GstaadLife

A few days back, a couple and their two unleashed dogs were walking through a field on the Stalden Alp in the direction of the Niesen mountain, when a cow became aggressive and attacked their dogs. The cow turned on the couple, throwing the man to the ground and trampling him. It is thought the cow reacted violently to the dogs due to her instinct to protect her calf and her herd. Cows with young calves are known to fight dogs. The man was gravely injured and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. At a time when the cows are slowly starting to return to lower pastures, the agricultural department’s section for accident prevention strongly advises dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash when going through cow fields.

By Diana Oehrli

Given the recent spat of burglaries in the Bernese Oberland, home and public security has become a hot topic. Earlier this year the Gemeinde solicited opinions on the security issue in Saanenland from international guests and local residents. We had until March to complete a questionnaire on the proposed Gemeinde-wide security plan: that of creating a new central alarm center, into which a network of alarm points and surveillance cameras would be connected. Cameras would be stationed at key points around town, including parking lots, entrances to neighborhoods, and access points in and out of the valley; chalet owners would have the option to connect their security cameras to the alarm center.

Santiago Chavanne was the hero of this year’s HSBC Guyerzeller’s Polo Gold Cup in Gstaad. Voted best player of the tournament, Chavanne was also the highest goal scorer, helping Italian Stefano Marsaglia’s Team Land Rover to a well-earned 10:7 victory over Team Gstaad Palace in Sunday’s final. Organizers claim that during the four-day event as many as 10,000 spectators came to watch the games at Saanen airfield, and another 6,000 attended last Friday’s horseback parade along Gstaad’s Promenade (We think these numbers are pushing it given Gstaad polo's penchant for over-statement and the fact that there was no way to do a proper headcount).

By Andrea von Siebenthal

We all know him simply as Gildo, but he also has a last name. Last week, Ermenegildo Bocchini, first maître d'hôtel and one of the best-known faces of the Gstaad Palace, sat down with GstaadLife's Andrea von Siebenthal to talk about his years in Gstaad and the world and life in general...

Gildo, you’ve been working at the Palace for almost 40 years. What are your most treasured memories?
Indeed, it is almost a lifetime I’ve been working at the Palace! I have a lot of good memories of all those years. I’ve been truly lucky to work in this very special place that is the Palace and Gstaad. It is truly a unique experience, and I consider it a privilege to have had the opportunity to work in this ambiance and with the type of guests we have here. The close contact with them has always been very enriching for me.

The restaurant Gildo’s is named after you, and it could be said that you’re the best-known face of the Palace. Is this a great satisfaction for you?
It truly is a big satisfaction and a great proof of appreciation. But this is no reason to be vain or presumptuous. I have never worked to receive honor, since I believe that true appreciation doesn’t come from this world.

“Without passion, nothing goes.” Above, Gildo in the eponymous restaurant at the Gstaad Palace.

Here's one for those of you who have been looking to get into a prime property in Oberbort-Gstaad. Chalet Blumenwald, currently owned by the Al Assir family, will be going under the hammer at public auction on October 17 2007. The sale will take place at the Hotel Landhaus in Saanen at 14h00. According to the official auction notice, the chalet has a market value of SFr 14.1 million and the authorities have valued it at just over SFr 4.5 million...you do the math. The chalet is the one on the right above the curve going up to the Palace overlooking the village, and has a 3,000 square meter plot, including 1,107 square meters of forested land. There's a parking lot, the house goes partially subterranean, etc, etc; in other words if you ever thought about getting into Oberbort then this is as a good a chance as any. The entry deadline for the auction is September 4 2007. The property can be viewed on Wednesday September 26 2007 at 14h00, but advance notification on 033 729 85 70 is required. The usual Lex Koller rules regarding foreign ownership will apply.

Most online newspapers tend to lock up their archives behind a subscription wall, tantalizing readers to pay a couple dollars for an article by teasing them with that choice morsel of info they've been searching for. Time Magazine, however, has gone the other way and opened up its entire archive online going back to 1923. So we thought we'd have some fun and do a search for "Gstaad", and we turned up an article from Friday March 1 1963 which is well-worth a read. Here are some choice quotes:

The village's popularity may be measured in part by the declining number of hotel rooms; like a horde of men who came to dinner, winter vacationers tend to linger on forever, end up plunking down an average $70,000 for a plot of land and another $50,000 for a chalet to build on it.

The Palace Hotel, where a single with bath can be had for $50 a day, is still the town's toniest hangout; over the past several years, its guests have ranged from high royalty and heads of state...

Newest nightspot, and wildest by far, is Le Chesery, built last year for $575,000 by the Aga's Uncle Sadruddin Khan. Featuring a Cuban band imported from Montparnasse, the club encourages nightlong twisting, and unlike the rival Palace Hotel requires no necktie. The Gstaad old guard are not quite sure they approve; a group of rich young Greeks recently brawled over a girl at a Chesery party, ended by stripping her to her black lace panties.

Have a chuckle with a read of the full article by clicking here.

By Antoinette de Scheel

Surrounded by his wife and children, Sir Nicholas Nuttall died peacefully at home in London on July 29. Sir Nicholas fell in love with Gstaad at the age of 14 during his first visit when he walked the mountain paths with his stepfather. He kept coming back and stayed at Chalet von Siebenthal, which he rented for many years. His daughters Gytha, Amber, Olympia and his son, Alexander, all attended the JFK School. Every day he accompanied his son’s JFK skiing class, and his efforts earned him the Father of the Year award from ski instructor Marianne.

Above: Sir Nicholas was a collector of the most incredible ski-hats.

By Taki Theodoracopulos

I have just come back after three weeks on board my boat, sailing around Ibiza, St Tropez and Sardinia. All I can say is never again during the high season. The reason is the Russkies. Let me explain. Once upon a time we used to fear the Russians, those baddies who crushed East German, Hungarian and Czechoslovakian revolts with their tanks and their military might. We cheered for the Afghanis when they rose against them, and trembled at the Soviet SS20's pointed at our cities. That was then. But this is now. After the collapse of the so-called Evil Empire, a new Russian threat suddenly emerged. That of the oligarchs.  Mind you, it is a social menace, but still a hell of a danger. To describe them would be redundant.  We all know terrible manners when we see them, no less experience such behaviour from  up close.

On the Stalden (overlooking the Gsteig-Gstaad valley), August 1 2007. The lights are individual torches held by people who have walked up for a few hours to reach this vertiginous ledge. At the end of the queue is a huge bonfire casting its glow back down the valley. This is Gstaad life.

Photo by Evelyne Peten (click to enlarge)