Sion capital of the Valais

In early June during our weekend in Heidi’s Country, we went to the magnificent capital of the Valais, Sion.

Sion is one of the most surprising medieval towns. It is surrounded by mountains, it has hilltop castles and a shopping artery full of temptations. For visitors, a tour on the tourist train is a good idea to discover the city, it takes you to the foot of the two castles which overlook the city.

We had a lovely day and we promised to come back to try a renowned restaurant that serves local specialties and do some shopping.

I let you admire Sion through the photos I took.

To climb up Mont Valère one passes through the old town of Sion which is a succession of picturesque alleys.

The Mont Valère on which the castle stands presents an interesting multitude of flora and fauna. It also offers beautiful panoramic views.

Can be seen from afar the Tour des Chiens (in English the Dog’s Tower - what a weird name).

Views of Tourbillon Castle from the top of Mont Valère. 

Valère Castle this fortified community encloses the homes of the canons of the church. It houses the Valais History Museum, cultivated terraces, a medieval garden, a mill, a barn and a cistern... and breath-taking panoramic views over the city of Sion and the Valais and the surrounding mountains such as “Haut de Cry” (2976 m high).

The Church of Notre Dame at the summit of Mont Valère built during the 12th-13th century and elevated to the rank of minor basilica by Pope Jean Paul II in October 1987. 

Inside the Church of Notre Dame you can admire the oldest organ in the world that can still be played.... The beautiful altar will soon be open to the public...

The Valais History Museum offers a complete panorama of the life of man in the Valais, from his origins to the present day. The tour allows visitors to discover local treasures of cantonal and national importance.

Tourist train a good idea to discover the city, it takes you to the foot of the two castles that overlook the city.

The main street “Rue du Grand-Pont”, the tempting shopping artery

An address not to miss, “Oil & Whiskey” is a store for fans of gourmet, artisanal and exceptional products.

 The beautiful Town Hall...

L' Enclos de Valère the restaurant that we are hoping to try...

Cathedral Notre-Dame du Glarier inside there was a beautiful wedding ceremony.

Happy 2nd Year Blog Anniversary To Me!

There are always flowers for those who want to see them – Henri Matisse

Wild flowers from Heidi’s Country.

Lots of Love

Homemade Ice Cream without an ice cream maker - Mascarpone Ice Cream

In early March, I made one of my favourite desserts, tiramisu. As there was some leftover “preparation”, I took the opportunity to make a homemade ice cream without using an ice cream maker.

This ice cream is our favourite, very fragrant and unctuous and not too sweet: to eat and cry for more!!

I promise you that this homemade ice cream is super-fast and, above all, it’s too yummy!! After you have tried it, you will never buy industrial ice cream again!

You can enjoy it with any of these toppings: raspberry coulis, melted dark chocolate, whipped cream, chocolate chips, crushed grilled walnuts, raisins macerated in rum… or like me, with macerated strawberries in syrup.

So here we go. Ready to start?

Ingredients

500g mascarpone

4 eggs

100g sugar

1 untreated lemon (zest)

*Optional: 250g fresh strawberries

Preparation

In a bowl, mix the egg yolks with 50g of sugar until frothy; then add the mascarpone and the lemon zest.

In another bowl, beat the egg whites with the remaining 50g of sugar, then stir them gently, with a spatula, into the rest of the preparation.

Once finished, pour the preparation into a Tupperware and place the preparation in the freezer. Every 30 minutes, for 3 to 4 hours, remove the ice cream from the freezer and mix with a spoon. Thus, the ice cream remains smooth and does not form unpleasant crystals.

*Optional: wash and cut the strawberries in four, add 2 tbsps. of freshly squeezed orange juice and 1 tbsp. of sugar. Reserve in the fridge.

Et voilà, job done.

A magical moment at Lavey-les-Bains

Today I am taking you to Lavey-Les-Bains, a day devoted to pampering, relaxation, wellness and joyful moments.

Usually, we go there twice a year to enjoy the thermal baths (see post 20 September 2015).

That Saturday, we woke up early and, after a light breakfast, got in the car and headed for Lavey-Les-Bains. Upon our arrival, we were welcomed by a breath of fresh air with a promise of a peaceful day.

The setting is breath-taking, surrounded by mountains in the middle of nowhere... with the exception of the charming village of Saint-Maurice, 2 km away from the thermal baths.

In the interior there is an area dedicated to wellness: hamam, sauna, massage etc., all in a classic Arabian style decor.

