Up to the Snow!

There must have been a message there - both Angela and Jeff gave me warm gloves and packages of hand warmers for Christmas. Jeff even gave me an oven mitt for my bandaged hand! They know only too well my propensity to cold hands. But where we're those hand warmers when I needed them most? back in Basel!! On Friday, we walked the few blocks to the train station, boarded a train for Lucern, caught a boat across Lake Lucern to the small village of Weggis, hiked a considerable way up the mountain to the aerial tramway, where we were carried seemingly straight up to the mountain community you see in the picture, called Rigi Kaltbad. We were greeted there with powder fresh snow and the kids had a wonderful time! But my hands were getting COLD. After repeatedly climbing a hill and sliding down it in every configuration, and after flopping in the snow to make snow angels, the kids were gathered up for a little walk. Meanwhile my hands were getting COLDER. We walked down a trail and encountered the most remarkable sight. A narrow passageway between two enormous boulders revealed a good sized church built in the 1800's. Inside, the altar and it's surroundings we're constructed with ornate wood carvings, and the most beautiful manger scene was featured on one side. The church was lit with candles, and Christmas music played. Certainly a moment to pause in reverence.

Back outside, I was reminded again that those wonderful hand warmers were back in my room in the O'Connor household! Now my hands are PAINFULLY COLD! I headed to the station where we were to take a train down the hill. Once we were down off the mountain, we caught the boat back to Lucern, and the train back to Basel. What a wonderful day filled with beautiful scenery and great memories. We are packing tonight (New Year's Eve) for a trip to Interlaken where we will stay two nights in a lodge. Guess what was the first thing packed? HANDWARMERS!
love, Liz