Leysin Re-visited

Leysin overlooking Lake Geneva (Lausanne obscured by cloud)

Today, Giles and I, left to our own devices while our wives spent the day breaking Swiss law by working, headed up to the alpine forests and fresh snow above Leysin. Located about an hour's drive east of Lausanne via a windy mountain drive, the sleepy village of Leysin (http://www.leysin.ch/en/index.cfm) is well worth the drive. There are plenty of cafes and hotels and the Tourist Information stop above the indoor heated swimming pool is open seven days a week.

Most of the walking trails are easily accessed from the village centre or a short drive there from. And they are graded and distanced to suit all needs, from advanced lounge lizard to extreme sport fringe lunatic. Giles and I stuck to the we'll eat first, then walk uphill 'til we've had enough then try and follow our trail back to where we left the car. And it worked pretty well for us.

And it worked a treat. We walked through snow about fifteen centimetres deep with a soft crust, much like one you would find on a Dominos thin and crispy pizza. At times the sun came out and dazzled us, forcing the removal of middle layers, then the clouds would take over requiring the removed layers to go back on. But all the while we walked and talked amongst ourselves and with random strangers from the local retirement village who overtook us a little bit too frequently for my liking, but they were condescending enough for us to be polite back.

Giles watches ...

While I ...

practice ...

my ...

goal ...

kicking in ...

the snow.

Yep. Straight between the pine trees.

But despite there being no hint of the snow that is forecast to arrive by Thursday, the air was fresh and the scenery only like that of the beauty that Switzerland can deliver in abundance at every glance. The smell of fresh snow was missing but each step we took released a fragrance that was faintly audible beneath the silence of white.