Our journey through Switzerland continued on the World Heritage listed Glacier Express train line. We spent the entire day aboard enjoying the hospitality of the on train dining and hospitality crew. Our hopes of travelling a snow filled countryside were sadly not to be fulfilled. Switzerland, although very cold, has been too dry in the lower regions for snow so far this year. The locals we have spoken to have noticed that the snow levels are not as low as the years progress. This is, of course, affecting the tourist dollar of the country as there is not so much opportunity for skiing as there used to be. They have no doubt that this is a direct result of climate change.
Anyway, it was beautiful countryside with massive glacial peaks towering above beautiful frosty valleys filled with typical Swiss style villages...picture postcard views at every turn.
At the end of, what was really a comfortable and relaxed day we were delivered to our Christmas town of Brig. After a brief orientation tour of this pretty place we made our hotel in time for a short relax and a freshen up in time for Christmas Eve dinner. It was lovely to be able to dress up and "layer down" a little as we were staying in house for dinner.
So lovely to be able to make contact with family after dinner as they were waking up in Australia on Christmas morning.
Sadly we didn't experience a white Christmas with snow falling. We did, however, spend our Christmas day in freshly fallen snow in the mountains above Zermatt. After climbing to higher tan 3100 metres we savoured our high moment in the cold with a cup of tea from our thermos and Switzerland's favourite chocolate, the Toblerone...it's the little things :) Fondue and sausage completed our day's Swiss experience in Zermatt.
Our return to Brig saw us with enough time to freshen up before our group met for a delicious Christmas dinner in a local restaurant.
Boxing Day dawned and we packed up our suitcases for another early departure.
