Le Francis is a creperie / pizzeria. Deco and lighting scheme aren’t especially warm and welcome. Their style is that oh so familiar Italian we-are-always-living-outdoors-so-we-don’t-care-about-the-interior kind of bare and bright. The hospitality is also very Italian, but on the contrary to the deco, well warm and welcome. We arrived 7:15 pm with no reservation. With a lot of ‘ohlala’, frowns, smiles and extensive hand gestures, we could have a table. We had to promise that we’d be out of there at 8:00, because the table was reserved for another party at that time. We said we didn’t mind and would do the best we could, after which the owner said not to worry, 8:15 was fine as well. Due to our time frame, we decided to have a main course only and choose pizza’s. The pizza’s were absolute first class! Thin bottom, lovely crust (slightly golden, not blackened or charcoal as one so often gets) and tasteful fresh toppings. It came with a hot ‘n fiery oil to drizzle on top. I did, and it gave the pizza extra ‘umpf’. Our waitress was lovely, prompt and to the point. There were a couple of families with little children and she looked after them very well. As soon as the kids started wandering off, she gathered them and hurried them back to their tables. She never lost her smile while doing that. The prices range from cheap to very reasonable. A Pizza costs between 8 and 12 euros. All in all, we had a lovely time, despite it being a little short. We didn’t have crepes here, so I can’t tell you how they are. If they are as good as the pizza, you should have one. You’ll savor the flavor ;) I can recommend this place to anybody.

What can I say about this restaurant? A much better question would be: What can’t I say about it? For one thing, it isn’t a restaurant. Well it is, but it is so much more. It also is a bar, a jazz-lounge, a mini pub, a brasserie (lunchroom) and a place to hang out on the terrace. It is a place where you can eat all day long, starting with breakfast and working your way through the day until dinnertime, closing the evening off with a nightcap in the lounge area. In all honesty, I should review each part of Le Sporting separately, for they are all very different. I’m not going to, but I should. Le sporting has a website (www.lesporting.ch) you can check out yourself, to see what great ambiances the different bars and lounges have. On a regular basis, they have live music; you can check the site for that as well. The terrace is absolutely great. Most of the day, it lies in the sun. In wintertime, stylish blankets provided by the friendly staff, keep you warm in the freezing temperatures. The view is magnificent, both on the terrace as well as from inside. The restaurant is situated on the edge of a mountain road, which means no buildings are blocking the view. The owner of the restaurant also owns a flower- and home-decoration shop. The restaurant is therefore constantly changing its accessories, which provides a fresh look every time. The food is very good, even more so when compared to the reasonable prices. We had a three course dinner and paid no more than 35 euros per person and that is including the drinks, water, wine, bread, well… the whole shebang. They serve great classics, local specialties and fusion cooking with a hint of the orient. I’ve had dinner here on several occasions (and weeks apart) and they never disappointed. One tip: their chicken curry is to die for.

After staying up late last night, I didn't get to see this morning's sunrise. Maybe the Champaign had something to do with it as well. Anyhow today January 1 2008, is a day for recovery, for healing, for contemplating on what has been left behind in 2007 and on what 2008 might bring. Tonight is our last night together, tomorrow morning the girls will be leaving. Eelco and I will spend another day or two here. To 'officially' open this new year and to celebrate the past week, my mother offered us a special dinner in a restaurant of our choice. We decided on 'Le Sporting', I added a review below. Of course we needed to make a reservation and we could use a bit of fresh air so, mum and I went 'down town' to do both.  Not that we needed an excuse to walk around: the scenery itself is very worthwhile.

As mentioned earlier, Chesières - Villars for reasons beyond my imagination, is home to many boarding schools. One of them has a high 'Harry Potter feel' to it. While walking to the town centre, you pass it. I couldn't resist taking a few photos. When we arrived at Le sporting, we had lunch there. Well…, lunch? More like breakfast but then late, oh wait…, that would be brunch! We sat on the terrace, actually, on a chair of course, but you know what I mean. We had a spot in the lee, with sun on our faces. It was wonderful. The view was nice, the hot cocoa even better. My mother had a cured meat and cheese platter with all sorts of local hams from different animals and local cheeses. What a plate full! It was enough to feed a football team. I had smoked salmon with toast and both dishes were delicious! Three quarters in to our meals, we swapped plates. That way, we had the best of both.

