January 20 - Snowy day in Arosa

We were up at 7:30 AM after listening to many Sunday church bells ringing. After breakfast, Ron and I walked to the bahnhof and took the 10:08 train to Arosa. It was foggy and once we got into the higher elevations it began snowing and it was almost blizzard-like conditions. 

We were hoping to see the horse races and steeple-chase on the frozen lake, something we have missed every time we have ever been - as we are not usually here in high season. Mike and Pat had been informed by a restaurant owner that the ice was not strong enough, and that was correct. Signs indicated that races were postponed. One can only imagine how much the hoteliers and tourism people had invested in promoting this event, so it is very sad. The races have been taking place for 90 years. St. Moritz and Arosa are the only two resorts which feature horse racing on frozen lakes.

We went on a journey down memory lane, going up to Innen Arosa and walking down just to see all the businesses that have come and gone and entire new buildings where old ones used to be.

Huge new condo complex on main street - totally different architecture - prices from 850,000  - 

4.5 million Swiss Francs

New construction (left) and old buildings - over the valley where the train  arrives

We then took the free bus up to Praetschli and walked to the Bueristubli and had our cheese raclette. You scrape the melted cheese onto your plate to eat with boiled potatoes, pickled onions, pickles, bread, etc. It is a very filling dish - enough cholesterol for a year. I also had a schluemli fluemli - a hot coffee drink with plum schnapps and schlag sahne (whipped cream). This we first experienced with Pat, Mike, Todd and Leslie, and the very name of it tripping off our tongues was enough to make us laugh.

Schuemli Fluemli

Raclette Machine

Raclette 

We walked down past Ron's bench, which was presented to him by a group of friends who convened for a week in Arosa in 1995 to celebrate Ron's 50th birthday. We had the bench rebuilt a couple years ago to insure that it would remain in the spot we like for another 15 years or so. 

I didn't get a close-up, but the back of the bench is carved "Ronald H. Blake - 50 - Jan. 12 1995".

Path down  from bench toward Wald Hotel

We then went to the Wald Hotel for a "memory drink". This was the first place Ron stayed when he was 20 years old - in an attic room with the bath "down the hall". We have been numerous times since then, and each year the hotel improves with new spa, new conference facilities, etc. An interesting thing is that the concierge and guy who drives the van, Peter, was there when Ron first visited, and we spoke with him today. He has been with the hotel 50 years, and it was 48-years ago Ron first met him.

Wald National Hotel bar/lounge

We walked down into Arosa past the Alpina Hotel where we have stayed several times. 

We went to the Hotel Wetter near the Weisshornbahn (cable car station) for a final drink, as we had almost an hour to wait for the train. The Wetter is a small 2- or 3-star hotel, and even it has made a lot of improvements. The dining area is quite nice. Of course, improvements bring changes in prices, too. I remember going in there with Pat and Mike when Ron was away - and signs advertised wine and Prosecco for 1.50 Swiss Francs. This time a wine and beer were 20.50 Swiss Francs.

The train leaving Arosa was very crowded with skiers and one car was entirely reserved. We ended up in one of the older cars. 

We exited at Chur Stadt and walked through the old city back to our hotel. We met up with Pat and Mike, who had a quiet day and got all of their luggage repacked. 

The four of us walked out and, being Sunday, not many places were open. We ended up at a small placed called Olegra, which featured Mexican specialties. None of us were very hungry and just had nachos with cheese - a little different preparation than what we would have in the US.