GstaadLife

This past weekend street conditions were, hmm let's put it mildly - not ideal - and the result was 27 accidents on Sunday February 22 between 8h00 and 16h00. Most of these accidents happened in the Bernese Oberland -- 17 in all -- with five injured in Zweisimmen alone. Unfortunately many cars did not heed the snow chain requirements for certain routes and got stuck. So even though it is getting towards the end of February it is very, very wintery up here so please do not think that because it is spring in your valley (or in your mind) that you can come up unprepared for snow. Here in Gstaad it is the depth of winter.

Thanks to an increase of the share capital a couple years back, the Lauenen ski lift was saved from certain bankruptcy. A large part of the Lauenen population, including a few chalet-owners, supported the ski lift. But it is still not sure to survive. Admittedly it is far off the beaten track but that is exactly what makes it special. The region is secluded, which for many means exclusive, it is simply stunning, has a wonderful 8km cross country trail, a really cute children's area, and a piste featuring a permanent time trial section. The other great benefit is Hotel Alpenland right in the center of it all (and the center of the photo above) with its supreme, sun-drenched terrace and excellent food for reasonable prices (the tomato cream soup appetizer is quite something). Granted it is not the most challenging ski area (one blue and one red slope) but that's absolutely perfect for families with kids: learning to ski for the first time, or having that first experience when you realize your kids will soon ski faster than you do.

If downhill's not your thing, then there's a beautiful walk, with or without a sledge, around the cross country plateau of the Rohr. Actually in it's own way Lauenen's got it all... except enough people to ensure its long term future. So check it out, and start by clicking below to see a few more pictures of this pearl of our region.

by Taki Theodoracopulos

Nicola Anouilh is the only son of the great French playwright Jean Anouilh - more than 70 plays, including Antigone, Becket and La Sauvage - and a close friend since Paris in the Sixties. He was of a generation just below mine, one that managed to get into Jimmy’s only during the events of May 1968, when the French bourgeoisie ran off to the south, some of their places on the banquette taken by François de Caraman, my brother-in-law, Peter Bemberg, heir to an old and vast Argentine fortune, Nicola Anouilh, and Vladimir, a Russian boy whom we rechristened Prince Touchepine, a play on words for touching one’s willy. François, with whom I was very close despite his sister having left me for the dumbest reason in the world, my infidelity, died five years ago and we all got together in Paris for the Catholic service. (I wrote about it in this space, and how drunk we all got at Chez Lipp afterwards.) Le Prince Touchepine died two years ago returning from a sexual extravaganza here in Switzerland. No one looked more innocent than Vladimir. And no one was nicer or more polite, especially to ladies. He would leave Gstaad after having seduced a maid, stop in Montreux and sleep with, say, a seamstress, go on to Lausanne where he would have a roll in the hay with a schoolteacher, then have a quickie in Geneva with a diplomat’s wife, and come back to Gstaad that evening. He literally died on the train after one such trip. Nicola and Peter are the last two left of that group of youngsters I used to invite to Jimmy’s in the good old de Gaulle days so they could taste a bit of high life and forget la vie du château. The only bad thing about them was their constant efforts to steal my girls, but even that was done with great style. (Nicola once pretended that he was a virgin and had to go with a woman before doing his military service. My girl did not fall for it, or so she told me.)

Perhaps you heard the sirens all around the village this morning. Well it was for a major fire at Chalet Papillon in the Oberbort. Apparently residents of the holiday chalet in Jomenweg in the Oberbort called firefighters around 09h40 this morning, and the call was responded to by various brigades including Gstaad, Saanen and Saanenmöser/Schönried (hence all the noise). The noise was compounded by the fact that firefighers radio communications broke down due to a technical defect, resulting in the use of a special siren call which is used in such situations. Despite the problems with comms, firefighters were able to bring the blaze quickly under control. Nevertheless the top floor apartment was completely destroyed, and the middle floor apartment suffered water and smoke damage. The ground floor escaped relatively unscathed, but the structure is now uninhabitable. The nine residents of the chalet, which included two children, were all able to get out safely, and there is no word yet on the cause of the blaze. More as we hear it...

Jomenweg, 3780 Oberbort-Gstaad (not Saanen). Map indicates street where fire took place, not the specific property.

