After handshakes and introductions Ed took us up the mountain to the chalet where his whole family was waiting to welcome us. Their place is located on a beautiful alpine plain full of wildflowers which also doubles as a ski slope in winter. After getting settled we took a little walk back down into the town. In just a twenty minute walk we passed through some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. We walked past a valley full of cows with bells around their necks. The noise was so loud we could hear them long before we ever saw them. Also from the path we got to admire the beautiful sapphire lakes that dot the downtown.
From the heart of downtown we took a ride on a cable car up to the Weisshorn, which is the well over mile high peak overlooking the valley. We flew over green pastures full of wild flowers and admired countless jagged peaks and even more blue lakes. When we got off at the top of the mountain we walked out into the brisk air and steady winds of the summit. The mountain was still covered in snow which I found absolutely incredible but for the Swiss it is mundane seeing as it snows every month of the year.
We took the cable car back down the mountain where we enjoyed a cup of coffee and more breathtaking views. After the coffee Ed, Gary and I were ready to hike back to the house. For dinner we were delighted to have Rochette a traditional Swiss meal cooked by Bruno, the Vick’s son-in-law and native Swiss. The meal is basically just cheese, cheese, and more cheese, and it is absolutely delicious. First you place a slab of cheese covered in bacon and onions under a broiler and wait for it to melt. Then you scrape the perfectly bubbly crispy cheese all over a plate of potatoes and pears. Add some seasoning salts and there you have it, a ticket to heaven! After a leisurely meal we decided to hit the sack so we could rest up for our hike the next day.
In the morning I awoke to an enormous breath of the clear air and a huge glass of glacier water, needless to say I was ready for a hike! Bruno was already up and packed and after we got our boots tied we were out the door. Every moment of the hike was like something out of an Imax film and I really don’t think I could ever do it justice with my words so hopefully these pictures will give you a better idea.
Unfortunately these photos are not scratch and sniff because the views were only half of the sensory over load. Everything is so incredibly fresh. The air actually tastes different and I drank straight from an alpine lake! For lunch Bruno broke out local beers, which we cooled in the stream, and a charcoal grill where he fixed focaccia and lamb kabobs for lunch.
When we got back to the house we settled in for some afternoon naps before yet another amazing dinner and then turned in early for bed. In the morning we were awoken by the clanging bells of a herd a Brown Swiss Cows literally 30 feet from the house. Switzerland is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The experience was really different than anything I had had before. It was nice to do some touring outside of a major city and for that reason it sticks with me so much. The journey back to Pavia was much easier than the trek to Arosa because the Vicks were kind enough to offer us a ride. The drive started in a dense fog high in the Swiss Alps curving through mountain passes and over huge bridges and ended in the hot plains of Italy. Along the way we stopped in a tiny medieval church. The church is known for its intricately painted ceiling tiles depicting the life of Christ and many of the gospel stories. The details of the painted tiles were stunning; much different than the massive cathedrals of Italy but still very impressive. It was a truly European experience to be awoken by Swiss cows on a chilly morning and then by lunch be eating a fresh pizza in the hot sun of Italy.