Of course, we did not forget to make the reservation for later that evening. We walked slowly back to the chalet, enjoying the scenery some more. For it being our recovery day, the rest of our day was pretty uneventful, until it was time for dinner naturally. Dinner was perfect but you can read all about it in my review, after you looked at my pictures of course :)

Eelco needed some new gloves and one of the shopes we visited was sport'shouse. Don't mind the spelling, it is theirs! After a hardly noticeable, but still icy cold greeting by the shop-owner, we took a look around. Clothes, boutique stuff, ski- and snowboard gear, sunglasses, they have it all. State of the art, looking cutting edge, ultra fashionable. However, therein lays my problem with this place. Ultra fashionable always means; prices through the roof, and this here joint is no exception. Sure, anything that has to be hauled up the mountain is more expensive, but at Sport’s house, the prices are ridiculous. Further more, they have all the right brands for looking cool, but lack a users brand, which designs focus on enhancing your performance or keeping you warm, comfortable and safe (e.g. the North Face). Sport's house is a dangerous place, no matter what type you are. Fashion aficionados can have their credit card blocked after shopping here, skiers can lose their life after buying here. So, if you want to be cool, look ‘this season’ AND have a well-filled wallet, this is your place to go. If on the other hand, you are more interested in practical gear, designed on experience from users and you don’t want to over-pay, stay clear of the Sport’s house.

If you're not much of a fireworks fan, today's photos aren't going to please you. However, there is a story to tell about taking the fireworks pics. I'll get back to you on that one, as the fireworks were in the evening and I like things in a chronological order. Today was an uneventful day. We walked a bit through town to scan for a good position to take photos from later tonight. Furthermore, Eelco needed a new pair of gloves. One of the shops we went to was 'sport'shouse'. I've written a review to warn you about this place, for it is a dangerous shop for all sorts of people.

As mentioned, today it's new years eve, so, out with the old, here comes the new. That goes for Eelco's beard as well. He has this tradition of shaving his beard off at New Years Eve. After twelve months of looking at his beard, it is always a strange sight to see him without it. Speaking of tradition, I want to tell you about two; one from the Netherlands and one from Chesieres - Villars. To start with the latter, perhaps it isn't unique to this place but here in the village it is a custom to go to the town square, carrying a bottle of Champagne to celebrate and counting down the last few seconds of the year. At midnight, everybody embraces and starts kissing each other. I was looking forward to that :)

In the Netherlands, we also have Champagne at New Years Eve, but it is accompanied by traditional Dutch food; appelflappen and oliebollen. Oliebollen are deep-fried balls of dough with raisins. The texture is a bit like a doughnut, but firmer. They best way to eat them is lukewarm with icing sugar on top. Personally, I don't like them very much but that is due to the raisins inside. Appelflappen on the other hand, I think are lovely. They are discs of sliced apple, dipped in a batter and then deep-fried, after which they're sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Eat them while they are still warm, hmmmm! To make us feel 'home away from home', Jacomien prepared some for us.

After we all had some pink Champaign at the chalet, Eelco and I went to the town square, each with a bottle of Champaign under our arm. Under my other arm, I carried my tripod. It is hard to take good photos of fireworks, so I wanted my camera to be as steady and still as possible. I had found a super spot earlier today, away from the crowds, in total darkness. However, Eelco wanted to roam the streets, joining the party crowd. Now, I would think that is something you do after the fireworks. A Party like this goes on and on, so you needn’t worry about missing out on anything. The music was too loud for my taste; in fact, it wasn’t my taste at all. However, it is give and take in life, and Eelco is a dear friend. Therefore, I was standing in the middle of the partying crowd when I heard 10… 9… 8…, Oh f**k! Pardon my French, but it felt like being stabbed in the chest. With this bouncing up and down crowd around me, none of my pictures would come out right. I promised my loyal TravBuddies I'd get some nice pics, so I had to get out of this crowd. I pushed and I shoved… 7… 6… 5… stepped on a few toes… 4… 3…and I may have stuck my elbow in somebody's eye… 2… 1! Happy New Year! BANG!! KABOOM!!!  Damn, I missed the first. Finally, I was out of the crowd. KLABAM!!!! While scanning for a scarcely lit spot, I missed the second one. In the end, I was standing at the train station. Many of my photos therefore show a double line, the overhead wire of the train :( You'll understand I was disappointed. My pictures weren’t as good as I hoped, nor did I get to kiss a lot of people. Alas, but there's always next year :) The Champaign was lovely though, and I had a bottle all to myself.

