Snowprise

Today was our first full day in Gryon, Switzerland.  Most people here speak French but it hasn't been anything an impromptu game of sherades can't cure. Last night we checked into Chalet Martin and made our way to the very overpriced grocery store just down the hill. We selected a frozen Hawaiian pizza  and cooked it in the oven of the community kitchen in the hostel-styled chalet in which we are staying--what a fine hostel it is.  Complete with authentic wooden roofing, siding, flooring, and spectacular views of the Swiss alps I feel certain we're being spoiled by our Swiss mountain retreat, aside from the dorm styled bathrooms and showers.  Even so, the toilets are separate from the sinks and the sinks are separate from the showers....we haven't had to wait our turn for anything.  Our room is simple with one chair, a bed side table with drawers, a chest of drawers, a double bed,  and plenty of hooks to hang things.  To top it all, it comes with a beautifully Swiss-scaped view of the alps.  Which almost makes you cold peering out but the furnace keeps the room surprisingly cozy. 

Last night after our pizza we were fitted for our  skis and then retired quickly to a jet lagged inspired slumber on a matress that is suitably comfortable for the price of a hostel.  With every intention of waking up and skiing, this morning was full of fog and snow which made a warm bed condusive for more sleeping and delayed skiing.  When we woke up, we took the cog rail into the next village to explore. There, we found a much better grocery store, a 4 frommage pizza, and toilets which have stall doors  that go all the way from the ceiling to the floor...the utmost in privacy!!! We forgoed the skiing today to take in the views, the chocolate, and the Swiss villages that needed exploring. 

We went back to the chalet and while Grayson took a cat nap I tried to post to the blog but there was an issue with the wifi connection.  I let bygones be bygones and g and I began cooking dinner. I boiled elbow macoronni (without the elbow), and dressed it with a half homemade sauce while Grayson peeled two sweet potatos to cut and bake into french fries.  After slicing a few pieces of baguette from the community baguette basket, we poured a cup of wine and sat down to a nice meal where we became better aquainted with some of the other guests staying here....to which another blog can be completely devoted. Somehow, with very little effort, we seemed to rope TEN people from all over the world into a rousing game of international boggle.  "My uncle is a diagnol" will surely be a quote for the books. Very good times.  

Bed awaits.  Skiing awaits. Christmas day awaits. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.