So, with our 1st wedding anniversary on 21st December, my wife Natalie and I, planned to hit the slopes and spend that special day in the most romantic ski resort in Europe, Zermatt.
After a very early start on Wednesday 18th Dec, we flew out from LHR T5, arriving in Geneva around 9am, local time. A transfer by train along Lake Geneva and then a change at Visp onto a mountain train that took us gradually into the mountains. Slowly the peaks raised above us and we found ourselves looking at the Matterhorn; Probably the most aesthetically beautiful looking mountain in the world.
We arrive in Zermatt and take an electric taxi to our apartment; All the vehicles are electric in Zermatt, no motorised vehicles are allowed, which is something you really notice, it's quieter with fresh air, making this beautiful mountain town so peaceful and calm (most of the time!).
We arrive at the apartment greeted with nearly a 150 steps!! But remember with elevation you get view and the view over Zermatt was simply breathtaking, as you'll see in the pictures below.
We headed into town, sorted skis and lift passes, got a food shop in and then headed back to the apartment. We lit the fire and just relaxed and took in the beautiful surroundings.
An early alarm and first lift into the mountains, we were a couple of the first people on the slopes - awesome! Skiing when it's quiet, is just the best, having the slopes to yourself, nothing quite beats it apart from off piste, but the conditions and lack of snowfall meant that was not an option.
Sticking to the slopes and having 5 days of empty pistes meant we got in a lot of skiing, always on the first lift up and being the last to leave, it was great fun, it felt like our own piece of paradise. Spending this many hours interrupted on skis, meant we got to practice technique and just enjoy the occasion.
We skied most of Zermatt whilst there, maybe only missing out a few runs. On our anniversary we headed over to Cervinia (Italy), had lunch in one of the piste restaurants, taking in the spectacular views. In the evening we celebrated our anniversary in a beautiful Resturant in Zermatt called Snowboat.
Being around the Matterhorn, seeing it from nearly every angle and capturing it on camera has only inspired me further to climb this mountain and it's a definite goal for 2014.
Plans for ski trip No 2 are also in the pipeline, it's such s great sport and one I can enjoy with my beautiful wife. What a bonus.
Below is a collection of shots taken from this trip, I really enjoyed using the skills I learnt from my photography course, I would not of got these shots without the knowledge. Enjoy!