In the Swiss mountains, close to the French border, on the foot of the ‘col de la croix’, you’ll find a place called Chez La Croix. They describe it themselves as a Restaurant Pizzeria. Hardly ever does the word pizzeria mean any good, especially when combined with the title restaurant. Often, you find yourself in place that is overpriced, serves food that your microwave would reject and where service is never heard of, unless you count the staff’s ‘below zero treatment’. Fortunately, there are some exceptions to that rule. Let me introduce you to the exception on that rule. It is never good to generalize, but in general, the Swiss aren’t known for their warmth or friendliness. They are a bit withdrawn. It was a big surprise to us therefore, to encounter the waiter with the biggest smile I’ve ever seen (on a Swiss face). He provided us with speedy and extremely friendly service. Besides that, we got great and honest food. Prices of food and drinks are very reasonable, the deco a bit kitsch, but at least they made an effort. The menu shows many local and regional specialties like emincé de veau (sliced and diced veal in a curry like sauce), rösti (finely chipped potato, pan-fried like a Spanish tortilla) and cheese fondue (with the regional Gruyere cheese, of course). I felt like red meat that day, so I ordered a Filet de boeuff. It was excellent. Very succulent meat with a brown and almost crispy crust. The fries that came with it were to die for. The vegetables (cauliflower, carrots and string-beans) cooked to perfection, ever so slightly glazed. If you ever find yourself in the Swiss Alps, near Les Diablerets, make sure you check it out.

Last night, I couldn't sleep. I did go to bed but because I caught a cold in the previous days, my own coughing kept me awake. After two hours of coughing, sneezing, tumbling and turning, I got out and went downstairs. Once there, I discovered it was snowing! Now, you have to know I am a romantic sod, and nothing is more romantic to me than snowfall. The down, gently descending, covers everything in a soft, white blanket. That virgin cover strengthens my belief the world is indeed a perfect place where the good always prevails.

Last night’s snowfall would guarantee breathtaking scenery during the day. Although the morning started a little cloudy still, the sun soon appeared. Eelco was as eager to go out and shoot some pictures as I was. Immediately after breakfast we went for a drive. We had no specific goal until we came to that sign we saw the day before yesterday. You know, the one that said, ‘Col de la Croix is closed’. We instinctively looked at each other, both with a grin from ear to ear. Let’s see how closed it is :D

Col de la Croix starts in a place called ‘Les Diablerets’ which is on the other side of the mountain. Now, there are two ways of getting there; the fast way (going down the mountain, on to the highway and be bored getting there) or the long way (taking you through the mountains and meadows on almost off-road like tracks). You guessed it, we opted for the nicer long way. The drive around the mountain took us about three and a half hours. By the time we arrived in Les Diablerets, we were ready for lunch.

Lunch took place in a cozy restaurant where we had to enter through the ‘artists entrance’. Lunch was great, you should read my review below. After lunch we went up the ‘Col de la Croix’. In wintertime, given enough snowfall, this col is closed and used as a luge track for sledges and sleighs. There was no barrier to stop us, so, on we went. Although it is an official road and signs even let every one know who goes where, people still looked at us like we were the devil in a 4x4. My grandma used to say, “if a look could kill, I would be a corps by now” and that was about the look we received. On our way up, we passed all kinds of chalets and apartment buildings, and therefore felt we had every right driving there. We could own a chalet here, right? Suddenly, Eelco stepped on the breaks. We could go no further. Well, we could, but if we did, we would be on the slopes!!! OK, so I guess it is closed after all. We turned, drove down, and passed all those people on sledges again who now had a look on their face like “ha, told you so”.

By now, it was four in the afternoon and we decided to go back to the chalet. It gets dark early in the mountains and we wanted to avoid driving in the dark. Once at the chalet, we learned (from a neighbor) that the chimney had been swept. Great! Like two seasoned cave dwellers, we lit a fire that would probably last all evening. In fact, it did and we all had a wonderful evening by the fireplace.