The Menuhin Festival Gstaad has taken the important step of publicly endorsing the group behind the planned new cultural center for Gstaad-Saanenland. The working group behind the plans, Les Arts de Gstaad, has been working on this idea for some time now (see Culture center to replace festival tent?), and their proposals call for a 1,400-seat multifunctional cultural center to be built on a plot of land next to the railway station that was acquired from the MOB. As the biggest of the region's cultural events, MFG's endorsement of the proposals is important if they are to have any chance of being realized, and the planners did well to incorporate the festival's needs and wishes into the planning from the beginning. Indeed it was Sir Yehudi Menuhin himself who envisaged a giant concert hall carved out under the Eggli -- he even had his friend I.M. Pei (he of Louvre glass pyramid fame) draw up some ideas. And although the current plans are much less ambitious than Menuhin's visions, are we perhaps a step closer to his dream of a fixed and formal structure for classical music and other cultural events? The next step is for a full feasibility study to be performed, whose results are expected before the summer. Stay tuned...

Have you noticed that the antiquaire, Urs von Unger, has opened his new shop in Gstaad next to the Apple Pie Tea Room? von Unger specializes in fine antiques from all over Europe and is definitely worth a visit. But for that you better make an appointment because the showroom is only open 14-18h, Tuesdays and Sundays.

A proposed zoning change to allow for the loosening up of building codes in the middle of the Gruben neighborhood of Gstaad has spawned a flurry of concern among many residents in the area. The land, located near the level crossing on the Grubenstrasse, is zoned ‘agricultural’, meaning that no new chalets can be built; dwelling extensions are allowed only up to 30% of current livable space; and underground garages and fitness rooms are allowed under dwellings only and not under barns. The Gemeinde is in favor of rezoning 21 plots or 64,300 square meters (15.8 acres) of agricultural land in Gruben to allow for the loosening up of building laws for certain chalet owners. That has stirred up concern among some residents that this zoning change could affect farmers’ rights, lead to more development and a further loss of farmland in the future.

You might be forgiven for thinking that the arrow in the picture above is a weather vane blowing in the wind. One month it points towards Saanen, the next to Zweisimmen. Then to Saanen again... and back to Zweisimmen. When a particularly nasty breeze blows through, you might even catch the weather vane pointing at Saanenmöser. Well finally the vane has settled on.... (drum roll, please)... Saanenmöser! No, Saanen! With Zweisimmen as well! Let us explain. The administrative board of the Spital STS AG previously decided for two health centers, one in Saanen the other in Zweisimmen. Ok, so far? It was planned to have Saanen as a center for inpatient intensive care and emergencies, and maintain Zweisimmen as a center for the elderly. Basically old news, but a few more details about what actually is going to be in Saanen are emerging: next to the hospital there will be offices for doctors practices, physiotherapists, nutritionists and other medical-related services. As of now, it is still planned to have all this up and running by December 2009. The downside of the changes is a loss of 40 jobs. And now for the new news - a feasibility study is being made throughout the summer to reevaluate Saanenmöser as a new hospital location. They're kidding, right? Amazingly enough, no. It is believed that a feasibility study will provide clarity in a way that the experts have thus far been unable. Below are the links to this whole hospital saga which just seems to be going around in circles...

• Saanen hospital to remain region's primary medical center
• No new hospital in Saanenmöser
• Statement by local doctors on the proposed new hospital in Saanenmöser
• Petition against Saanenmöser hospital submitted
• 'Saanenland needs a hospital'
• Hospital re-org plan: details in January
• Reader's letter: Hospital in Saanen...
• Saanenmöser for new hospital location?

Have you had enough of this yet?

UPDATE: Saturday February 6, 18h54: Switzerland has beaten Slovakia 4:3 after penalties.

The ice-hockey match between Switzerland and Slovakia in Gstaad takes place tomorrow at 16h00. With an expected 3,000 spectators in the village it should be a good one. If you do not have your tickets yet, you better be quick because there are only a few left. You can get them at the Gstaad Saanenland Tourism or TicketCorner. But even if you have not tickets you should just head down to the Promenade and soak in the scene... or if the snow is that bad, just stay home and watch the game live on SF2.