GstaadLife

On the heels of this weekend's snow comes news of early cable car openings. Glacier 3000 has been open since October 25, of course, but now some of the Saanenland lifts are opening up. From tomorrow on the Rütti and maybe even the Zückerli lifts at the bottom of the Wispile are going to start up for the season. And on Friday the opening of the Horneggli chairlift and the Läger drag-lift near the top of the Hornberg is planned. So wax up your skis or go rent them now. But take it easy as the base is still thin and you are probably hopelessly out-of-shape, at least from a skiing perspective... ski safe.

Last Saturday a woman driving from Gsteig to Gstaad lost control of her car on the snow-covered road, slid down the embankment beside the road before flying almost 20 meters through the air into the corner of a house. Somehow the woman was only slightly injured. With the beauty of the snow comes also its dangers, so be extra careful as you get used to doing slippery and icy again. And if you haven't changed over to winter tires yet, just stay home. Readers from the UK and Greece, even especially those of you with SUVs and Audis, should click here before contemplating your voyage to Gstaad for the holidays.

A couple days back an article caught our eye in our sister publication, the Anzeiger von Saanen. There was a proposal out which sought to have Swiss German spoken in primary schools in subjects such as gym and handicraft. Well, thankfully it was overruled, and high German is still (supposed) to be spoken in schools in canton Bern. But if you do want to brush up on your Swiss German and gain some brownie points with the locals, there are actually some books you can buy to teach yourself the Mundart. Click here to learn more.

From June 1 next year, Manfred Weilguni, who you might know from the Alpine Lodge, is taking over the Landhaus in Saanen. Weilguni (pictured below) has successfully run the Alpine Lodge with his refreshingly unconventional brand of Austrian charm for the past eight years, and will be replacing Anna and Jürgen Dieckmann.

His plans are to keep the Landhaus as a place where locals and guests can meet, "where locals feel local and guests feel at home". And although a wholesale renovation is planned, the Landhaus will definitely not be changed into a new-fangled gourmet temple, Weilguni assures, but will instead remain a down-home local joint with good comfort food made from fresh local products. He also plans to incorporate the Alpine Lodge synergies with the Alpinzentrum into the Landhaus offer, including free Alpinzentrum activities for Landhaus guests and free use of the Alpine Lodge swimming pool, sauna, fitness and steam bath. We wish Weilguni all the best for his new challenge and hope that he will be as successful at the Landhaus as he continues to be with the Alpine Lodge.

On Sunday November 30, the Grand Hotel Bellevue in Gstaad is set to light its 30-meter tree with 36,800 bulbs. All are invited for Glühwein and cookies at 16h00. Yes we know the Grinches amongst you will be wondering about the energy usage associated with several thousand light bulbs. A waste, especially in these chastened economic times? Not so, says the Bellevue, which claims the tree only needs 3 kilowatt per hour, which apparently is not much more than a hairdryer (hmmm, that would be a hair dryer left on all evening, every evening, full blast, for the whole winter season...). In any event, it will certainly be pretty to look at, and there is also a charity thought behind it because you can participate with the Bellevue in the charitable foundation 'Wunderlampe' and fullfill the wishes of sick and handicapped children. So, see you there for our first Glühwein of the season and the celebration of the first advent.

The High Fly event, which up until last week was in danger of having to take a break for a year due to the withdrawal of two sponsors (see Will High-Fly fly again?), has been saved. Thanks to Bettina and Christoph Ringier the event will take place as planned on February 21 2009.

The Beachvolley World Tour Gstaad has become a new member of the SwissTopSports-Events, a group which brings together the most important international sporting events in Switzerland. Also included in this group is the Allianz Suisse Open Gstaad, meaning that two out of 16 world class Swiss events are in Gstaad - not bad for a little village.

An alp without any cable cars - how peaceful. Not so around the Stammtische and the local online comments forums, as the discussion about the Saanenland cable car project, Konzentration, has become heated. No mass tourism, say some. Unthinkable to spend SFr 160 million in a global recession, say others. After a group known as 'Aktionskomitee pro Qualitätstourism' last week laid out its oppostion to the proposed overhaul and construction plans (see Committee formed to oppose Saanenland cable car plans), the Bergbahnen AG (BDG) has sought to justify its plans in yet another front page Anzeiger article. There is now also a FAQ site of the BDG (German only) and the October 17 presentations can be found here. So, when the argy-bargy shows some results we will inform you again. As with eveything here in Switzerland the people have their say, and the voting date is set for December 5. Watch this space...

Above: Seems that having a "Promenade" address is highly sought after. The street name Promenade will now stretch all the way down to the river and not end as peviously proposed at the junction with the Güterstrasse (under the railway bridge next to Wally's).

Over the past few months many people from Saanenland have taken the opportunity to have their say on what the streets of Saanenland should be called (see Saanenland to introduce house numbering). Now the first results are in and changes can only be made through November 28 with the Bauverwaltung Saanen. The latest proposals can be viewed at www.saanen.ch. If you have more suggested changes write to Bauverwaltung Saanen, 3792 Saanen, fax them on +41 33 748 92 61, or send an email to bauverwaltung@saanen.ch. If you just have a question call +41 33 748 92 60.

For all those mummies out there who don't know what to do with their children in this cold and not so playground-friendly weather - here are three suggestions:

1. The first one is tomorrow, Wednesday 19, and it is called 'Räbeliechtliumzug'. It's a turnip carving thing that kicks off at the Chinderhuus from 14h00 on followed at 17h30 by a walk through Gstaad that starts at the Kirchgemeindehaus (opposite of the Bellevue) in Gstaad. It ends with hot tea and roasted chestnuts in front of Charly's Tea-Room. For reservations call 033 744 15 52.

2. The second one is an open day at many of the region's bakeries. This Thursday November 20, the bakeries: Early Beck Le Fournil Oey-Saanen, Bäckerei Müller in Saanen, Bäckerei Dubi Gstaad, and the Bäckerei Wehren in Schönried open their doors all day long for our little ones. They can make their 'Grittibänze' (a gingerbread man like object), decorate it and then take it home. Register here for the baking fun.

3. And finally for the older ones there is also the possibility to make candles from Friday November 21 through 30. All you need is an old cloth and some time to make your own, special candle. The Frauenverein (Saanenland Women's Association) welcomes you at the Rütti school house at these times.