Thermal Bath Kit Essentials: Large straw basket, sunscreen, after sun lotion and a traditional Fouta – very absorbent, lightweight and so stylish…

A long circuit round the various water features: jets, fountains, jacuzzis and cascades. This is absolutely great because all conditions are met: enchanting landscape, sunshine and deliciously hot water.

I am always happy to be in the water, whether in the ocean or in a pool, so I felt in my element. Honestly, who wouldn’t, amidst such fabulous scenery?

I really liked this sunscreen that I bought on 50% promotion at Coop - it smells good, spreads easily, does not leave the skin sticky, and protects very well.

Our exploration ended in the hot pool located inside and in the relaxation room.

Although we know the village of Saint-Maurice, we are always keen to visit it. If you ever happen to go to Lavey-Les-Bains, I strongly advise you to add a short visit to this charming place to your programme.

Must-see attraction: “The Grotte aux Fées (“Cave of the Fairies”) in the cliffs above Saint-Maurice, Switzerland is a natural limestone solution show cave, featuring a 77-metre (253 ft) high underground waterfall, claimed as the world's highest waterfall in a show cave.”

I love large baskets, I think they are ideal for summertime, you can put a thousand things in them. They are perfect for any occasion such as spas, swimming pools, picnics, weekends, markets, etc... I have had this one for years, I bought it at “L'échappée belle” in Carouge, Geneva. They have them in various materials and colours and with different decorations.

If I had to sum up the day in one word, I would describe it as magical.

Lots of Love

Lady with Lapdog & Other Stories by Anton Chekhov

Today, I wanted to suggest an author whom I adore. Although his stories are dramatic, he has a somewhat humorous way of writing that warms the heart: it is his great art. So my dear readers, I will be frequently posting little reviews of the short stories of Anton Chekhov. Here is the first episode.

The Chemist’s Wife by Anton Chekhov (1886)

The young wife of the chemist cannot sleep. Her husband Chernomordik snores. She gets bored and feels upset, oppressed.

In the night she hears the footsteps of two men, two officers approaching. It is the doctor and the young officer Obtiossov. Passing the chemist’s shop, they decide to go in, despite the late hour, because the chemist’s wife is to their liking.

They buy her mint lozenges and then Seltz water. They talk amiably, want wine. She drinks with them, she is cheerful and momentarily escapes her loneliness. They flatter her... It is getting late and they leave with regret.

Once in the street, Obtiossov returns to the store and rings the bell again, hoping perhaps to talk more with her or to pay her court... But it is her husband who comes to serve him. His wife was much attracted by the officer, but her husband was unaware.

And here is the chemist’s wife of this little town, who repeats with bitter tears “How unhappy I am, how unhappy I am - and no one knows”

Author: Anton Pavlovitch Chekhov was born on 17 January 1860 in Taganrog, a port of Azov in southern Russia. He was a Russian playwright and short story writer and is considered to be the greatest writer of fictional short stories ever. In 1886 he graduated in medicine and practised as a medical doctor in Moscow, whilst writing in parallel. Chekhov died of tuberculosis in July 1904, he was 44 years old.

My thoughts: This book, re-edited in 2016 by Folio Classique, contains 15 short stories, each with a common theme, namely women, indeed the book is dedicated “to the kingdom of women”. In his work one finds happy women, even more unhappy ones and also bitches, even criminals. Their common point is that they are misunderstood women, very alone, aspiring to another life and not knowing how to change their existence.

Anton Chekhov was a little misogynous, cold and taciturn and with an unparalleled sense of humour (albeit very cynical, I must confess). Chekhov tended to believe that he wrote comic stories, even when he drew tears from his readers and, thus, he was astonished to learn that great Russian writers, such as Léon Tolstoï, had read “Douchetchka” four times in the same day saying that this short story had made him more intelligent.

This is not surprising, since Anton Chekhov drew his inspiration from real life models. Moreover, some of his friends and acquaintances were angry with him for having dared to take inspiration from a part of their life.

Finally, did you know that we owe this famous aphorism to Anton Chekhov: “If you fear solitude, do not marry.” In my opinion, this gives an accurate image of Chekhov’s attitude towards women. But for my part, I love this great author: his books and short stories are a real treat.

It is for this reason that I decided to publish here, over the coming months, brief summaries of the stories I prefer. Perhaps this review has aroused you curiosity?

For my part, they go right to my heart with their mixture of romanticism and nostalgia.