We all suited up in our multiple layers of clothes...base layer, warm layer, thick woolen socks, snow pants, jacket, mittens (mine with hand-warmers) and finally our snowboard or ski boots...mine and Brian's were a bit snug. Brian set out to rent a helmet (the ski shop only had children's sizes yesterday) and our landlady overheard and offered him hers to borrow...which was very kind of her. So once we were ready, we then realized we had to walk about 7 minutes up the mountain to the 'gondola' (which Yetta informed us are always made in Switzerland)...ugh. The walk was brutal. My feet were hurting already even though the rental guy insisted I would want my boots to be tight, I was beginning to think this was maybe too tight.
We stopped by the ski school to pay for our lesson with Nestor and continued on to the gondola entrance. I couldn't believe just how beautiful the scenery was...the mountains simply do not look real. As we walked you could hear the clunks of 4 pairs of boots (not meant to walk so far in) and the dripping water of melting snow...the weather was very warm today. I started to break into a sweat even before we reached the mountain! We passed by the spa we would later visit because the entrance fee was included in our rail-snow-spa passes :) how convenient...
There wasn't a line or anything at the gondola station...we all boarded what looked like a giant wonk-a-vator with all our equipment.
The gondola began to sway a bit as more and more people boarded...probably 40 by the time we began our ascent above the huge rocky mountains scattered with evergreens...we just kept going up and up...I was wondering where exactly we were going to ski because the terrain within view was so rocky...apparently up and over the huge mountains!
Patrick pointed out these metal 'shelves' incorporated on the ledges of the mountain to help provide 'structure' to the snow to prevent avalanches. Interesting.
The whole ride was probably only 5 minutes but seemed an eternity as I scrutinized the engineering of the cables and wondered if we were over the recommended weight limits...?
We glided over the peak of the mountain and sailed into the station. It was a mad rush to escape and everyone thanked the operator with a quick 'Merci'.
We approached the turnstiles and waited for our access cards (which had to be strategically placed in the left front pocket) to beep and glow green to allow us through. Suddenly we were at a winter wonderland. Here was all the snow! Some of the slopes appeared to simply end right at the edge of cliffs...without warning or protective barriers...I started to wonder if maybe I should spend the day at the lodge sipping hot chocolate instead? No I couldn't...after all Yetta rented a snowboard just so we could spend the day together...
The boys took off and Yetta and I sat in the snow waiting for Nestor to arrive. Yetta helped me get my helmet and goggles on. I was sure I was quite a sight.
We watched a tall, snowboarder with an official red jacket waiting for someone...Yetta finally went over to him and sure enough it was Nestor. After quick introductions he led us over to the T bar lift, pictured here:
Ok, now this was a challenge. I am used to the comfy chairs with protective bar that sits on your lap. Wtf was this?? Nestor made me get on the right side and he rode with me on the left. Half of the bar goes between your legs and you turn forward and hold the red bar as you stand on your board and the 'lift' really just drags and pulls you to the top of the slope. My biggest problem with this was that I kept trying to sit down on it! Even though he told me multiple times not to! I kept almost knocking the both of us over! Fortunately he was strong enough to catch me and right us both back up...I still continued to sit for 4 of the 5 rides up...lol
More later...It is later...
He said to stand straight and just go straight. What did I do? I sat and fell.
I strapped myself back into my snowboard and started down with Nestor close by. He tried to show me turns...'put your weight on de front footz and look up the mountain'. Instead I put my weight on the back foot and looked directly at the snow. This went on like this for a while. I did much better when he held my hand with each turn. I definitely dominated Nestor's time during our 2 person lesson. Yetta didn't seem as fearful as I was...2 helicopters landed on the upper slopes during our lesson which was a little scary. Then Patrick found us and was without Brian...it was difficult to hear his explanation through the carving snow but when I finally did hear I was relieved that he had gone back to switch his boots...unfortunately he missed the helicopter landings but at least he wasn't in one of them!
We went up and down about 5 times in the 2 hours...I got better by the 3rd run and needed less of Nestor's assistance. I still continued to try to sit on the Tbar over and over again...I think finally by our last trip up I got it right :)
Our lesson ended at about 2pm and we went down to the cafe to meet the boys. It was so bright and sunny that people actually had chairs and almost appeared to be sunning themselves! Nestor pulled off his helmet and for the first time revealed his long hair and snowboarding sun tan. Patrick ordered a pizza which was really a very thin crust (almost like a tortilla) and lots of cheese. Nestor got a coffee with Bailey's and Yetta and I had a hot chocolate. It was delicious. Made with milk and real whipped cream- not the fake hot water chocolate I am used to from home...Brian made it back about 220 and we Ordered dessert: a nutella pizza topped with coconut. What an excellent idea! The ski place was closed so Brian actually returned in jeans...which I was actually happy about...I was definitely done for the day...my Boots were also very tight and my feet were killing me...Yetta and Patrick stayed behind and we headed back on the gondola.
We stopped home, changed into our bathing suits and headed for the spa...we bought combination tickets for the train, 2 day ski pass and access to the spa. Not bad. This was our first attempt to navigate on our own without our own personal translators...finding the entrance to the spa was the first challenge :) once inside we successfully rented towels (5 francs each) and then took the elevator as directed to 'minus 2'. We found ourselves in a co-ed locker room which took us by surprise. And no signs were in English. How to get to the pool? We wandered through, found a locker and then realized we needed to go through our respective 'dueshes' (showers) to get to the pool...back upstairs we found ourselves in paradise.
A heated pool (naturally it turns out from the hot springs) with a section that goes outside with the rocky mountains as a backdrop...this was heaven. Every few minutes the jets came on and gave bubbling massages for those lucky enough to get a seat (we had to wait our turn but it was worth the wait). The pool inside was actually warmer with an even warmer hot tub. I convinced Brian to join me but he only lasted a few minutes! We stayed about 2 hours until we had practically turned into prunes...Yetta andPatrick still did not make it back yet! Of course once we were showered they arrived!
Brian and I headed back to get started on dinner which was more difficult than we thought...we had no idea how to turn on the stovetop! Finally, after a lot of pushing of buttons and a bit of teamwork- success! We boiled potatoes, tossed a salad, cut bread in fondue worthy bite size pieces and then Yetta came back to handle the rest. We sat down to a typical Swiss dinner of cheese fondue and ' salat'...it was delicious and heavy. Yetta said black tea helps for digestion but I am not sure how successful that was! We moved to the couch, talked and drank some wine (Patrick turned his nose up to the local white wine) and by 930 we decided to call it a night...
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Location:Dorfstrasse,Leukerbad,Switzerland
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