21 March 2015 - Skiing in Switzerland!

We woke up to quiet with no calls to prayer from mosques, no dogs howling and no Indian marching bands!

Breakfast and lunch preparations and getting ready for skiing and a time timetable to catch the reliable Swiss transport meant all systems go for us...but we made it.

Train from Wengern

 Boot bags slung over our backs and thermals on, we went via bus to the train station to catch the mountain train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen.  Up and up the mountain we went marvelling at those who built the railway on these slopes.  Little waterfalls running almost vertically down the glacier eroded cliffs of the mighty mountains.  At Wengen we stopped to hire Luke some boots and skis before taken the gondola high above the ground through driving snow to the top and ski slopes.  The snow we missed down in Lauterbrunnen was in abundance up on the ski slopes at Mannlichen and snow fell for most of the day, causing very poor visibility but nice snow!

What a day!!  The big kids took to skiing as I knew they would and loved it.  Luke fussed and fussed and Jacqui, our teacher had the patience of a saint, and motivated him somewhat.  He is actually quite able to ski but stopping is a challenge especially with the visibility being so poor.

Taking to the slopes

Ready for the first lesson

Ready to go - it's been 24 years since these ski pants were used!

Bend the knees!

Tim taking off

Loving it

Here goes!

We had our lunch inside and really enjoyed our pre-packed sandwiches and then headed back to the slopes for some skiing and some physical challenges.  Luke had had enough and so we headed back to the gondola about 2 PM and made our way down the mountain.

Tim helping  Luke

Luke was in this position more often than not

Like a pro!

Tim also loved it

Afternoon together

Getting organised

At Wengen Station

Pretty tired at the end of the day

Wengen

Despite the fuss he did enjoy it

So, so good to be back at the chalet for warm showers and umpteen cups of tea and some chats.  We decided to join a cohort of Internet users to get the cheaper prices for wi-fi here and it is efficient.  Other than that we probably won't buy anything here as the prices are ridiculous and Karl's formula is to think of the most excessive price and multiply it by 2.5!!  Really it is difficult to think these are "normal" prices.  We are particularly alert to the higher prices as the countries we have been in have been so cheap for food and other costs of living that for us it quite remarkable.

Dinner was lovely: soup, shepherd's pie and banoffee pie for dessert.  Luke fussed his way through dinner eating Nutella sandwiches and drinking water and eating our last can of tuna.  Having said that Karl and I did at least have the chance to chat to a few people which was good.

Annika kindly offered to look after Luke so Karl and I could join the main group for some praise songs and so we could listen to John, our speaker, speak on John 2: 1-11 when Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding.  For an hour, I was able to concentrate!  Bliss!  I couldn't help thinking of the huge amphoras we have seen recently on or travels, filled with wine - quite some volume!  Also thinking of Jesus at one of those noisy weddings we have witnessed that go on for days in the context of our travels and the places we have been and seen...I have greater understanding of the culture of 2000 years ago now.

We returned to Luke howling about a sore ankle which we bandaged and then gave him some analgesia and finally he stopped the howling.  When we are staying in a place like this with thin walls and people near by, I am acutely aware of the noise he makes.  Karl carried him to the toilet and then Luke ran back on his supposedly sore ankle!