Travellive 11-2018

GRILLED CHEESE AND HOT
CHOCOLATE
If you’ve ever been to the Alps before you may
have seen or heard of Raclette cheese, the most
famous of all the Swiss cheeses. This semi-hard
cheese is grilled till melting, after that, a chef
slices off portions and serves the cheese on a
platter. It may be strange to hear but, this grilled
cheese dish is very aromatic, rich and packed full
of flavor.
Traditionally, the Swiss place the cheese nearby
the oven to melt it. Raclette is still cooked in this
traditional way, though families who vacation
here often prepare it for themselves with
equipment. With an available cheese grilling set,
there’s nothing better than skiing in the freezing
mountain wilderness, gathering with family and
friends near a warm fire and savoring some
freshly made grilled cheese with salad and boiled
potatoes on the side.
During the daytime, when you stand in the
fresh white snow, it becomes clear that there
is no place on earth that has such a superb
and expansive landscape as the Alps. Sipping
a cup of hot chocolate in a restaurant situated
at an altitude over 3,000 meters will help your
frozen hands regain some warmth. Along the
way down, if you have time, try a glass of pastis
(anise liquor) at a bar amidst the snow, it’s an
unforgettable experience. As night falls, the snow
coated town dons a new look straight out of the
fairytales I had always read, but never saw, as
a child. The whole village sparkles in the dark.
When the lights come on, they blend right into
the mountainous landscape and sky, creating a
truly memorable sight.
MORE INFORMATION
Visa: Switzerland belongs
to the Schengen area which
several countries (including
the US) can travel to
without a visa. Vietnamese
citizens need to apply for a
visa to any Schengen area
country.
Transportation: You only
need to transit once to
get to Switzerland from
Vietnam on flights operated
by Singapore Airlines, Thai
Airways, Qatar Airways,
Emirates Airlines, Etihad
Airways or Turkish Airlines.
Swiss International Airlines,
the biggest international
airline in Switzerland, is one
of the highest quality airlines
in the world. After landing at
Geneva, you can transfer to
Avoriaz by train or car. You
can rent a car at the airport;
most cars are equipped
with GPRS systems to make
travel easier for tourists. If
you depart from Paris or
London, you can travel on
the TGV/SNCF train
to Villars.
Time: The ski season is
from November to March.
Currency: Euro.
Accommodation: In Villars,
there are a variety of proper
hostels and hotels. You can
choose to stay in a wooden
family sized chalet for those
with many members, or a
hotel-style apartment nearby
the ski area with available
parking for tourists. You
can also register for skiing
courses in this region.
Cuisine: Cheese Fondue
(melted cheese for dipping),
melted Raclette and Berner
platte (including beef, bacon,
smoked pork, smoked beef,
pork tongue, pork bones,
pork legs, pork tenderloin,
pork shoulder, bone
marrow) are the signature
dishes that are the most
popular in the region. You
will not want to miss out on
these delicacies!
Top ski locations: Aside
from Villars, Switzerland is
also home to many other
ski areas with stunning
landscapes. Each place has
its own beauty, deciding
which is the most attractive
depends on personal
preference. For instance,
Davos is where heads of
state and celebrities usually
ski; Saas-Fee is where the
famous song Last Christmas
by Wham was filmed;
Zermatt is home to the
celebrated Matterhorn; and
St. Moritz is the first ski
resort in Switzerland and
where the Olympic Winter
Games were hosted twice.
Suitable clothing
‣ To stay healthy during
cold weather sports, you
should bring clothing that is
durable and sufficient. For
snow and cold weather,
layers are the best option.
Layers are divided into
3 groups: the inner for
regulating moisture, the
middle for heat retention
and the outer for protection
against water, snow
and wind.
‣ Prepare additional items
such as a skiing helmet
(which is better than a
woolen hat), eyeglasses that
fit snugly around the eyes,
good heat-retaining gloves
and heat-retaining, yet
breathable, socks.
Available tours: Villars
has some available travel
agencies that offer tours
with fair prices and quality
service, feel free to pick an
of the agencies here.
The cost of a ski trip is around 2500-3500 USD depending on the length of your stay. If you are
travelling with your family or a group of friends, you can share a room with each other.
TRAVELLIVE
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