postcard from gruyères

it was
a rainy &
cold day
right before christmas
when we took
a day trip
to gruyères
with
our friend jes.

the train ride
to gruyères
was something
straight out
of how
i imagined
switzerland to look...
mountains
covered in snow
and cute wooden
chalets with
carved & painted
details.



jes had
always wanted
to see how
cheese was made.



we had
fondue,
of course.



we braved
the nasty weather
and
walked
around
the town.



we learned
that
the name
gruyères
comes from
the french
word for crane
(la grue).
more here.




then we
walked up
to the
grand château.



but
the weather
got
the best of us
so we headed home.



. . . . .

on the way
home
we stopped
briefly
in Montreux
to see the
christmas market.




we warmed up
with some
glühwein
before
the last leg
of the journey
home.

xo

joyeux noël

our first
christmas
in
switzerland.

wishing
all of you
a wonderful
holiday
from
the
3 of us.


xo

m u r t e n { m o r a t }

my dutch
friend
annemarie
came
to visit me
last week.

she wanted
to meet
the wee grub
and
take
a little vacation.

when
the weather
was good
we took
little
day trips.

last friday
we went
to the historic
medieval
town
of
murten
{morat in french}.
one of
my favorite
towns
because
it is
very small
but
incredibly
charming.

still surrounded
by its fifteenth
century walls,
it has
amazing
vistas.






annemarie & i
have
a similar style
of low key
sightseeing.
after some
walking
and
photo-taking,
it is necessary
to take
a tea & cake
break.





after
a leisurely
cup of tea
we walked out
of the cafe
into
one
of those
moments
one can never
plan...
the town
had just
set up
for the
christmas market
and
the streets
were aglow
with lights
and
the air was
sweet
with glühwein.






there
was a warmth
and
festiveness
in the air
that was
magical.
we walked
slowly from
booth to booth
and
drank it
all in.

xo

note:
photos by
both
annemarie & me.