23rd - 27th September, 2021
Hotel Le Montagnier, Champéry, Switzerland
We left Nesso with quite a few ideas of what we'd like to do during our stay in Champéry. The Matterhorn was nearby as was Lake Geneva and there were endless walks we could explore in the area.
We passed over the border into Switzerland with no checks at all. In fact it was difficult to know when we'd actually arrived in the country because there was a long stretch after the Italian border before we saw anything Swiss related. We caught sight of snow covered mountains and eventually found a place to pull in to be able to take some photos. There was a also a restaurant where we'd stopped and we partook of some delicious soups - it felt fresher and cooler and soup was a great comfort meal.
It was a beautiful area to stand, look and admire and we were literally on a high as we eventually returned to the car and continued our journey.
We passed over the border into Switzerland with no checks at all. In fact it was difficult to know when we'd actually arrived in the country because there was a long stretch after the Italian border before we saw anything Swiss related. We caught sight of snow covered mountains and eventually found a place to pull in to be able to take some photos. There was a also a restaurant where we'd stopped and we partook of some delicious soups - it felt fresher and cooler and soup was a great comfort meal.
It was a beautiful area to stand, look and admire and we were literally on a high as we eventually returned to the car and continued our journey.
We arrived in Champréy mid afternoon and the manager of the new apartment block where we would be staying, met us and began by showing us all the facilities we'd be able to use; washing machine (which we'd all been hanging on for!), tumble drier, gym, sauna and heated infinity pool. All was a brand new complex and all facilities were free to use. However it was when we walked into the apartment that the WOW factor really hit. We had our own Matterhorn right in front of us, complete with a covering of snow.
We had decided beforehand that we wouldn't eat out during our stay and quickly went to the nearest supermarket to buy a few things. On our return, a bottle of wine was opened and we sat out on the balcony, watching as the sun began to set and a new vista appeared in front of us. The intention was to wait until the moon appeared above the mountain ridge, however the excitement of the day eventually told and the moon would have to wait until another time,
We had decided beforehand that we wouldn't eat out during our stay and quickly went to the nearest supermarket to buy a few things. On our return, a bottle of wine was opened and we sat out on the balcony, watching as the sun began to set and a new vista appeared in front of us. The intention was to wait until the moon appeared above the mountain ridge, however the excitement of the day eventually told and the moon would have to wait until another time,
We'd tried to get going with the washing machine the previous evening without success. Alizée, the manager had said she'd return to check in on us and we decided to wait for her arrival. At 10am and a no show, we tried to call various numbers without success. We'd been given cable car passes to use as often as we liked, so we set off having left messages for Alizée, to find the departure and return times. Having just under an hour to wait for the next cable car, we had a look at a small train which was alongside the start of the cable car terminal. It ran between Champéry village and the town below and may have been an option for another day.
Our cable car eventually arrived and with a few butterflies in stomachs we started the trip upwards in the cable car to the top of the mountain. It was surprisingly stable and quiet, so much so that another trip later in the day was talked about!
On arrival at the top, we walked outside the terminal and stood in awe. The views were just breathtaking, figuratively and literally! We were over 3,000 feet high and our energy levels seemed low. We nonetheless made the effort to walk further uphill towards one of the stations which would take skiers to other slopes when there was snow. Here we sat and contemplated! Needing to get in some more supplies for an evening meal, we made the decision to head down to the village again and return on the last trip of the day later on in the afternoon.
We had, however, underestimated how far we'd walked and the effect of the high altitude. These details weren't a problem as we headed downhill, however as we came nearer to the cable car terminal, the path steepened and we quickly found ourselves struggling, our breath rasping in our throats. With only a few minutes to go for departure we didn't think we'd make it. The cable car conductor however, had obviously seen our struggles and hung on until we made it inside and we immediately started the descent.
We entered a supermarket right next to the cable car terminal and started to pick up things for a meal later on. First of all though, Linda started to cough, followed closely by Pat and myself. We tried desperately to be discreet, however Chris eventually appeared and said he could tell exactly where we were in the shop by our coughing fits! We couldn't help ourselves and were concerned about other shoppers feeling uncomfortable, a feeling compounded when an announcement over the loudspeak in English asked everyone to make sure to abide by Covid rules! We were thankful to leave and get outside and rationalised that our coughing problem was caused by a combination of our rush to the cable car, the descent from high altitude and a colder temperature in the shop due to air conditioning!
Our cable car eventually arrived and with a few butterflies in stomachs we started the trip upwards in the cable car to the top of the mountain. It was surprisingly stable and quiet, so much so that another trip later in the day was talked about!
On arrival at the top, we walked outside the terminal and stood in awe. The views were just breathtaking, figuratively and literally! We were over 3,000 feet high and our energy levels seemed low. We nonetheless made the effort to walk further uphill towards one of the stations which would take skiers to other slopes when there was snow. Here we sat and contemplated! Needing to get in some more supplies for an evening meal, we made the decision to head down to the village again and return on the last trip of the day later on in the afternoon.
