If there's one thing I love about Swiss culture it's the ski weekends. Ski, eat, sleep, repeat. That's what we did for four remarkable days. Our Swiss friends have a little ski apartment in Crans-Montana (where they taught me to ski two years ago!), so there was no question if we would ski.
We came up in the afternoon, driving up alongside the lake and into the Valais, beautiful blue sky all the way. The sun set just as we were renting our ski gear, morphing from pale pink, to purple and finally settling into a glittering deep blue. If the drive up didn't take your breath away, that sunset certainly did.
We woke up bright and early on our first day. Dad, who looked forward to the skiing more than anybody, wanted to be up there as soon as the chairlifts opened.
Our friends know the place back to front, and acted as our guides, taking us first on the easier slopes, and gradually working us up until we were skiing right from the highest station all the way down. My siblings and I left at about 3 the first day, but Dad stayed out until 4:30! (Which he did every subsequent day as well!)
Dinner that night was at one of our friends' favourite restaurants in Crans-Montana, Le Mayan, for a traditional Swiss meal. It was Fondue à la Tomate for me, a delicious cheese and tomato fondue accompanied by fresh bread, pickles, and viande séchée (I'm drooling just thinking about it). There were several röstis and raclettes around the table, and even a chocolate fondue for dessert for my youngest sisters.
What a way to end such a fantastic day.
Dad was up at the crack of dawn the next day as well, but I was in desperate need of a sleep in, so I told him to go without me and spent the late morning shopping for souvenirs and pretty coats in the village with my sister.
Quick stop at Taillens Boulangerie for a pretzel for lunch, and a peek at some of their sweet treats...
... before we headed back up the gondola to ski out the afternoon.
That evening was a quiet one bar one stroll around the village under a cascade of fairy-lights, swoon.
On our final night in Crans-Montana we went to Le Michaelangelo for the most mouthwatering Italian dinner. Our Swiss friends are real connoisseurs of Italian cuisine, and they've been coming back here for 17 years. That in itself tells you everything you need to know.
I had been there a few times already, but this was a first for the rest of my family. Suffice to say, they loved it.
There we were, after four full on days of skiing, sipping on red wine, feasting on the most delicious food known to man, watching the live slalom race they had playing (hosted in Crans-Montana on a run we had done just one day earlier!), not a frown in sight.
I sat back, looked at my family, and thought how lucky am I to be showing my family one of my favourite places on earth!
If ever you are in Crans-Montana go to Michaelangelo's and get the spaghetti michaelangelo.
You will not regret it.
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