Zinal 7/8/24

This morning, I decided not to walk straight to Zinal. Instead, I walked down for about an hour and took a bus to Grimentz, where I caught a cable car and two gondolas. The scenery was breathtaking.

The top point was Weisshorn.

I watched this man paragliding for more than half an hour while I was eating lunch. He kept rising up, catching the thermals. It was like watching art in motion—so graceful and so alive. I can't imagine anything more freeing than flying.  I used to have this recurring dream as a child that I could fly, and I would wake up sure that I knew how.  It was so easy in my dreams. I would love to have this dream again.

I went all out and had the plat du jour, which was pork loin with honey and apricots, potatoes rosti, and vegetables of the moment, which turned out to be pinto beans with marvelously cooked onions and roasted tomatoes with bread crumbs and parmesan. I sat on the deck and just enjoyed the scenery. I have enough pork left over for a nice sandwich tomorrow.

Made it to Zinal!

This is the prettiest hanging basket of petunias that I have ever seen.   I love them. 

 I plant them every year.  I like the old-fashioned ones the best because they smell good.

For those of you who get tired of churches, I must really get on your nerves.  LOL

This small church, Chapelle Saint-Barthélemy de Zinal was exceptionally pretty.

The bright stained glass windows had the name of the saint as a part of the window. I wish they all did that.  So often, I try to figure out the significance of the window. This one is Saint Theodule.

 Saint John the Baptist

I see this view all the time at home.  I miss my babies!

So many beautiful buildings.

Just wanted to see if you girls were paying attention!  This was in a hiking/skiing store window.

At about 3:00, I was craving carbs.  I didn't want chocolate or ice cream.  I wanted cookies. Does anyone remember Dutch Tiles?  I think that is what they were called.  Very almondy.  When I was in elementary school, my friend's mother used to buy them.  I loved them.  I last thought about them about 60 years ago. These were not exactly the same thing, but they hit the spot.

OMG!  One of the best meals of the trip and from this rather blasé building.

My entre (starter) was black pasta with grilled shrimp. I was spicy enough to make my lips tingle.  I thought about proposing to the chef, but I would miss Dennis.  There are not many things I put higher than food.

My main course was the tenderest chicken breast stuffed with something yummy and topped with this buttery mustard sauce.  It was accompanied by some delicious mystery greens that were highly flavored. It also had mashed potatoes, which were equally tasty.

Of course, I had to try the dessert if the food was this good. It was a molten lava cake cooked to perfection. The minute I cut into it, the decadent chocolate oozed out. And there was this mound of real whipped cream, which perfectly offset the rich chocolate. Can you believe this was my included meal?

So good night, and God bless.