McLays in Europe

Arrival at Sierre in Switzerland was again by train and arrived after dark. We were met by two ladies ,one our host Rosy and the other Josie, a cousin who came along to help interpret! We purchased some food for dinner and then were driven up the mountainside to Crans Montana. Crans Montana was half way up the mountain and a place well known for its international golf course and in the snow season skying. It was host to the winter olympics in the 90's.
The Chalet was incredible! Four levels, Rosy & Josie on the ground level and us above. All centrally heated.

The next morning reminded Ian of how he first saw Uluru. On a school excursion the bus broke down and arriving late was amazed to step out the next morning and there was the magnificant rock! We stepped out the next morning onto our balcony and there was the Swiss Alps, rising up on the left and right to around 4,500metres. We had to pinch ourselves to know we were really here.

The ladies, both Italian, expected us up by 10am and from there we went with them and their four little dogs up a mountain for a walk. Up and up we went to around 2000 meters and leaving the car walked along a winding track for half an hour or so. It was simply stunning scenery. Sunny with snow covered peaks rising up through the sky opposite us. 'The Materhorn!' Rosy points.

Josie had a long and sucessful career in Pan American airlines, has travelled the world and speaks english fluently. Ian is still chilled by the failed war escape stories she had told Ian as they walked along those tracks. But she is 70ish and her hip was playing up and eventually Rosy notioned to wait at rest point and she returned to the car with the dogs. When Rosy finally appeared in her car there was a long discussion between the ladies in italian. Then Josie turns to us and says 'we have lost two dogs".
We jumped in the car and return to the start point of the walk and eventually one dog greets us from the forrest. Then the phone rings, long conversation in French and a women has located the other dog and rung the number on his collar. Off again only to be stopped by some very official men who were shutting the mountain down to allow a car race to come up in 15 minutes. We raced around, found the woman caller, collected the dog and just got down in time for them to close the mountain. One racing official had his stopwatch on us. If we had not got out in time we would have had to wait on the mountain for 5 hours! This deserved an afternoon nap and then we shouted the two lovely ladies to dinner at a local restuarant to celebrate a great day in a fantastic place.

Next day we walked around Crans Montana, did some shopping and posted the kids in Australia their Xmas gifts to lighten our load. Then on returned Josie calls out Mrs Clay, come to dinner; Italian Style. So we shared some local vino and a marvellous cooked meal by two Italian chefs. Here we learned that Rosie,who is still hesitant on coming to Australia next year, speaks Italian & French and her husband several more, probably because of his practice as a corporate lawyer. Josie's husband is a retired Hotel Chain manager. Another worthwhile home link exchange with some great people that also gave us some real insights into Europe.