A Swiss winter wonderland

We have been busy winter bees over the past few weeks.  The weather has been really terrible in the city but that means LOTS of snow in the mountains. So lots of snow + Mama K and Andrew visiting = adventures up in the Alps. I can't even describe how beautiful the landscape is once you are up in the Alps, it takes your breath away. Its one thing to see the mountains in the distance everyday and its another thing to be on top of them!

The first weekend my mom and Andrew were here we spent the weekend exploring the mountains in the Lake Geneva area (i.e., sort of close to home). We started by taking a train up to the top of Rochers de Naye, a scenic mountain top area with a mountain top observatory, visits with Santa Claus, yurts that you can stay over night in, and a marmot habitation area (I know what you're thinking.. what a strange combinatin).

 Next, we ventured by train to the region of Gruyere (yup, the actual birth place of Gruyere cheese). The town of Gruyere itself is this adorable little medieval town in the middle of the mountains. It has only 200 residents and a cheese factory and education center.

Cheese cellar where the gruyere cheese stays to age

Then next we went to eat fondue at a traditional restaurant in town

And then stopped by a bar in town that was designed by HR Giger, the guy who created the "Alien" movies, this was definitely the strangest bar I have ever been in and very cool but out of its element in this quaint medieval town

Then after the cheese and fondue, we moved onto the Nestle chocolate factory for a tour of the factory and all you can eat chocolate tasting (do you notice a trend here.. this weekend was dubbed "fat weekend", but boy was it delicious!)

The chocolate tasting room at the factory

The wall of chocolate at the end of the tour

So after fat weekend 2 weeks ago, we jumped on the opportunity to burn off all of those calories with a ski trip to Verbier this latest past weekend. The skiing was like nothing we have ever experienced, feet and feet and feet of fluffy powder with amazing views and wide open trails.  We went with two of our friends and we were happy to have Andrew with us for our first Swiss alps skiing experience. We had so much fun that we're already starting to look into renting a ski chalet for the winter next year - which means you should start scheduling your ski trips now ;)