Not counting our departure day, or the day we slept through after driving all night, this is day three in the mountains and finally I'm going skiing today. Out of the four of us, I am the only one who can ski. So, this was going to be a solo act for the day. It is a special day today, for it is my wife's birthday. For those of you who read this blog from day one, you know I had a gift prepared. After breakfast, I gave her my present and it moved her to tears. It was the perfect gift, and she loved it. What I gave? I gave her nothing… Mind you, I have put it in a nice box, carefully gift-wrapped it with fringes and all, and I included a card. My wife has everything she wants already, and feels more 'stuff' clutters her home and her life. She is not materialistic and is she's trying to 'simplify' her life. 'Nothing' was exactly what she wanted.

After the gifts were given, we decided I would go skiing and we would all have lunch on the mountain. You see, yesterday we discovered there was a train going up to Bretay, a little place amidst the slopes. With my 18 times zoom on the camera, I spotted a restaurant next to the little train station and suggested we would meet there. Eelco, being a good sport, was kind enough to drive me to the cable cart that would take me up the mountain. The cable cart is nearby, walking distance actually, but with those heavy boots on and ski's over your shoulder, ah well, let's just say I would get enough of a work out after I got off the cable cart. I bought myself a day pass with the same nice woman as Yesterday and I couldn't wait to get on the slopes.

Being high up in the mountains (the one I was on is a little over 2000 meters), it is advisable you are well prepared. Up there, there is thin, less polluted air, and you are closer to the sun. With proper gear on, some water and camera in my backpack and a sun block factor 20 on my face, down the slope I went. My first goal was the restaurant. After our horrible experience yesterday, we thought it was best to reserve a table, a task obviously given to me. Being on skies for the first time in 10 ½ months, it all felt a little weird and strange. My feet and legs weren't exactly doing what my brain was telling them to. I was on unfamiliar terrain and snow conditions were not perfect, a bit icy even. However, I will be the last person to blame my gear, the snow or my new surroundings. I just lack technique to cope with ever changing slopes, situations and conditions. Nevertheless, twenty or so years of having ploughed through snow ensures I have sufficient technique to get me safely down a mountain.

The restaurant took its name from the road it was on, 'Col de Bretay'. Making a reservation wasn't possible anymore, the were fully booked. Fortunately, there's also a self service restaurant and the tables on the terrace belonged to it. I skied some more and after an hour or two, rested my weary ass on chair on the terrace. Turned out, I was sitting in the windiest spot of the place. This wouldn't have been a problem, if the temperatures weren't freezing. Anyhow, me being there early meant that I had time to switch tables. The terrace was crowded, but every time a better table came available, I jumped on it like a starving wolf on a reindeer calf. After an hour, the rest of the bunch joined me and we had a lovely lunch.

Seeing all those people in gear, who are walking peculiar on skiing boots, wearing masks, scarves, bandanas, helmets and goggles, Eelco decided winter sports weren't his thing. He very much likes the mountains and the wintertime but couldn't be bothered with putting on all that gear, the scuffling masses or the queues in front of the lifts. With a hardy meal in my tummy, I said farewell and headed down the slopes some more.

In the evening, Jacomien cooked us a wonderful, Swiss dinner. On her own birthday, I hear you ask. Well, yes! She's a cook and would be gutted if she couldn't prepare food. Breakfast, lunch or dinner, makes no difference to her as long as it is food. This night we had cheese fondue 'extraordinaire Deluxe'. It was lovely. The flavour was great and it is always fun to have something to do at the table. Of course, bets were on, on who would loose his bread or broccoli in the fondue first. A clear winner is hard to pick. I think we all owed each other a bottle of wine. To work off the extra few pounds we had just put on, we went for an evening walk. Nothing makes you sleepier than a hardy meal followed by a walk in the fresh mountain air. Not long after we got back to the chalet, we all went to bed.

