Monday, February 8, 2016

Our Last Night at the incomparable Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz

What a great last day we've had!  The skiers were up and out early, in spite of staying up to the  wee hours in order to watch the Super Bowl! Congratulations to the Denver Broncos.  Nice way for Peyton to exit the NFL!

Gaby made some incredible strides skiing today.  She passed the "green level" of skiing and was signed off by her terrific instructor, Rolf Bachman, in her ski school book.  She is now ready for blue level!!!! Grant, meanwhile, with Zarina's help, made it to the red runs!  Way to go you two!

Bill, Mary and Mimi headed to the clinic.  One last look at Mary's leg and Bill's hematoma on his right hip, and both were cleared to fly home tomorrow!  A couple of last minute trips to the chocolate store 
by Annette and Mimi appears to have all you chocolate lovers at home covered!

Trey did the good dad deed and stayed with Gaby and Rolf on the bunny hill so he could "go pro" her! Gran was originally going to stay with her so Trey could  do some good last day snowboard runs! But Gran was scratched for a trip to the  clinic....

The ladies stayed back and packed,  spending a long time time trying to figure out how to stuff all the new purchases into our suitcases!  Wow!  I didn't think we bought that much, but everyone one of us felt like our suitcases shrank by at least two inches!  How in the world does that happen?  Swiss mountain air?.. I'm blaming it on the altitude!

Tonight the GM had invited us to a small cocktail party so we could give them our two cups!  They seem genuinely thrilled to receive them!  They had a photographer there, the same wonderful young woman who did  our family photo shoot yesterday, to commemorate the occasion!  The photo will make it into the  local press.  They gave us an amazing cocktail party with the yummiest of hors d'oeuvres.  Mimi actually made them her dinner!  The party could not have been nicer!  The staff here is exceptional and we have been treated like royalty everywhere we go!  From top to bottom you could not wish for a better experience!  This is a true 5? 6 star hotel and we've all savored every minute we've been here!  What a grand experience for our family.  More lifetime memories have been created that we will all cherish in the years to come!  This has been the ultimate winter vacation/surprise Christmas present!  Thank you to everyone who has been involved in making this winter adventure happen!  

The GM on the right and th VP of Rooms on the far left with the two small "cups" we are returning to their origin on the table!

At the cocktail party tonight!

Stefan, from the hotel and Annette.

Trey has that "Russell Crow" look going again!  Was asked today on the ski slope if he was the "Gladiator guy?"


Last night at dinner!

Grant visiting with Arlene's contact and the marketing lady....

Duffy and Grant looking very posh!


Delivered to our room today to celebrate the beginning of the Chinese New Year of the Monkey! And the white chocolate is to die for!

Gaby made friends with Donna from Doha, Qatar. Th y meet every day at the swimming pool!

Everyone loved jumping into the gorgeous warm pool and hot tub every day around 4:00 pm!

Zarina came by to say hello!

Gaby and her friend, Donna.

Our courtesy car ride  to last nights restaurant!


Bundled!

Gaby's  medals showing her ski school accomplishments!
Congrats to you Gaby on a job well done!  Mr. Rolf was really proud of you!

Gaby and Rolf!
Today's skiers!


Lunch time!

Go Gaby go!  I'm told she actually jumped small moguls today!

View at breakfast!

The Cup that Ada Norfleet won for tennis in 1914 At the Palace Hotel in St. Moritz, has returned home.....

The views will be etched in all our memories forever...























Sunday, February 7, 2016

No Horse Races, But Fun Skiing!

Even though we couldn't make the horse races today, there was a fun day of skiing!  Bill fell a couple of times and has a bit of a sore right hip!  Grant, Trey and Bill worked really hard today at ski school!  The girls stayed back and had a totally relaxing day!  This morning , we had an awesome photo shoot with a professional photographer, a gift from our friend, Arlene Feen!  We had a fun day, in very different environments!  KC was the hit of the lobby during the photo shoot because she fell asleep on the grand piano!  Everyone was stopping to ooh and awe.  

Grant met a super nice young woman who is a ski instructor here in St. Moritz.  They went out last night and had fun so he invited her for dinner this evening.  A great time was had by all.  Zarina, the ski  instructor, is going out tomorrow to help Grant.  Rolf, is going to stay and help Bill and Gaby!   Tomorrow is our last day.... So sad..... We have all had such an amazing adventure!
Zarina and Grant at dinner...




Two of our best!

Gaby at Kid's Club with Celia...


This showed up on Arlene's computer coincidentally this week.  This was taken the last time we were in Switzerland.  We took a helicopter ride to a glacier, but we were here in July...Pro Travel is using the image for marketing!

Our incomparable concierge, Guiseppe, with Annette!


Brother and sister enjoying every moment together!
 



We wore KC out during the photo shoot!  On top of the grand piano....


Sleeping Beauty?!



Guess who has the giggles?!

Love everywhere!


Beauty and the Beast?!  Just kidding Trey!

Our fantastic hotel!























Saturday, February 6, 2016

Third Day of Ski School ---BIG IMPROVEMENTS in all our skiers

Today was a very successful ski school day for everyone!  There was tremendous improvement by everyone!  Trey is using the GO Pro to video everyone, but I haven't been able to upload them to my iPad yet.  Trey is working on it for me... So stay tuned for tomorrow and I hope to have some ski videos to upload!

The girls went shopping for chocolate and other souvenirs!  We did some damage for sure!

Unfortunately, we got the bad news that they are canceling the horse races tomorrow.  It is the first time ever.😟. The lake is not frozen enough.  They have had such an extraordinarily warm January that the depth of ice is not enough to support the weight of the bleachers filled with people and the cars, trucks and horses!  They will hope to race the next two Friday's, but they need some seriously cold temperatures to be able to race!  We do have a family photo shoot tomorrow morning thanks to our terrific travel agent, Arlene Feen.  And then, since the races are canceled,☹️, everyone is skiing again.  Well, not everyone, but Trey, Grant, Bill  and Gaby will be on the slopes.  We had dinner for the second time at La Barraca--- amazing food!  Especially the ravioli!  It's handmade small raviolis and they're very light!  Just totally awesome.....if you come to St. Moritz, you have to go try the food!  But, either make a reservation well in advance or go very early!

Gaby and her new ski instructor, Matt!


Breakfast...

In the Chocolate store!  Oh my, we all did some damage,

The Palace Hotel is on the right!

Would you believe the size of this giant chinchilla teddy bear?!!!!!!

Dinner at La Barraca!







Yummy food!

She is already beginning to feel better... Yippee!