After a hearty breakfast at the Sunstar Hotel we made our way to an artificial ice rink in Davos to try our hand at Bavarian curling, which is basically boules on ice. The aim to get your ice stock (a weighted disc with a handle) as close as possible to a puck on the opposite side of the rink. Being fairly challenged when it comes to aiming of any kind, I was greatly surprised after a few terrible test shots that I kinda got it down. Watch out Winter Olympics 2018! Alas, besides my best efforts, my team still came up short and admitted defeat to the boys, one of which was struggling through a hangover handicap – limoncello hauntings from the night before.
Once our Bavarian curling muscles has been sufficiently loosened, we took a quick drive to the skiing town of Klosters with our guide Martin Acola to hike from Klosters Monbiel. This hike really was the highlight of the trip for me and I can’t tell you enough how surreal it was to find myself hiking a mostly remote path through pure white ice with insanely jaw-dropping views at every turn while friendly cross-country skiers whizzed by. An experience locked and sealed in the bucket list memory bank for life.
At one stage, while stopping for an obligatory Instagram photo op, something unsettled a dusting of snow from a tree and I was surrounded by a dance of dazzling sparkles and soft snowflakes. Just so, so magical. The one-hour hike takes you to Alp Garfiun, a beautiful stone restaurant serving traditional Swiss fare. Even though the walk was fairly secluded, the restaurant was buzzing with tourists and locals, and, as it was a brilliantly sunny day, most were seated outside - there was even a group of women yodelling for their lunch. And as we left a horse-pulled sled with bells pulled up. Can you get more Swiss?
Our trip to Switzerland not only allowed us to explore ski resort towns, but also allowed us an afternoon and early evening exploring Zurich as Edelweiss Air flies directly to Zurich. Oh my gosh, everything is so First World, so clean and efficient: trains and buses running like clockwork, trendy looking cyclists at every street, an array of hip bars, restaurants and coffee shops lining the streets and, despite the chilly temperature, many people were sitting outside enjoying the last few rays of sun. If heading to Switzerland, I would highly recommend giving yourself a full day or more to explore this vibrant city.
If looking for a snow/skiing holiday, you can do no wrong with a trip to Switzerland and a visit to the magical towns of Davos and Klosters.
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