Skiing in Arosa (1/22-23/1983)

Saturday, January 22, 1983

Fr Dr Jo D (an American surgeon) was to pick up Marsha C and me between 9:00 and 9:30, but didn’t arrive until 10:00. We didn’t end up leaving until 10:30 for our ski weekend. We drove out to Lyss and joined the Autobahn towards Bern, then towards Zürich. It was a clear day and we had seen the Alps from Biel. In Zürich, Dr D got 3/4 of a tank of gas for 20 CHF/$10. We rejoined heavy traffic leaving the city, but it opened up. Near Walensee there was a sign announcing a traffic jam due to construction. The line of cars stopped, and eventually started up again. We had to swerve around a man fetching what looked like a tire iron from the road. His car was ahead in the tunnel entrance, and he may have been the cause of the Stau/congestion, because there was no construction today. We had wanted to stop at Mövenpick, but there were no parking spaces. Stopped at the restaurant of the Hotel Mühle in Unterterzen where Marsha and Fr Dr D got Hungarian Goulasch with beer, and I had ham and cheese toast with Schweppes. After Fr Dr D had coffee, we continued on our way approaching the Graubunden Alps. We drove through Chur where Marsha and I saw many familiar sights. There was more and more snow on the ground. We began climbing up to Arosa on a very narrow (due to high snowbanks) and winding road. Someone actually passed us on one stretch. The view on the passenger side was quite spectacular, looking straight down in a deep gulley. There was so many expanses of untouched snow! It was picturesque with snow stuck on the branches of trees and piled on the roofs of little barns. We pulled into Arosa about 15:30 with crowds or people everywhere on the snow-covered streets. Most were carrying skis, and some were even skiing around. We went to the Merkur Hotel where Fr Dr D had made reservations for her and Marsha who would be staying for a week. The problem was that they were given a room with one double bed with no room for a cot. It was agreed I could sleep in a sleeping bag on the floor. We steeled in the small room with a balcony overlooking the snow-covered Untersee with a mountain backdrop. Just above the lake was the church. After Fr Dr D parked the car, we went to walk around town. First stopped at the COOP to get cheeses, bottles of wine, and orange juice. Continued window shopping along the street to the train station where I got timetables. Across the street was Untersee with cross country ski tracks circling around it on it. There was also an inner track, and outside was a beaten snow track for horse racing!

We returned to the room at 18:00 for cheese and crackers, and an hour later we went to the hotel dining room for dinner, part of the half-pension rate. A table in the alcove near the entrance of the Chamanna Grill Room was set aside for Room 203/3 persons. At two places were beige napkins with numbered envelopes, and at my place was a regular napkin! We started with a tomato soup, followed by a eggs bishop’s style. It was a poached egg on a pea soup-like paste in a pastry shell. Our dinner was brought out on a platter and served on warmed plates. We had Kalbfleisch/veal à la Fredy (a wonderful sauce of oil/butter and herbs), Spätzli, and Vichy carrots (lightly glazed). When it appeared we were finished, the plates were taken away and we were given seconds! Fr Dr D ordered a bottle of local Zigerzer wine, a “drinkable” red. For dessert I had a fruit salad and the other two had a Vacherin glacé/raspberry ice cream cake. During dinner, “Leo” started playing the piano; mostly show tunes with which Marsha and Fr Dr D were very familiar. After dinner we went upstairs and I was given a key to a single room on the street. I moved my things and wished Fr Dr D goodnight. Marsha and I went for a walk. The stars were out with a half moon and the mountains around us were discernable. We walked through Inner-Arosa and came to a skiing bowl, above which was situated a lighted church on the hillside. On the mountain top above, we could see lights. Kids were sledding on the street and the occasional car (usually a taxi) zoomed by. We threw some snowballs and tasted the snow. We climbed up a back road past the parking garage where Fr Dr D had parked; she had a key to enter the underground garage and the lights were motion-activated. We ate some icicles hanging from the garage eave and passed some drunken men who were pointing out the schönsten Mädchen/pretty girls. We made our way to the main street and to the Kursaal/Casino. We entered the lobby to see a painting exhibit of Arosa scenes done mostly in blue and white. from afar they looked like photographs. Returned to the hotel about 21:30. As I was reading a brochure, my eyes kept closing, so I went to sleep and slept really well.

Sunday, January 23, 1983

I woke up at 5:00 because I went to sleep so early. But didn’t get up until 8:00. Marsha C came to my room about 8:45 to say Dr Jo D was sick. Marsha had brought her things to my room to change. We went to breakfast at 9:30 and the dining room was lighted up by the sun shining through the picture windows. We had a great view of the mountains. I ordered hot chocolate and Marsha had tea. There was a buffet of cheeses, “luncheon” meats, jellies and butter, slices of several types of bread, and we got orange juice. When we sat back down at the table, I was given three packets of hot chocolate mix and Marsha had a pot of tea. After breakfast, Marsha got a Coca-Cola to take to Fr Dr D. I went to check out for 72 CHF/$36. Barry Manilow’s cuter “brother” was also checking out! Marsha was disappointed to miss him!

Hotel Merkur bill

Marsha and I went for a walk back up to Inner Arosa, taking photos along the way.

View from Hotel Merkur

Poststrasse

We saw several horse-drawn sleighs that provided fur blankets, and buses with skis piled into a rear rack. Passed neat chalets and the ice rink with a few skaters below the ski school. There were people skiing on the mountains beyond, people taking all sorts of ski lifts, and people hiking to the church. An exciting atmosphere and wonderful weather!

