This is a view from the ski slopes real close to home. Not spectacular view, but cute nonetheless! As you see, it's not the high mountains yet!
It's now or never that I'll tell you about our first winter back in Switzerland!
First of all, it's been all white for almost 2 months (end of December - end of February), due to a really exceptional winter on one hand, and also to the fact that we live on a higher plain (opposed to lakeshores and/or mountains!). It's been snowing 1-2/ week, and never really got warm enough to melt it all!
The kids went to ski school over the Christmas break. The first day was really difficult for Léa - who hardly ever enjoys that kind of challenge - but they made excellent progress and loved it (eventually!). A nice day out was to go ski as a family! We live approx 25 min away from a small ski resort, with plain lifts and no fuss. Perfect for our kid's level!
And during that long, and cold winter (we've litterally burned 90% of our wood - not that one, reserved for the fireplace - the one that we use for heating the house!), a huge feeling of warmth came to us: Grit visited us for a whole week, along with Klara and Heinrich! Oh the good feeling, oh, the good memories, oh the fun we had together in that white paradise!
Another visit that was for us THE Christmas gift: our friend Debbie arriving straight from Clayton with her two daughters! We were able to celebrate Christmas AND blow Hannucka candles together, visit the area, and discuss a lot about everything. Simply a great time, thank you my dear friends for visiting us!
In Switzerland, the water fountains are... real! Most of the time, you can drink from them, as Debbie's about to do. These pictures were taken in the village of Gruyères, homeland of the famous real Swiss Cheese "gruyères"! The castle and the surrounding village was built in the 13th century!
The good thing about living in Europe, is that travelling in neighbouring countries is pretty simple. No, no, I don't want to boast (just make you feel like coming and visiting us, haha!)...
Last week was a "Carnaval" break. It's very important culturally, but I'm totally stranger to that customs. Maybe next year I'll be more able to report about it!
Anyway, the kids were off school, and Vladi had a week off too. We skied together a few times, then sent the kids to my parents for 48h. In the meantime, Vladi and me hopped on an EasyJet plane to Amsterdam, where we enjoyed 2 great days together!
This post is already long enough... I'll start a new one!
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1 comment:
Hi there Caroline! Hello from Samuel Choir! Neal gave us your blog address awhile ago but I haven't had the chance to write.
It was so good to see pictures of your kids and to see pictures of Grit and her kiddos too. What fun you had! We speak of you all so often and with such fondness. You became such a part of our little community. You are missed.
Spring is trying hard to make her appearance--it was 78 degrees the other day as a sign of things to come. But alas it was only for a day--today it is 30 again! It is only March. We must be patient.
Your life back in Switzerland sounds full and good.
I will do a better job watching your blog and sending my greetings.
Peace,
Doni
ddriemeier@eden.edu
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