How blessed we are! This is the fourth glorious day in a row. I know it is getting boring, but we had more spectacular sunrise views, breathtaking panoramas and clear blue skies with clean and crispy air today. This is a winter sport vacation as it is supposed to be. There is snow, cold air to keep it there and yet it is sunny everyday. When you sit in the lee, sheltered from the wind, the sun cuddles you and warms you with its glowing beauty. I am so happy with this weather. It is my wife's first time in the mountains. Before we went, I said to her not to get her hopes up, but if all things come together, it will be perfect and you will know what I have been so enthusiastic and all-lyric about all these years. Well, she does enjoy the view but otherwise, couldn't care less. My wife is a summer person. She says, she should've been born in a tropical climate. She hates the cold, the thin air that dries out your (her) skin and she can't stand snow or ice or any other cold and slippery thing or surface. Nevertheless, she had to come, I said. There is only one way to judge a situation, and that is by experiencing it yourself. Oh well, next trip will be to a warmer climate ;) In all honesty I have to say, she would love to go back. She really enjoyed the chalet, its well-equipped kitchen (she's a cook, you know) and the view.

With such an awesome day, it would be a waste not to go out. Jacomien wanted to stay indoors and my mother isn't all that quick on her feet anymore, so Eelco and I went for a walk just the two of us again. Eelco wanted to go up the mountain to look at the slopes, though not by foot. He isn't in the best of conditions and nor am I to be honest. There is an altitude difference of more than 600 meters between the village and the skiing area, and I mean that in a vertical way! Did you know that four of the top five highest mountains in Europe are Swiss? Climbing up is a breathtaking experience, and this time I am not referring to the spectacular views. Luckily, there is a cable cart.

In my best 'hand gesturing Switzer-French', I bought tickets for hikers. I am a phonetic speaker; I reproduce sounds fairly well. The woman behind the desk apparently thought I was a native speaker, and blurred out sentences faster than a fighter plane can fly. After her waterfall ran out of water and the words dried out, I looked sheepishly at her, put a twinkle in my eyes and said: "you have to excuse me, for your French is a lot better than mine, and I didn't understand a thing you were saying", (mind you, IN FRENCH!). She gave me the cutest little smile and then, in a pace a snail would think is slow, told me in five sentences what it was I needed to know. "Aah, merci bien", I uttered when she explained she just got me two return tickets. She assured us, we didn't have to pay for all the lifts that we cannot use without skies on our feet. Excellent! That was very good of her to do. Hey, forgive me, for I am Dutch!

Anyhow, we went up. It is a pity it's so hard to capture height (or depth for that matter) with a camera in such a way it does justice to the steepness. Nevertheless, I took some photos from inside the cable cart. Once up the mountain, Eelco and I strolled for a bit, both taking pics of whatever was in front of our lenses. After an hour or two, my stomach proclaimed in a rather loud manner, it needed food. At the top of the cable cart ride, a restaurant is conveniently situated, so we went there. What can I tell you about this place? Nothing and plenty, would be a good answer. Here's why. We secured a table, with the permission of a waiter by the way, and then we sat and waited. A few minutes passed by, and then another few, and then another ten. Ah, I caught the attention of a waitress. "Are you having a meal?", she asked. 'Well, not at the moment dear, but yes, that's why we came here' were words that popped in my mind. Instead, I said, "Yes, please", and off she went. She returned after a minute or two with some placemats and cutlery. "Very well, my friend here would like an apple juice and I would like a cappuccino", I hurried my order to her. "I don't take orders, you have to ask my colleague for that", was what she replied. Oh, OK, and then we waited some more. We could see the waiters frantically running up and down the terrace, so we had good hopes. I am a decent fella' so I don't start yelling easily. Nevertheless, after I had caught the attention of three different waiters, being put off a couple times with a "right with you sir" and waiting for forty-five minutes, I could take no more! Eelco was telling me to stay calm, relax, we were on vacation after all, but I couldn't. Half my life, I've worked in the hotel, restaurant and catering business. Rarely have I seen such a disorganized bunch. There was no communication, no structured procedures, no nothing. The place seemed extremely busy and buzzing, but that was due to the queue with people waiting for a table and waiters who were running around like headless chicken. After exactly fifty-five minutes, I stood up and walked away. A group of four dashed to our table to tale our place, poor souls.

We decided on having lunch downhill, where we guessed it would be less crowded and better organized. Besides, Eelco needed to go to an Apple store in Aigle because his lap-top charger failed to do its job. We had a nice ride down the mountain. It was very peculiar to see the difference between the snow-covered peaks and the green and brown fields below. Near the town, I spotted some para-gliders. I took a photo just as one disappeared behind some branches. Let's see if you can spot it as well. By the way, we ended our day as we began it. Remember how blessed we were? Not only was this the fourth glorious morning in a row, it also was another perfect evening.

