Sunday has arrived here and it’s time for our weekly trip to Alpine dreamland. Let’s visit SWITZERLAND.
On all out trips we stayed at the same hotel. Perfect. Next to a beautiful marina. Wonderful castle right behind it. Views of a perfect mountain across the water.
Every stay we got to speak to the hotel owner. A wonderful chap who has done some living in his many years . So full of stories. A favourite one was him being a skiing extra in a James Bond movie set in Switzerland. He never forgot the name of a guest. Always there at Breakfast giving advice on where to have the next adventure and how the weather was going to be in that area. His love for his country so evident and so infectious. Every trip we would find out from him more and more things about why Switzerland is so very special. With pride he would tell visitors all the things that his country had given to the world.
So to honour him (apparently he is still there, still looking after his guests), let’s think about Switzerlands awesomeness.
Gave the world milk chocolate, Velcro, numbered bank accounts, The Red Cross, solar powered air travel, Muesli…….
Gave the world The Swiss Army Knife, cellophane, hay fever medication, bobsleigh, aluminium foil, Rosti ……lol
Gave the world The Zip, cup a soups, spaghetti, fondue……
And Roger Federer.
A Dad trying to cope with the loss of his Partner and becoming a single parent. 
Ooooh, I wonder if it was THE SPY WHO LOVED ME? Remember the opening ski scene? Epic!
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Sure was.
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🙂
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I think it is the people, even more so than the beautiful scenery, that makes us want to return again and again to certain places. I am so glad you met such a kind-hearted and interesting fellow.
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Certainly was. He would often personally drive guests to the train station and wait until they had got on the right train
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Can you imagine what a different world it would be if all people treated each other with such care? Mind blowing!
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What about raclette? Did I spell it right.. I remember it so well from my Swiss days.. Its such a fairytale place I can only imagine how your heart feels. Beautiful pics.. never knew the Swiss invented Velcro.. 🙂
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Raclette is French isn’t it?
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I was in the French speaking part of Switzerland in the 80s when I had it, so you are probably right.🙂
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Definitely that one as well
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Never knew the link between Swiss and Velcro. 😀
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They are very clever
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Ahh, breathe in the beautiful fresh air❤️
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I can’t wait until I can again
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I know. And I hope so❤️
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It’s a beautiful country.
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It really is
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😍
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A much-needed breath of fresh air and beauty! I didn’t know Velcro, cellophane, and aluminum foil were inventions of the Swiss!!! Learned something new and gave my tired mind a wonderful break! Thanks, Gary … hugs!
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Hugs to you my friend
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And don’t forget Raclette!! Your excitement and love for Switzerland are obvious, Gary. And so is your longing for coming here again. So, made the perfect hotel choice regarding location and hotel owner. Also, he must be a person who truly found his purpose and loves what he is doing. Thank you for the beautiful photos again.
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You can so tell that he loves life, loves people, loves his work, loves his country.
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I felt that from your words totally!
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Lovely post. What a fabulous hotel owner.
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He so is. I remember one June we were there. It was really hot and beautiful. We were in shorts and T-shirt. When he found out we’re we were going, he told us that it would snow today. We didn’t have any warm clothing with us, so he went and found some. And yes it did snow.
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How about getting that camper van and planning to go here:
https://www.engadin.ch/en/camping/camping-chapella-80977/
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It’s approx’ seventeen driving hours each way (give or take the ferry time). Maybe take in a few stops on the way and on the way back? No hurry, have your own place in the book to unpack and maybe a pop up tent for naps? Maybe use one of those tents you can fit into the boot of your car?
Now this one looks just the ticket:
https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15903813/coleman-mosedale-5-family-5-person-tent-15903813
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That would be perfect
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Oh and don’t forget a couple of push bikes, secured to the back for when you get there. 🚲🚲
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@46.4775542,9.8261171,3a,30y,17.57h,84.31t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skPGy8Nk77LHC-EZTBqRVDg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
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I have always wanted to do those mountain scooterboards. Hire them at the top and you can freewheel down the mountain road down to the bottom.
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Blinkin’ Nora you really are a big kid ain’t yer. Plenty of padding, there’s no need to end up in a Swiss A&E for the day!
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What a wonderful story about the James Bond connection! And good customer service makes all the difference. Hope you three can connect again one day soon!
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One day
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Once, I flew with a friend on Swissair and we were in the bulkhead row at the front. One of the hostesses (sorry, cabin attendants!) laid her box of chocolate bars down in the aisle seat beside us while she went to deal with something else. Needless to say my friend (not I, of course) shoveled most of the chocolate bars into a hand bag! Swissair, being so organized had a whole list of items they could provide, should you need them, including, to our amusement a bit of string.
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I think we only flew once with them. We got a back full of freebies off the cabin crew plus the pilot let Hawklad sit in the pilot seat before we took off.
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Fabulous photography as always Gary.
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Thanks Di
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Saw an article about a guy driving on a flooded road in Yorkshire in his 4X4. Thought of you and hope your fields aren’t lakes.
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Great photography. Gave the world Ursula Andress, Marthe Keller, Albert Einstein, Carl Gustav Jung and Renée Zellweger at a push [her father was Swiss] 🙂
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It’s a cool place. Really is. Has such a beautiful way of life as well.
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I have only been a couple of times myself and those were when l was younger and doing some touring.
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Switzerland is stunning and so are your captures.
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It really is.
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C
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The world appears to be reopening. Maybe your opp to move is finally coming closer!
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I just hope it doesn’t slam shut in a few months
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I’m staying very cautious. There are still variants floating around!
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This is not over yet. I’m not sure the virus thinks it’s over yet.
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Same.
“Stealth omicron” is picking up steam, as is bird flu. Who knows if they’ll decide to join forces
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We have a number of outbreaks of avian flu in farms around here…..
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Crap… I thought it was just over here!
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If that is the Belvedere Hotel in Wengen, I’m staying there in June for a thrice delayed walking holiday!
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I really hope you have a wonderful time.
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