Switzerland

On Friday, December 21, Gigi and I left Paris on the 8:00 A.M. TGV for Lausanne. The trip was delightful as we went through a fairy land landscape. There had been frost on the tress and they sparkled like diamonds in the early morning sun.

We arrived in Lausanne at noon and were quickly on the local train to Vevey. Charles-André met us at the train station and it was home for lunch with C-A and Claire-Lyse.

After lunch Gigi and I walked down to Vevey and then to Les Phares to visit Maman (96). She was her sprightly self and insisted on being taken out for a walk - we complied! Following hte walk we sat around until dinner time. It was the Christmas Dinner and each resident could have two guests - Gigi and I were the guests! The menu was delicious and Maman was ravenous. When it was all over C-A came to get us and we enjoyed the rest of the evening at home.

Saturday, Dec. 22, we went to the Market and saw the Christmas Serenader's, including Claire-Lyse on guitar, singing in the Market. We then took the train to Leuk and the bus to Leukerbad. The views are stunning. We were joined by Stef, Eric and Sam, and Marc. Also there were Chantal and Carlos and the 4 kids, and Francoise and Edouard. We were 14 for dinner on Saturday and once a day during the week.

I came down with and infection and spent most of the week in the apartment looking out the window while the others went skiing, snow-boarding, walking, and swimming in one of the thermal baths. Everyone had a wonderful time and a really different Christmas.