Centro Commerciale
6673 Maggia

Skiing for your kids

Admittedly, the snow has disappeared in Lugano already but we are all hoping for some more before the Carnevale holidays start in February.

If you are looking for an affordable and excellent Ski Club for your children and teens as a weekend activity, then check out the Ski Club Monte Lema. They take the children to various Ski resorts on a Saturday and give them classes all day. You pay a basic membership and approx. 55 chf per whole day including transport, classes, lift tickets. As a good Swiss tradtion you carry your own lunch "Al Sacco" or you can eat at the restaurant at your own cost. I have been told that the staff are fantastic with the kids. Their pick-up sites are Novaggio, Magliaso and Bioggio at about 07:00 and they are dropped off around 18:00.

Next Saturday, they are actually going all the way to Davos, one of Switzerland's finest ski areas. For more info click here: http://www.scmontelema.ch/event/uscita-davos-rinerhorn-0. Beginner skiers and snowboarders are also welcome.

You can e-mail them in English at info@scmontelema.ch or call Mirko Degiogi at 091/606'56'92.
The website, unfortunately is only in Italian: http://www.scmontelema.ch/

As the Swiss Germans would say: Ski Heil!

A Swiss Air-Rescue called REGA

Yet another Swiss institution is the REGA. If you grew up in Switzerland, you know the red helicopters that save injured skiers off the slopes are the trusted REGA helpers.

Rega comes to the aid of people in distress, providing swift, professional medical assistance by air. In order to do this, it employs state-of-the-art operating resources, such as helicopters and air-ambulances. Rega’s workforce comprises qualified, experienced staff. Rega acts according to medical necessity and in the service of its patients. In 2011, Swiss Air-Rescue performed a total of 14,240 missions – never before has it been in such great demand by the Swiss population.

What today functions in Switzerland almost as a matter of course has gradually developed over a period of decades. The history of Rega is an eventful one. While in earlier times, the only way to rescue people in distress in the mountains was overland, already in 1946 aircraft started being used for this purpose. Just a few years later, the increasingly popular helicopter took over this task, and as from 1960, Swiss Air Rescue also began to transport seriously ill or injured persons back to Switzerland from countries abroad – by plane. The pioneers of the day shaped this age of development in the sphere of air rescue.

The ever growing magnitude and professionalism in the field of air rescue resulted in new organisational forms: what began as a section of the Schweizerische Lebensrettungsgesellschaft rescue association became an association, and finally assumed its present-day form as a privately-run, non-profit foundation.

It is a privately run, non-profit foundation, which operates independently of the State or of financial interests.

The Swiss Air Rescue was founded on 27 April 1952. 60 years later, the performance of Rega are more in demand than ever. Rega is on stand-by 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ready to respond to emergency calls – both in Switzerland and abroad.

Download their app onto your mobile phone here or watch them for yourself. Rega invites you to join it in celebrating its 60th anniversary. In this jubilee year, you can look forward to their Open Days, during which you will be able to experience Rega at close quarters. Programme here.

I'd rather be skiing

"Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to."
John Ed Pearce

Officially it is the children's skiing holiday but we call it the "Swiss holiday". We return religiously - no matter which part of the globe we live in - to spend a family holiday on the slopes of Switzerland.

We gobble chocolate, we devour cheese fondues and raclettes, we appreciate the Swiss neatness and engulfe in fresh mountain air. We spend 10 days curing our Swiss homesickness by eating our way through local culinary delicacies, shopping trips to the Coop and listening to Swiss German radio.

Nothing - absolutely nothing - beats standing on top of a snowy peak, overlooking the sundrenched Alps on a clear winter day just before you hit the pristine powder snow and hear it crunch below your skis. It is the only sound you hear .... until I start yodeling! What a liberating feeling.

We're off skiing....

"Skiing is a dance, and the mountain always leads. "

Author Unknown

I have followed my husband around the globe on his Interantional career path and am very happy to do so. I did set one - yes, only one - condition before we got married and flew off to Buenos Aires nearly 15 years ago. He had to promise me that ONCE a year I would be able to go "home" to Switzerland to ski. This has been our tradition ever since we met and I have the firm intention to carry on as long as my bones will carry me down the slopes. It is my moment of homesickness cure that allows my kids and me to connect with part of our roots. The children love the snow and can't wait to go skiing. Even my Neapolitan hubby has taken a penchant to the sport, although I won't deny that he prefers the après-ski experience!

All this to tell you that I'll be gone for a week while I hit the slopes in the Berner Oberland. Given the snow situation we are ecstatic that we will have fresh powder snow and hopefully lots of sunshine!

Buone vacanze a tutti!

Moonlight skiing in Airolo

"When it comes to skiing, there's a difference between what you think it's going to be like, what it's really like, and what you tell your friends it was like."
Author Unknown

Full Moon, fresh Snow and a Spirit of Adventure. Combine the three and you have the "Sciata & Racchettata al Chiar di Luna".

On Saturday, February 4, 2012, the town of Airolo-Pesciüm are organizing the yearly Moonlight skiing adventure. The meeting point is at 19:00 at the bottom of the cable car. You'll be able to hit the slopes until 21:00.

For some, snowshoes (racchetta da neve) may be a good alternative to skiing and an opportunity to walk the brand new trails for snowtrekking which just opened this Winter season 2011/12.

After skiing or "racchettata" the restaurant Pesciüm will be serving dinner. You'll be able choose between a good hot meal or a delicious fondue. After dinner, the cable car will bring you back to the valley.

Please bring a headlamp, especially if you plan to try the snowshoe adventure.

Venue: Airolo-Pesciüm (Funivie)
Date: February 4th, 2012
Time: 19:00
Prices:
pass + hot dish and a drink on tap: CHF 25.- (Reservations recommended)
pass + fondue: CHF 35.- (reservations required by Feb. 3)

Tel +41/91-873'80'40
E-mail: funivie@airolo.ch

The next dates for the Moonlight Ski & Racchettata are:
- Friday, March 9, 2012
- Friday, April 6, 2012

An awsome skiing vacation in St.Moritz

My sweet, sweet Switzerland

Skiing on the Corviglia

Looking down the Engadine valley

View from the Corvatsch

Last descent of the season! 

Val Fex

The valley is one of the highest in Switzerland to be inhabited all year round.

Inhabitants in 2000: 101 

Hänsel & Gretel in the woods?

Spring thawing

Crasta Church in Val Fex

Typical Engadine house

Past times

"Sgraffito" is a typical Engadine form of art

produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colors to a moistened surface