Ice skating on the frozen Oeschinensee

Secretly, we have resigned ourselves to Christmas in a green robe. Looking at the green mats under the bright blue sky, it’s challenging to imagine that the snow will stick for long. And there, in the middle of this Christmas whining about the lack of snow (yes, I too would prefer a white Christmas to the green version), Kandersteg comes up trumps with a sensation. For the first time in 19 years, Lake Oeschinen, located in the Schattenloch in front of the Blüemlisalp, is frozen black and open for ice skating.

Ice Age in the Bernese Oberland – Ice skating on Lake Oeschinen

Word of the news spread quickly, and the Oeschinensee gondola lift is probably currently doing THE business of the year. Former Federal Councillor Adolf Ogi, who happened to sit next to me in the gondola lift today and raved about his home village and this welcome “natural wonder” on the way to the mountain station, was correspondingly satisfied. Dutifully, he once whizzed down the slopes – a ski lift is currently still open, but the quality of the slopes leaves much to be desired. Afterward, he also changed his ski boots for ice skates and ventured onto the black ice. I hadn’t been into “the Schlöf” for ages and was quite wobbly and slightly frightened on the first few meters – the last time I experienced such a huge area of ice was when ice fishing in Canada.

It is recommended to arrive early during these days. When we made our way back to the valley around 11 a.m. after the well-deserved hot chocolate to warm up, a considerable queue formed at the bottom of the gondola. Ice skates can be rented upstairs for a fee of 8 CHF (adults). We dug out our skates from the basement and took them with us – so I don’t know what it looks like in terms of capacity. The return ticket with the gondola costs 26 CHF (with GA travelcard there is a 50% discount). Lake Oeschinen is open for ice skating until the next precipitation – presently, precipitation is forecast for the end of next week. So the Ice Age feeling at Lake Oeschinen will last for a few more days.

More information can be found here: oeschinensee.ch

Spring fever on Lake Thun

The contrast programme to Lake Oeschinen can be found around Lake Thun, among other places. Yesterday we walked in spring-like temperatures and accompanied by cheerful birdsong from Heiligenschwendi to the viewpoint at the Margelsattel. What a phenomenal panorama!

Oh you beautiful one…

In addition to walks under bright sunshine and ice skating attempts on frozen mountain lakes, I created two kinds of chocolate truffles according to the recipes of sugar, cinnamon and love as well as heart food, baked a Gugelhopf and celebrated Christmas three times – once with Brazilian food, once with turkey and once according to our family tradition with minestrone outside in the garden.

I hope your holidays were as colorful, delicious and joyful as mine!