Boondock Puffins

Switzerland in November as part of work is not something we thought we’d ever experience. However, our current circumstances meant that Eliza ended up in a trip to Saas-Grund in Switzerland for a week of explorations of the local countryside, a few trips down the mountain to Visp, and a few trips up to the quaint-ish settlement of Saas-Fee that is dwarfed by the massive peaks surrounding it.

The small-ish town of Visp down the mountain has a small range of shops that are open all year, so visiting in the off season can feel a bit odd. Similarly, Saas-Fee in early November is very much shut! However, if anything that adds to its charm. It is a very small resort really (with a somewhat ominous looking zip line), where only small mini electric vehicles are allowed to zoom around – all cars are required to be left at a big car park at the start of the resort.

Similarly, at the beginning of January, Tom was sent away to Pila in Italy. How much work he really did is debatable if you look at his photographs, most of which seem to document being out and about on skis and enjoying blue skies while Eliza endured many snow storms back home in France!

Tom’s take on Pila: a nice Italian resort near Aosta, in and amongst the trees which is a nice change from the somewhat lunar landscape of Tignes. Italy took its opportunity to remind Tom of why it’s his favourite country in Europe… he summaries it in one phrase: a cappuccino costs €1 on the mountains (as opposed to the €8 this costs in the Espace Killy).

All in all, some pretty good places to have to go to for work!