Sleigh transportation

View past Inner Arosa

Ski bus

Ice skating with skiing in the background

Ice skating arena

Snow-covered chalet

We returned to the hotel and soon left again to catch a bus to Maran. We had just missed one, and then I let a green bus go by thinking it went to Chur. Finally we boarded an orange bus to Maran, each paying 2 CHF/$1.

Arosa bus tickets

The bus went down into town, around the Obersee, past the ice hall, and into the suburbs on the hillside. Lots of neat chalets. We passed a golf course and arrived in Maran (a hotel, restaurant, ice rink and a couple houses!). We watched the ice skaters for a while, then went to look for a place to rent cross country skis. I asked at the hotel, and we were directed back to the golf course (of course!). We found the rental place and a sign said they were open from 8-12 and 13-17. It was 12:05! The door was unlocked, so we went in anyway and someone came to help us. We tried on a pair of cross country ski shoes, and paid 16 CHF/$8 for renting a set. Went upstairs to a locker room to leave our boots, and back downstairs we were given ski and poles. The guy asked if we were beginners; yes! In fact our very first time. The guy was good-natured and told us to enjoy ourselves!

We walked out to the cross country ski tracks of the golf course, and stood to one side to put on the skis. We slipped in the toes of the shoes so that the three nails hooked into the holes, and then flipped a lever to hold down the toe. We tried moving forward and found we could move! Suddenly we were confronted with a hill of untracked snow, so we took off our skis and walked down. We stepped into the track and set off. The first little incline was fun. We slid our skis and walk-glided along. We watched a few others and tried to imitate their movements. We followed the track to the other side of a large open area and headed back. We were getting really hot! I discovered that if I pressed my skis slightly outward against the edges of the track, I could brake on downhills. I did that coming to a crowd of people standing at a board. We undid our skis and Marsha took our coats into the locker room, and I checked out the board that outlined several ski runs. When Marsha came back, we decided to take a day course around the golf course that was 2 km/1.2 miles long. We set off down a hill and I tried to slow and turn from one track onto another and sorted ended up snowplowing with one ski out of the track. Marsha came speeding by and decided the quickest way to stop was to fall! We turned onto the day course with gentle ups and downs, and curves.

Marsha on cross country skis

Cross country ski trail

Tamiko on cross country skis (MAC)

Marsha on the go!

The trail took us through pine woods with snow on the branches, the sun glistening through the trees, and the snow-covered mountains beyond. Gorgeous!

Skiing into the woods

Only a few other people were on our run. We came out on a crest overlooking a valley.

View towards the mountains

Tamiko skiing sans jacket

Marsha makes obeisance to the view

We continued down and around. It was hard to maneuver around the sharper curves. We finished the day run, and went to the practice run one more time before returning our rental skis. It was 14:30 when we dropped off the skis and another friendly guy at the shop asked how it was. We answered with an enthusiastic “sehr gut” and he grinned. We went upstairs to change into our boots and get our coats. Marsha checked into weekly rental rates (55 CHF/$27.50 for 5 days) and lessons (65 CHF/$32.50 for 2 hrs/day for 5 days). We hoped to find a seat at the restaurant for Marsha to get a beer, but it was too crowded. We walked back to Arosa along the Squirrel Path. No squirrels, but it was like a fairy tale land with snow and icicles on the evergreen branches and clean white snow everywhere. The trail was well-maintained in the winter.

Icicles on the tree

View from Squirrel Path

We passed under the Weisshorn cable car and crossed the ski trail coming down the mountain.

Luftseilbahn/Aerial Cableway Arosa-Weisshorn (LAW)

Heard many different languages. Returned to the hotel and Fr Dr D was up and feeling better. I left about 15:40 as Marsha and Fr Dr D went to check ski packages at the Savoy Hotel, since they were staying the whole week, and to go swimming.
I went to the train station and planned to buy a half-price ticket, but saw the crowd rushing towards the approaching train. So I ran straight to the train and managed to get a seat. I used a day pass.

Train Day Pass

The train left at 16:03. I sat with three old ladies who asked me something that I couldn’t understand. One started speaking in English, and they grilled me as what I was doing in Arosa, where I was from, where was I going, how long have I been in Switzerland. Finally they left me alone to fall asleep. We arrived late in Chur at 17:15 and everyone rushed to the two trains going to Zürich. I got on the 17:16 local train and had to stand in the vestibule. I was kept amused by a group of guys with a hat, dice, and a great sense of humor. They held the doors open for old ladies. Arrived in Zürich at 19:00 and ran to catch the 19:04 to Biel. Boarded the last car and walked the length of the train through first class and the baggage car, before finding an empty seat in second class. Got to Biel about 20:30.

Tuesday, January 25, 1983

After work I went downtown to the Clothing exchange to look for a pair of used ski boots. Bought a pair of blue Heierling (who ever heard of them?!) ski boots for 35 CHF/$17.50. Most of the boots sold for 39-45 CHF, with a couple at 30-35 CHF. The used skis were selling for 90-190 CHF, and I thought I could get as good a deal at a ski shop.

Wednesday, January 26, 1983

I went to the Ski & Velo Center and bought a pair of used skis for 140 CHF/$70. Kniessel 170 cm/67" skis. They will adjust the bindings and check to see if the skis need any other work.