We had, however, underestimated how far we'd walked and the effect of the high altitude. These details weren't a problem as we headed downhill, however as we came nearer to the cable car terminal, the path steepened and we quickly found ourselves struggling, our breath rasping in our throats. With only a few minutes to go for departure we didn't think we'd make it. The cable car conductor however, had obviously seen our struggles and hung on until we made it inside and we immediately started the descent.
We entered a supermarket right next to the cable car terminal and started to pick up things for a meal later on. First of all though, Linda started to cough, followed closely by Pat and myself. We tried desperately to be discreet, however Chris eventually appeared and said he could tell exactly where we were in the shop by our coughing fits! We couldn't help ourselves and were concerned about other shoppers feeling uncomfortable, a feeling compounded when an announcement over the loudspeak in English asked everyone to make sure to abide by Covid rules! We were thankful to leave and get outside and rationalised that our coughing problem was caused by a combination of our rush to the cable car, the descent from high altitude and a colder temperature in the shop due to air conditioning!
We made another trip up in the late afternoon, hoping to see the sun go down. This time however, we stayed close to the terminal because if we missed this last cable car, the only way down was to walk! We watched as one of the passengers (a young lad) came up in the cable car with his bike and, we thought, intended to ride his bike back down. What he actually did was stop just below us, put his bike down, strip off his upper layers and then climb along to the top of a pointed rock and start to sunbathe! I walked towards the track he had taken for some mountain photos and was startled by the sheer drop the other side of the track the lad had taken! After a leisurely wait we caught the last cable car of the day and watched the shadows lengthen as we made our way back to the village and our apartment.
We had still heard nothing from Alizée and not been able to get the washing machine going despite our best endeavours. Searching for a way to make contact, we came across the developing company for the complex. Sending a message via their website, we very soon had an apologetic call from Alizée. She came to the apartment within the hour and furnished us with a prepaid card which was necessary to use the washing machine and tumble drier; we were in business!
We had still heard nothing from Alizée and not been able to get the washing machine going despite our best endeavours. Searching for a way to make contact, we came across the developing company for the complex. Sending a message via their website, we very soon had an apologetic call from Alizée. She came to the apartment within the hour and furnished us with a prepaid card which was necessary to use the washing machine and tumble drier; we were in business!
Early the next morning and we continued to keep the washing machine and tumble drier in constant use, Alizée came by again with a basket of local products for us by way of an apology for the previous day. She also sorted out the internet in the apartment, which hitherto had only worked in certain areas. Things were getting better and better!
Much as we were enjoying the mountains we felt that it would be fun to go down into the valley. We thought about using the train as we had always tried to park the car when we arrived at a destination, however they didn't appear to run too frequently. Montreux was to be our destination and we set off without much idea of what to see and do.
As we drove through the outskirts of the city, we spotted a fenicular and looked for somewhere to park the car and investigate. We found the terminal and tried to work out how to buy a ticket from the machine and check other details. Unfortunately we didn't manage to work it out as there were too many options. Instead we found our way to the walkways alongside Lake Geneva.
It had turned out to be a lovely day despite an adverse weather forecast and we enjoyed the stroll along towards Chillon Castle. We stopped a small wooden cabin and tried not too react too much at the price of a couple of coffees and an ice cream!
Much as we were enjoying the mountains we felt that it would be fun to go down into the valley. We thought about using the train as we had always tried to park the car when we arrived at a destination, however they didn't appear to run too frequently. Montreux was to be our destination and we set off without much idea of what to see and do.
As we drove through the outskirts of the city, we spotted a fenicular and looked for somewhere to park the car and investigate. We found the terminal and tried to work out how to buy a ticket from the machine and check other details. Unfortunately we didn't manage to work it out as there were too many options. Instead we found our way to the walkways alongside Lake Geneva.
It had turned out to be a lovely day despite an adverse weather forecast and we enjoyed the stroll along towards Chillon Castle. We stopped a small wooden cabin and tried not too react too much at the price of a couple of coffees and an ice cream!
Arriving back in Champréy once more, we hit the town at night for the first time! Mind you as the threatened rain seemed to be on its way, it really amounted to a quick walk along the main road and then into a bar for a drink. For gin & tonic lovers we'd stumbled across the perfect place. The general feeling was that the thunder and lightning which had just started, could do its own thing, we were all OK! In fact the storm passed through quickly and I was able to set up my camera to capture a star trail
Our final morning in Champréy didn't disappoint as we watched the sun light up the sky with beacon rays which formed a halo. This wonderful place continued to give stunning experiences right until the last moment. A truly memorable stay in a beautiful part of the world.