Ice Climbing in Zermatt

 

We went ice climbing twice while in Zermatt. the first day Kendall went with us and took photos. We were only out for a while. It was in the single digits and the ice was very brittle. It was really interesting trying to find the ice. We spent a couple days asking around for information. And a full day searching for the stuff. It was very worth it though, there was no one else there either day. It was Krystina's first ice climbing and she ended up having a good time after the new gloves.

Krystina with very cold fingers. She got good
gloves before our next day out.

The second day was much warmer and much better ice since the temps were in the 20s. We spent several hours out and were able to do quite a bit of climbing. I only shot a few photos of Krystina. These were my favorite 3.

Random Fun In Switzerland

For that special person in our lives that doesn't like big dogs.... Meet Chezmo, a fun loving, well trained, quiet, Nova Scotia Retriever. Who lays quietly under the table without begging or even slobbering for that matter while we and everyone around us ate a very tasty dogtastic lunch. What a dog... oh yeah, and he's pretty too.  We forgot he was under the table till Krystina bumped him with her foot felt bad and gave him some food. After which he laid back in the floor until we left... Did I mention he's a good dog?

Joel on the summit of the Matterhorn
after his very bold winter ascent

Kendall and Krystina on our first day in
Zermatt .Kendall is being a Nanny for a
family of Three boys. She's doing a good
job and learning a lot since she is from a
family without any boys.

Toast one of Joel's favoriates... Cheese, Eggs, Onions, and toast. And the dog didn't even budge.

The four boys playing 2, 4,  6, and Joel. 

Room temperature eggs.... are the chickens different here?
Don't the ones in the U.S. lay only eggs that require refrigeration?

Claudia, Krystina, and Chezmo. Claudia had us over for dinner
a couple nights. it was so good to see her, and her boys again.
6 years is too long between visits.

Childhood that will never be forgotten.
Pooh, Just like the one that Marks dog ate when I was a kid...
I talked myself out of buying him (why would a 29 year old want a stuffed animal?)
then changed my mind, and he was gone.. Maybe I wasn't supposed to have him without Tigger too.
So, flushing Tigger might not have been such a great idea after all.

Krystina, Kendall, and Tom trying to make Joel Dance....
Don't Think So!!

The Love Instructor. This is one of a series of, dare I say, ART!!
In which a young lady meets her instructor and in the last one
they are getting married. Reminds me of stories Liz has told
us about some guides she knew.... Hmmm but did they get married.
 Seems like a stretch to me

Snowboarding

 The snow here is amazing. From down in Zermatt it looks like the only mountain around is the Matterhorn but once you get up out of the valley it all opens up and its white as far as you can see.  Really Sweet. Of course it seems the Matterhorn is always in the back of every photo I swear its everywhere you turn... Or maybe I just really like it.

The Igloo Hotel and Bar is a really neat little spot in the middle of the slopes where you can pay to spend the night or just have a drink. There are little rooms in the snow and tunnels and lounge chairs to just hang out in the sun. Its weird coming up on the lifts and hearing live music coming over the snow... but I guess its not any weirder than all the people everywhere. Its a Yosemite zoo out here. 

Speaking of Yosemite. This sight just never seems to loose its ability to turn my stomach. Not sure what happened but 4 rescuers and a chopper...

We went a boarding a second day with Claudia. Krystina's Au Pair who lives in Zermatt. We stayed with her when we were here 6 years ago in the summer and it was great to visit with her again. Zermatt is a lot like Yosemite, during the off season it is beautiful and quiet and feels local. Right now it is beautiful and loud and feels like a Touronic Snowy Yosemite. 

After riding this lift for a while we all started feeling like we
were sweating. Turns out the seat is heated... Go Figure!

Krystina, Claudia, and Kendall.
(Oh Yeah, and the Matterhorn)

Kendall's Sexy Little Penguin friend.

Zermatt Switzerland

I know its been forever since we updated this thing... The other day Iwas looking back at all our old posts and wished that we had kept up with it. We've had so much fun and done so many things in the last 3 years; they have truly been a blast I can't believe we let this slip. But, better now than never. And what better place to start back than Zermatt Switzerland.

We left for Zermatt on Feb 7th and it was a very long two days of travel. Nothing really bad just long. We wore our mountain boots to try and save weight in our baggage and had to unpack all the climbing gear because it was packed so tightly the scanner couldn't see through it. TSA was very nice (surprise) and it only took a couple minutes. the rest of the trip was a breeze and we were welcomed to Switzerland by -9F temps and a strong wind. 4 hours later we were there and ready for bed. But, we stayed up with Kendall for the rest of the day after showering and blow drying my hair for the third time ever. HA