My mother and wife arrived half past ten last night after an uneventful flight from Amsterdam to Geneva, a fine train ride from Geneva to Aigle and a scary taxi ride up the mountain. Apparently, the taxi driver was a kamikaze pilot in world war two, who missed his target and was now trying to compensate for it. With shaky knees, they greeted us. I showed my wife the chalet, we all had drink and then went straight to bed.

The following morning I fell out of bed. At 6:15, I was up about and running. Dear lord, I hope this doesn't become a habit. The up side of course was being treated to yet another beautiful morning. The sun came up from the left, peeking with its pink rays over the top of a mountain. Later in the week, we discovered the sky above the chalet is a highway for planes. This first morning I just thought I was lucky to see planes flying over, leaving a nice pink and golden vapor trail. What a great photo opportunity! Later (after our discovery of the fly-by highway) I felt blessed I could see the planes warping overhead but not hearing them.

It being his first time here, Eelco wanted to know where what was in the village. Therefore, I took him on a tour by foot, to show him the village, where to find the bakery and so forth. Knowing Eelco, he would go out on his own to trek as well. I thought it was best to show him the scenery, surroundings and what routes to take. It turned out to be an extensive hike. We walked and walked and stopped quite often to take photographs. Eelco is as keen on photography as I am, though he has a much more professional camera. Not that I'm complaining, oh no, on the contrary. He has a camera that weighs half a ton and needs several lenses for different types of shots. The lenses each weigh another half a ton and the extra batteries a ton and a half. The whole shebang cost him the price of a small car AND he has to carry the stuff around. Now, Eelco is a big fellow, but that's to much to carry all around, even for him. By the way, did I mention it comes in a hard shell case that weighs another quarter of a ton? Oh, how I love my camera. I have a compact camera that allows me to shoot anything and everything, morning, midday and night. It weighs a little less than four mosquitoes and fits in my pocket, as long as I remember to take the sun cap off. It costs as little as ten weeks worth of smoking and taking pics is a much healthier thing to do. Besides, it comes with a built in flash so I can't forget to bring mine. More importantly, I am not disappointed with the photos it takes :)

We enjoyed our walk very much. We saw breathtaking panoramas, walked past streams, chuckled at some people's creativity and fell in love with the local architecture. When we got back to the chalet, the setting sun had just sank behind the mountains. This meant even more views that are stunning and gave us a great photo-op. Have a look for yourself.

Our last day here, or better yet, half a day. At quarter past three we have to get out of here and be on our way to Geneve airport. There isn’t much to tell about the morning as we were all just packing our bags. My suitcase was packed in a jiffy coz I left a lot behind. I would be back here in a month, so there is no reason to carry all my ski-stuff twice.  On my way to Villars my suitcase weighed 19 kilos. Now, ready for the journey back home, it weighs a mere 14 kilos.

Before lunch, I went for a walk to the bridge, just to take a picture of the mountain of snow. You could tell it had been thawing for a week. Compare both photos and you'll now what i mean. At lunchtime we went to café-restaurant ‘le Sporting’. We could really tell it was still the off season because the restaurants weren’t fully stocked up yet. I ordered the veal ‘geschnetseltes’ a Swiss special. However, not being stocked up, the waitress asked me if they could prepare the dish with chicken instead. At first, I didn’t like that idea but when she served it, I was glad I didn’t order something else. It was delicious.

As I mentioned before, I love driving in the mountains. The curves and bends really get my heart pumping in a positive way. Especially today because it was the best day so far, weather wise. Beautiful sunny sky and at least 10 kilometers clear view. Very, very nice. While driving down the mountain and through the valley to Geneva we also got a good look at the vineyards. At lot of good wine is produced in the region nowadays. The rocky, poor soil, combined with enough sun and rain makes a fine wine.

