White out, Swiss Chocolate and Fondue!

The day began with a skiff of snow and an accidental slow start after a raucous night. For some reason my iPhone had it's SIM card locked and switched the time to Sydney-time. Jen woke at 7:07 in a panic as I hadn't left yet and I was due to speak at 7 am for the conference. My phone said it was 4:37! 10 mins later I was at the conference cursing Apple and begging forgiveness (it was easy to come by - as it was the last morning of the conference). Jen and Mormor took the kids to the drop off point for lessons and were told the winds at the mid-station were 100km/hr and so the final day and races were going to happen at a different ski area. It was fortuitous as we hadn't explored this area yet and the means to get to it was pretty fantastic. These clever Swiss have carved a tunnel through the mountain on an angle of about 45 degrees, then designed a train also angled at 45 degrees except the floor (windows included) to go with it. You feel like you're on an amusement park ride especially on the way down where you're just waiting for them to release the magnet and let you drop. This doesn't happen - but you feel like it could! The boarding/skiing was a bit whited out and the previous night's snow wasn't great so there were lots of icy bits. The legs were done by noon so we headed down the mountain to have lunch at Fuchs Backeri (bakery). They had this curious pie concoction called 'Cholera' and hot dogs in pastry (pigs in a blanket?) as well as wonderful hot chocolate and chocolates in the shape of the Matterhorn. The 'Cholera' was terrific - a mix of Swiss-type cheese, potatoes and onion - very yummy! As the stores were closed for a bit in the afternoon we organized ourselves and packed up the apartment while the kids did their journals. Once skis were returned, we trekked around for one last shop and a swim at the hotel pool. Morfar and Piper had earlier booked us a table at a restaurant called Stornmont (recommended in the Lonely Planet) and we feasted on Fondue Borginon (beef chunks in hot oil), Chinoise (strips of beef/pork in hot broth) and some Raclete (melted cheese with bread and potato). Aidan had a Toberlone mousse with cherry sauce for dessert (which we all sampled cuz he's sweet enough). A beautiful walk home in the snow and evening lights set us up for a great slumber before our travel day.