10:55:11
On the train from Zurich, which for much of the journey follows alongside Lake Zurich.10:58:39
Vineyard?10:59:23
More views of Lake Zurich.11:00:30
11:19:22
Just about to change trains at Ziegelbrucke.11:22:09
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On the second train I think. Could be on a boat here!
11:50:44
On the cable car from Unterterzen up to Flumserberg Tannenboden.11:51:12
Lovely views already, although doesn't look particularly wintery down by the lake!11:51:14
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Getting a bit snowier now...12:05:46
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Properly snowy now!12:06:30
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12:10:57
Arrived in the village of Tannenboden, where we'd be staying the next two nights.12:11:00
Heading to our hotel in Tannenboden.12:24:29
12:37:14
In our hotel room, where we were able to check in very early. Erika testing the outdoor temperature.
12:53:22
Outside our hotel. It turned out to be more of a youth hostel really.13:14:08
Erika on the cable car up to Maschgenkamm, more or less the highest point of the Flumserberg resort, at about 2020m.13:14:11
The training area for beginners down below.13:18:57
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Heading up the slope.13:19:16
13:27:44
At the top now, by the Maschgenkamm panoramic restaurant.
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However, wonderful spot though it is, I was keen to go to the other more old fashioned restaurant for lunch rather than eating here.13:27:52
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So we decided to brave the short but rather steep and slippy walk along this ridge down to Maschgenlucke.13:37:30
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This felt quite adventurous at the time!13:40:57
Our goal - Maschgenlucke - in sight. It's barely a five minute walk from Maschgenkamm but we took it very slowly and carefully as we were still finding our feet with this kind of Alpine terrain!13:52:31
Inside Maschgenlucke, which had a pleasingly pubby sort of feel to it. Albeit of course very Swiss.13:57:37
My rosti with cheese. This was quite delicious.
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The three of us at lunch.13:57:50
14:21:24
The resident dog at Maschgenlucke, who came to escort us off the premises.14:22:22
Chie and Erika on the terrace at Maschgenlucke.
14:25:04
These signs would guide us on our walk from here to Panuol.14:25:15
The dog rather cutely followed us with a snowball in his mouth, and dropped it at Erika's feet, motioning for her to throw it.14:25:43
Erika playing catch with the dog.14:25:44
14:27:05
Erika throwing a snowball at me - you can see it in mid flight here.14:27:19
Here's me demonstrating there's no need for all that garish modern plastic outdoorsy clothing when in the Alps in winter - tweed is perfectly fine.14:27:19
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The dog seemed to want to follow us.14:27:35
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14:29:11
From Maschgenlucke, we followed the hiking trail to Panuol - apparently about a 45 minute walk.
14:29:54
This turned out to be a much easier walk than that first slightly hair-raising steep/slippy stretch along the ridge from Maschgenkamm to Maschgenlucke.14:30:27
The weather was glorious this afternoon, and once we got moving we really didn't need all the layers we'd put on.14:31:10
The way was very well marked with these pink and white poles, which were very reassuring.14:31:28
Looking back to Maschgenlucke - what a fantastic spot for a pub.
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Erika investigating an overhanging snowshelf.14:43:14
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The "snood" came in handy, as my neck did feel ever so slightly chilly at times, and it ended up looking a bit like a cravat.
14:44:03
Once we'd got away from the ski lifts etc there was a wonderful sense of wide open space, with hardly anyone else around.14:44:17
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Seems I took almost exactly the same picture twice!14:51:16
14:51:20
Erika looking very trendy in her snow gear.14:55:08
Erika written in the snow.14:55:13
Erika found some icicles.14:55:48
John.
14:56:11
Erika and more icicles.14:56:33
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Another of those reassuring signs.14:57:52
14:58:02
The sun was quite strong at times, and it was easy to see how people end up getting sun burn while out skiing. We had all diligently put on sun cream etc (which felt slightly ridiculous given the temperature).14:58:41
Tried again without the snood / cravat.14:59:04
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Nearing Panuol now.15:10:06
We stopped here for a bit to make snow tables.
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A little bench near Panuol.15:21:17
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15:28:38
From Panuol, we took the chair lift back up to Maschgenkamm. This was quite exciting.15:28:46
Sorry it seems in portrait mode Chie anded up getting blurred out!15:28:47
15:30:38
Maschgenlucke from the chair lift.15:30:41
15:32:39
Back at Maschgenkamm now. I had taken a similar photo when I first came to Flumserberg back in 2009.15:37:15
On the cable car from Maschgenkamm back down to Tannenboden. Although we generally had to share a car on the way up the slopes, most skiers ski back down, so we had a car to ourselves for our return journey.
15:37:29
Thus why I took more photos.15:39:15
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Looking down to the lake here. Really glorious in every direction.15:44:11
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Once back down at the bottom, we almost immediately got on another chair lift, to take us half way up to a spot called Chruz.15:56:19
Sorry Chie ended up blurred out again here!15:57:30
I was starting to feel a tiny bit of motion sickness from all these chair lifts and cable cars.15:57:35
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16:02:32
At the chair lift station for Chruz now.16:02:34
There was a short walk from here down to the restaurant at Chruz.16:02:56
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Inside the Chruz restaurant where we decided to stop for refreshments.16:18:21
The view from Chruz.16:40:58
We just managed to catch one of the last chair lifts going back down from Chruz.16:41:25
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These were really fun!16:41:34
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We headed back to the hotel after that, some views from our room.17:41:29
...as there was just a hint of a sunset.
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The sky going a bit pink over the snowy mountains.17:42:06
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Our hotel with a couple of pinkish clouds overhead.
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The sunset turning the snow on top of the mountains pink.17:46:07
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Erika in our hotel room.18:19:42
For dinner I chose a restaurant about a 10 to 15 minute walk away, up this dark lane.18:24:42
I have to admit to being slightly concerned whether the map had got it wrong, as there weren't many signs of civilisation the further we got up the road.
18:57:55
However my concerns were unfounded, and there was indeed the homely glow of a restaurant at the top of the lane.18:58:28
They made their own cheese on the premises in fact.18:58:35
19:02:48
Getting ready for the fondue.
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19:09:23
...and here it is, our very low food mileage fondue - apart, that is, from the pineapple. Which was a bit of an odd addition to an otherwise very traditional setup.19:51:27
Some home made liqeurs (a bit like schnapps perhaps?) the owner gave us to sample after dinner - the clearer one was made from Williams pears, and was quite delicious. The darker one was made from prunes.20:19:42
Walking back in the dark to our hotel.
20:20:00
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Back at our hotel, I decided we should try the honesty bar.20:38:16
Erika pretended to be the bar staff.20:45:34
Jolly picture on the front.
20:51:16
Me and Erika in the bar before we headed back to our room for bedtime.