At Geneva airport we took one last look at the duty free shops and of course I bought as many cigarettes as I was allowed, maybe a few more. Our flight back to Amsterdam was with EasyJet again. Here in Geneva, EasyJet gave even less service. We had to check in on a touchscreen computer, had to print our own labels and label our bags and suitcases ourselves. It is a good thing I am a seasoned flyer. I’ve seen the ground handlers tag my bags often enough to have had a good example. The flight was fine though. I managed to grab an emergency exit seat again, so no complaints from me about the legroom. Luckily, I had an aisle seat. That saved me from taking another few hondred pics of clouds :)

Today is Sunday, the day before our last here. It is worthy of its name for the sun is shining brightly now. All those promises I’ve heard made about the view are true. Every superlative I can think of isn’t enough to describe the stunning panorama. After being in the mist for four days, I was so enthusiastic with the view I completely went overboard taking pictures of it. As soon as the sun comes out, the air warms up nicely. It makes me remember all those wonderful ski vacations I have had. It’s funny how it can be 36 degrees Celsius against the wooden chalets and freezing at least 10 degrees only a few meters away from it. The weather today reminded me of that; crystal clear sky with dry thin freezing air, while your body is being heated by the sun. Lovely! Of course, we went out to hike a bit, walk around the town and up and down the mountain. Because I rarely leave home without my camera, you can see the pictures below J The weather stayed nice all day long. In the evening we went out for a crepe. That is a very thin pancake topped with sweet or hearty garnish. We went by car and while we were walking from the carpark towards the restaurant (le Creperie), we were treated to a phenomenal sunset.

On our way back to the chalet, I got the scare of a lifetime. Driving in Switzerland is done as in the rest of continental Europe on the right side of the road. But whilst driving, suddenly three headlights appeared straight ahead in front of me. Turns out, in this town there is a slow train that potters along from village to village. For reasons I do not understand it apperently drives on the left side. Any on coming traffic has to shift a lane to the left, to let it pass. Luckily, there was no traffic coming our way or we would have had a head-on collision.

In the centre of town there is a very nice bakery (‘Heiz’) which doubles as a lunchroom. The have a stunning view of the valley and opposite mountain. The lunchroom is also open for breakfast. They serve the best and freshest bread of course, sweet rolls, yoghurt, orange juice, coffee or tea and jams and jellies. The price is very reasonable; between 6 and 10 euros.

Today I went to a town nearby: Monthey. Large supermarkets and warehouses are found here. I am not much of a shopper as you know but these shops are worth a visit. One of them is called ‘Manor’ which is part supermarket, part warehouse. Both richly assorted and high end. At Supermercato Manor the quality of the produce and (semi-) prepared food is incredible. The diversity is enormous. They have a large section with fish, a butcher, a baker and so on. We shopped for some meat because tonight we have been invited for dinner by the neighbours but since we are with so many, we were asked to bring a little extra meat. 

Dinner was fantastic. We had Chinese fondue (in bouillon) with three sorts of meat, veggies, French fries and salad on the side. A daughter of one of the neighbours wants to become a cook and made desert for us: vanilla ice-cream with lukewarm apple pie. Though the meal was great, what made it fantastic was the company. It was an international gathering. Didier is a Belgian, his wife Cris Brazilian, Marco and his wife are Italian, some of their children are born here and therefore are Swiss and we come from the Netherlands of course. We spoke French, Italian, English, Dutch and Flemish. As the evening progressed and the alcohol kept flowing, all of our languages improved drastically. We were twelve all together. You’ll understand it was a cacophony, hand gesturing, wonderful evening. After a couple bottles of champaign, white and red wine, barchetta, port and what not, we staggered loudly down the street to our chalet.

With all the hustle and bustle from the previous days, the shopping, the meals at awkward times, the driving back and forth, I was looking forward to some peace and quiet and a couple of days of rest. Despite or because of our eventful days I couldn’t sleep immediately. I think it must have been around two in the morning when I finally fell asleep. Round about four-thirty, I heard someone call out my name. I thought I was dreaming but after a few seconds I heard it again, this time louder. I don’t like to be disturbed in my sleep so unconsciously I ignored it one or two more times. In the end, there was no denying. I heard my name loud and clear and it was my sister’s voice. I went out in the hallway and found a ghost there. My sister was sick as hell and had been throwing up every half hour for the past two hours. She wanted me to get a bucket coz she wasn’t sure she could make it to the toilet in time, all the time. After that, I never went back to sleep anymore even though at times I wished I could. I offered to call a doctor but she wouldn’t hear of it. Last night I’d promised to make breakfast for our handyman but at six in the morning I wished I didn’t. Nevertheless, at 7:30h I found myself in the kitchen preparing sandwiches and coffee. Now that was something I could use myself. I took two large mugs of it accompanied by plenty cigarettes. I can’t think of a better pick-me-up.

