In need of a break like everyone else this crazy year, we tried and failed to return to the US and Bend for the holiday break. Instead backup options local to Switzerland were made and booked. The plane was replaced by the train but since the mountains were still calling we traded the Cascade lakes for the Alps and headed to Zermatt once more.
To simplify the travel, Andi organized sending ski gear and clothing ahead a couple of days earlier.
On arrival in Zermatt we checked in to our rented apartment and caught up with our ski gear. Yay!
Ryan unpacked his essentials and verified the WIFI within the first 5 minutes. Satisfied that the internet bandwidth and speed met with his requirements for the stay, he settled in. We found a welcome box of chocolates which would have been a normal kids first request.
An easy first day settling in organizing and renting some equipment for the following 3-4 days of sledding, skiing and mountain play!
While wandering around the town, we found sausages do grow on trees and that old time horse-drawn carriages are still in use.
The first evening some restaurants were open for service, so we opted for the Swiss Chalet traditional fondue.
Hayley opted for à la carte and Ryan went with cheese with bacon. The grown ups knew better and selecting cheese with truffle fondue.
First up sledding! There was some fun slopes at the bottom by one of the gondolas and close to the fun park we visited in October. It was on a hiking trail so had sled runs already made and interest by hikers walking with their families and dogs.
The above runs were on pretty packed and firm snow. It kind of helped if you had a chiropractor close by to undo the damage afterwards. No waivers were signed in the making of these photographs.
Skiing day one
Skiing day 2, only 3 showed up! Even with the stunningly bright and clear skies.
Skiing day 3 with all of us present and correct!
New Year's Eve
It was quiet until the bells started ringing, then it became bells and fireworks, then bells, fireworks and singing and dancing in the street (for some). (No social distancing or any pandemic rules were taken into consideration by those partying in the streets.)
Hayley and Steve watched the random fireworks from the apartment balcony. Andi and Ryan remained warm.
Everyone made the midnight show after watching the Iron Man 3 movie munching on popcorn.
New Year's day, was a quiet day to begin 2021. Andi and Steve ventured out on a hike around the lower lying surrounding hills around Zermatt and along another gorge passing through the town of Zmutt.
It was a chilly frozen day as you can tell from the photos. First stop was a bakery for consumption on our way.
The end of the hike in the final quarter of a mile, Steve had to perform acrobatics on the packed ice and land on his back! Hard!
After, walking back to the apartment, the pain remained so we walked over to the emergency care and got checked out. The tests included x-rays, which showed that ribs were bruised but not fractured, great, but possibility of some internal bleeding, not so great. Ambulance ride to Visp and further tests followed that night and next day. All ended well as the internal issue subsided and was resolved.
Hello 2021: 3 days in and 2 days in a hospital. But we are all okay!
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