We woke and cast back the curtain to the sight of the Matterhorn in all it's magical glory. Quick take the photo as in these parts at over 4000 m a.s.l. the cloud is the photographers enemy. Applied a reflective and relaxed attitude this morning with leisure in the lodge.

The ski fields abound all over, the village just feels right and the Matterhorn looms large watching over . What would it be like in the snow season? Think it would beat Buffalo and that's no bull ah!

Choices, we can take the shuttle up within the mountains to 2500 m with an outside temperature of 8 degrees C or take the cog and wheel train up to 3500 m but the temp sits at zero. Our mail from the wait person at the breaking of the fast was that the station @ 2500 was enough and would be suitable as the other is too high and cold plus way expensive (80 CHF) compared to 24CHF, we take his advice. On reflection where we went was, to me, a little underwhelming and wish we have taken on the greater height and the frost bite but will not die in the ditch over this. The views of the Matterhorn and glaciers hard to place into words.

Spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around Zermatt, in the main drag the mix of retail is so varied, they cater for our type, the rich and famous and you people back at the grind stone, the not so rich and not so famous! The more time one spends among the swiss the more understanding and respect you have for them. They are very independent and resourceful, show me a country that within the junk (souvenir) shops all items are made in that country. I would suggest only in Switzerland, the quality on the normal junk that you buy "on the wallaby" is very average but When they say swiss made it really does represent quality - but.

But what - a few words, this is by far the most expensive country we gave been, not just a little but in comparison way over the top . The price for maintaining their identity and economy comes at a high price but if one can afford to stay in the country, stay as long as you can because they have not sold the farm and I have such respect for them. If you want to do a little more home work spend some time peeling back the philosophy of the swiss and the way they go about things, doubt the Chinese have much to see and do here.

The village is all over the place so getting lost is the way to explore the place, come across the old church and cemetery which is in the middle of the village. They plant annuals in all the grave sites which gives the area a very attractive and nice feel. There is an area where the people the have died trying to climb Matterhorn are placed as well.

Enough on the deep and meaningful, back to the lodge for a spot of swimming and sparring, down in said area I am sure I heard some Japanese tourists muse as I broke the water - Thorpie, it's him. Now for some unfortunate news, as you know the Don made the blocks for the final of the butterfly but the news is that he was not in the placings, seems the rehab on the bung shoulder has not gone to plan and he broke down half way into the all important final.

Out to a swiss favourite for diner, fondue which sure is one way of slowing down what one eats, stick the item of choice on a small sword and then poach until suitable, good fun and filling in the end. The end to our mountain escape in nigh, the change in climate from very hot to very cool took us a little off guard but what a fantastic place, the only place for my après ski activities from now on.