Zermatt in September 2019: Part 2

After lunch in the hamlet of Findeln,

we set off down the steep path back to Zermatt.

I loved these dark coloured chalets against the blue of the sky.

Looking back and noticing snow on the mountains in the background.

The path is very steep in parts, like this one here down to the next hamlet.

I was wearing appropriate mountains boots,

but walking poles would have been a great help too,

especially where there were rocks and tree roots on the path.

The striking Matterhorn mountain appears to us many times during our way down.

Another mountain range and chalets dotted on the slopes.

The cows were mostly lying down at this point of our journey.

There were no enclosures to keep them in one pasture

and I wondered why.

I went a bit closer and then zoomed in even further to capture the cow bell.

The narrow paths downwards and plenty of rocks, 

so it's best to look where we place our feet.

A bit further down on the same path. 

The lower one with the barrier is for hikers

and the one above had a signpost saying it was for mountain bikes!

There were sometimes small cabins along the way

and benches to rest awhile and drink some water.

Best to choose a bench in the shade as it was a rather hot day.

The shady parts were extremely welcome!

As we neared the town of Zermatt, there were many more chalets.

I was happy to catch these two grey horses and a carriage.

No ordinary cars are allowed in Zermatt and all local vehicules are electric.

Some of the bigger hotels have horses and carriages to transport visitors.

It had taken us much longer than expected to hike down to the town again.

It took us over three hours.

It's true that I stopped often to take photos

and once or twice we left the beaten track!

This house on the top of a rock always fascinates me.

One day I must go up there to see what it's like.

On our last morning, I got dressed early and went outside just after 6 am.

I wanted to catch the first rays of sun as they hit the peak of the Matterhorn.

Time: 6:48 a.m.

The first sun illuminates the summit.

Time: 7:01 a.m.

The mountain is fully illuminated, but not yet the surrounding area.

Time: 7:12 a.m.

On the other side of the sky a tree silhouette against the purple and pink

looks equally lovely. 

The time here is 6:41 a.m.

Ten minutes later, the sky looks completely different.

A cut-out silhouette of the mountains at sunrise

The last shot of this iconic mountain, showing the surrounding areas.

Going back to the train station with our suitcases and enjoying the flower laden window boxes

and the flag from the Canton of Valais.

A lovely photographic souvenir of these beautiful days spent in the mountains.

Click on the link below if you would like to see Part 1 of this stay

Zermatt in September 2019: Part 1

Let's Walk Along the Lake

On a hot day, there's nothing like a walk by the lake to make me feel cool again.

This is the port in the town of Morges.

The reflections and colours of the water make everything feel so harmonious.

A little border of pebbly beach and watching fluffy clouds collect over the mountain summits.

I love walking here where the river joins the lake.

The chestnut trees were in full bloom and looked so lovely against the sky.

The overhanging branches of a tree bring in some fresh green into the scene

 creating my favourite colour combination of blue and green together!

So glad to take you with me down to the lake!

Do you have a favourite colour combination?

Spring Snow

I know that the first day of spring isn't quite here,

it's still two days' away.

That didn't stop fresh snow from falling in the mountains!

All the mountain scenes in this posting are thanks to a lovely early birthday treat

from my son who came over from Canada to visit his family and friends.

We spent a night in a beautiful hotel with a spa.

The Lavey Spa Centre is situated in the Rhône Valley surrounded by mountains.

Here are some of the warm thermal water pools.

The water from the baths comes from the hottest spring of Switzerland

(33° - 36°C).

It is caught in great depth, up to 600 metres, near the baths.

If you look up into a small snowy plateau on the mountain side,

you can see a little hamlet and the steeple of a church.

On the day of our arrival, we both had a massage at the spa centre

and then enjoyed swimming in the pools as it was snowing on our heads!

I like the Hammam very much which is steamy and perfumed with essential oils

which clears the lungs and respiratory system.

The centre under a deep blue sky at night.

I went here some years' ago with a girl friend on the longest day of the year

and we swam under the stars until midnight!

This lovely golden scene was taken from my hotel room at the spa.

This was the first sun of the morning, around 6.30 am which illuminated the peaks

in a golden light.

The new day brought us bright blue skies which contrasted so beautifully with the fresh snow.

The sun hadn't yet reached the foreground.

The branches are still bare, but tiny buds are swelling and getting ready

to burst open at that time when the temperatures rise over a certain amount of time.

This is the lovely Georgia O'Keeffe picture in my hotel room.

This metal statue is at the entrance to the Spa Centre.

I sat in the waiting area drinking herbal teas and waiting to be called.

I had chosen an Alpine salt scrub followed by a back massage done with shells

and heated oil!

We did several lovely walks in the hotel's park and beyond until we reached a waterfall.

This is a fun reflection I took in one of the metal deforming structures.

You can see part of the hotel in the background.

The water from a waterfall travels down to the Rhône River below.

The level of the water is very low at this time of the year.

We have had little rain and the snow has not yet melted.

In the late spring and early summer, you can hear the water

rushing noisily over the rocks.

A last look at this beautiful mountain range covered in fresh snow.

What a lovely early birthday treat and some quality time spent with my son.

A visit to remember!

I came here with my daughter for the day last autumn,

to celebrate her birthday!

January Wanderings

Ile de Peilz

is a very small island, originally a simple rock which was reinforced

in 1797 with a little wall to make it a bit taller.

The tree is a big plane tree.

It looks very impressive in the summer with all the leaves which hide the tiny island.

This is the far east end of the Léman Lake

and the adjacent town is called Villeneuve.

Mountains and port in Villeneuve.

I'd taken a train to get here with a friend.

On the way back to Lausanne we stopped in another lakeside town of Vevey.

The cloud formations were beautiful

The snowy peak to the left is a mountain called Dent de Morcles.

It overlooks the Rhone Valley and is 2.969 metres high (9.744 feet).

A closer view which includes a strip of lake.

Another lovely mountain view on the Dent de Jaman on the left

and the Rochers de Naye range on the right.

The views from up there are spectacular.

I loved the structure of this almost bare tree against the blue of the sky.

Quite a few autumn leaves are still clinging to the branches.

Another day and a new train ride.

This sleek and very long train was on its way to Milan in Italy.

My smaller train came a little later.

It was a cold wait on the Lausanne station platform!

This is the lakeside in the small town of Cully.

There was a misty, mysterious ambience at the start of my walk

with just a few sparkles on the lake from a pale, hazy sun.

There were silvery tones in the lake

and I like how this scene tells a story.

We can even invent a story of our own!

I had to include this capture because we can see how the lighting changed

an hour later when I was walking back towards the station again.

The pale sun had pierced a layer of mist and the sky was turning blue which reflected in the water.

Back home again

and here is the last bloom on my Amaryllis.

The petals through a macro lens are so dainty and lovely.

After lunch, a small espresso coffee and a square of very dark chocolate.

The embroidered cloth is a lovely memento from three days spent in the mountains in Zermatt.

You can see them below if you would like to:

A Weekend in Zermatt

It's half-past pink!

There is always something new on my crochet hook.

This is my latest creation.

I received this clock from a very kind blogging friend, Astri from

Apple Blossom Dreams

It was time to refresh the flowers with new colours and I really enjoyed

crocheting the tiny roses in bright and cheerful colours.

This clock is on the wall in my bedroom.

Colour is so important during the cold winter months, don't you think?

I hope that you are finding lovely ways to bring colour into your life.