The carpenter started his handy work at which point my sister decided she could take no more. She felt like dying and asked for a doctor. I went over to the neighbours for some assistance. My French is reasonable (it gets me through vacations) but not good enough in emergency situations. The neighbours were very helpful but, here in Switzerland, doctors don’t do house calls anymore. Another neighbour jumped to the rescue and after he’d moved heaven and earth, a doctor would come at nine o’clock. He did as promised and after he’d seen my sister (and after she gave a live performance with the bucket) he ran to his car to get some injections. Her blood pressure was extremely low, her temperature higher than it should be. The doctor prescribed four different kinds of pills and sent me off to the pharmacist. Again I had to call on the help of the neighbour because it was my very first time in this village, so I didn’t know where to find whom or what.

All went well at the pharmacist. Back in the chalet, I stuffed my sister with the drugs. I assisted the carpenter with moving stuff around and gave a winning tip on how to get an extra shelf in a cupboard without destroying the piece. That sounds easier than it was done by the way. It is a cupboard with nooks and crannies and we had to remove half the back of it just to get the shelf in. At 13:30 I had to take my sister to the doctor’s, took the handyman out to lunch and finally I had a five minute break to have a cigarette and a few quiet moments alone. My mother arrived at the train station in Aigle at 15:50. We planned the departure of the handyman in such a way, that I would only have to drive to the city once. His train would leave at 16:08. So, after retrieving my sister from the doctor, I collected the man and his luggage and drove to Aigle. I love driving in the mountains, especially going down. I dropped him off minutes before my mother arrived. With her, I had a cup of hot choc in a shabby ‘restaurant’ opposite the train station. Along the route we bought some groceries for dinner. During the afternoon several neighbours stopped by to ask about my sister’s well-being. She was vast asleep and couldn’t be bothered. Somewhere during the day in an enlightened moment, my sister had called her husband. He was supposed to join us for the weekend and would fly in Friday evening. After hearing of her dire situation, he decided to rebook his flight and he was due this evening. But first things first; I prepared dinner for my mother an me, with an extra portion in case hubby would be hungry. His train would arrive at 21:20 so right after dinner I was of to Aigle once more. Thank god, Swiss trains run like a precision clock. It is thanks to the crispy cold air that I kept awake because by now I was tired as hell. Once in the chalet, with my sister being taken care of by her hubby and my mother, I went to bed and slept like a log.

Hipper the pip hooray, my sister is feeling much better today! Now that the attention for my sister is shared with my mother and my sister’s husband, I finally have the time to tell you about this great place I’m in. However, now that I have the time, the weather has gone bad. I would tell you about the incredible view but I can’t see a thing. It is misty and dreary outside. Yesterday, it was much better. I am glad I took some photos then. The chalet lies in Chesières near Villars sur Ollon. Villars is a cute little place (despite the fact it has a Club Med) at 1250m altitude. There is a télécabine that brings you to 2000 metres from where you can ski at least 100km of  slopes. Blue and red slopes dominate but you can find a black one here and there as well. Plus there is a gletscher, so skiing is garanteed. Large parts of the year, hiking is tremendous here. In winter Villars is very well accessible. The main road up the mountain is kept clear by snow shoves all the time. A stream runs through Villars. In summer it is merely a trickle but now (and in spring with all the melting snow) it runs vigorously. The snow shoves push the snow from the road on the bridge over the stream. A section half way this bridge can be lifted and the snow is pushed in to the canyon.

Villars is situated on a sun plateau, the south side of a mountain. From Villars and especially from the chalet I’m in, you have a spectacular view of the opposite mountains ‘Les Dents Du Midi’ (meaning the middle teeth). The mountain ridge looks like a row of teeth. The chalet is decorated by my sister who has an eye for detail. It has the look and feel of a hotel. She accentuates that feeling with her ‘turn-down’ service; she puts a bathrobe and a pair of slippers on every bed and a chocolate on the pillow. The chalet has four double bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living and a dining area. Of corse the chalet has a fully equipped kitchen, laundry room and a garage. There is a big garden round the house. The terrace and the balcony are on the south side of the building. I’m told, when the sun shines, both the terrace and balcony are in the sun all day long.