Monday, December 30, 2013

MONTREUX CHRISTMAS MARKET IN SWITZERLAND BY LAKE GENEVA IS MAGICAL! TAKE YOUR FAMILY THERE NEXT DECEMBER 2014! MAGIC IS GUARANTEED! TH

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

SWISS CHRISTMAS MARKETS RULE!

The world famous Christmas market in Montreux best exemplifies Yuletide in Switzerland!

Christmas markets are a mostly Germanic and eastern European tradition and even the traditional Christmas tree was not a Dickensian invention but introduced into England by Prince Albert, consort of Queen Victoria. The German prince hankered for his childhood Christmas tree decorated by him and brother Prince Ernst and recreated one for his children in England.

In 1848 The London Illustrated News published pictures of the Royal Family in Windsor Castle next to their gaily decorated tree. The aristocracy and middle classes were enamoured and quickly emulated this new fangled custom. This was followed by the novel notion of gift giving to children and exchanging presents between adults.

A mere 2 hours train ride from German-speaking Zurich is French-speaking Montreux, home to another celebrated Christmas market. Located in the great outdoors by Lake Geneva (or Lake Leman or Lake Lausanne depending on who you ask!), Montreux Tourist Office will have you know the region enjoys a mild, Mediterranean type micro-climate that allows palm trees to grow, hence their moniker Swiss Riviera.

Micro or maxi-climate, I failed to tell the difference and wore the same fur coat as I did in Zurich. Montreux’s Christmas market lines the bank of Lake Geneva (Geneva is an hour by train) and opens at 11 am till 8 pm which is the same as Zurich.

The setting is more romantic since the shimmery waters form a picturesque, postcard perfect backdrop.

“Since tourism started over a century ago, Montreux was viewed as a summer resort and winter was very quiet. So we decided to do something about it,” said Yves Cornaro, director of Montreux Noel which oversees the Christmas market. “We visited the Christmas markets in Austria and Germany and saw how successful they were so we created our own. That was 19 years ago and now we have around 150 illuminated chalets by lakeside and also lining the main road. Several restaurants, cafes and an indoor market are built only for the market.”

Sixty percent of all goods are locally made or produced in Switzerland, like sweets, chocolates, cheeses, handicrafts, clothes, accessories and glassworks. “Asian tourists may find a few stalls selling things from their part of the world but to us locals, these are exotic goods so there is a good mix.”

Those with time should take the train to visit Santa Claus House inside a grotto perched atop the 2,024 metre atop Rochers de Naye with a panoramic view of Montreux. The kids will love telling Santa what they want for Christmas and pose for photos.

On the way down, visit the Christmas Village (not to be confused with market!) at Caux filled with traditional buildings inside the forest and glade.

Swiss Christmas marts are ideal and idyllic getaways!

 SWISS CHRISTMAS MARKETS START ON 25 NOVEMBER AND ENDS ON CHRISTMAS EVE/DAY!



 THESE LOOK LIKE LOUSY, RUSTY, UNWANTED AND UNLOVED OLD PADLOCKS TO BE THROWN AWAY...BUT THESE ARE CHOCOLATES! AMAZING! I ALMOST FAINTED FROM SURPRISE!  IMAGINE EATING THESE PADLOCKS IN PUBLIC AND IN FRONT OF YOUR FAMILY! 
 THESE RUSTY PLIERS ARE ALSO MADE ENTIRE OF 100% CHOCOLATE! PRETEND YOU ARE TRYING TO UNSCREW SOMETHING AND FAIL SO YOU THROW A TANTRUM AND ANNOUNCE TO YOUR FAMILY YOU WILL EAT THE PLIER INSTEAD IN ANGER! AND THEN DO SO AS YOUR PARENTS PASS OUT!
 THESE ARE THE CHOCOLATE MAKERS! THEY MAKE CHOCOLATES THAT RESEMBLE REAL STUFF!
 THE DIRECTOR OF MONTREUX CHRISTMAS MARKET---YVES CORNARO
 MULLED WINE IS THE ANSWER
 INSIDE A CAFE WARM AND COSY
 LIKE THE CEILING
 HERE IS HOW THE NATIVES KEEP WARM
 COSY
 PURPOSE BUILT CHALET
 HAWKER STALL SWISS STYLE
 NICE
 MY GUIDE AND YVES CORNARO PLUS SANTA CLAUS!
 KEE HUA CHEE IS ALL WARM, TOASTY AND FURRY WITH YVES CORNARO, FOUNDER OF MONTREUX CHRISTMAS MARKET SOME 19 YEARS AGO!
 BLING THINGS
 WARM DRINKS
 CHOCS A BLOCK!
 MERRY XMAS 2014!
 YVES CORNARO
 CHOCS GALORE
 YUMMY
 WHICH TO BUY
 BUY ALL
 SANTA CLAUS
 WHITE SANTA
 TOO DELICIOUS
 TEMPTING!
 SWEET HEAVEN
 EDIBLES ALL
 EYE CANDIES
 SMURFS CAME AVISITING
 RESIN WOODLAND CREATURES
 CUTE
 FUNKY DECOR
 LOOKS LIKE WULU
 THESE ARE HAND CARVED WOODEN CONTAINERS
 CARVED IN SWITZERLAND
 PRECIOUS SOUVENIR
 HAND BLOWN GLASS
 GORGEOUS
 SWISS TOP GLASS BLOWER SHOWS HOW IT IS DONE
 FIRE IS NEEDED
 SO IS SKILL
 CAREFUL
 I WOULD NOT DARE DO THIS
 PLAYING WITH FIRE
 WOW
 FANCY
 DEXTERITY!
 FLAMING TALENT
 HERE WE GO AGAIN
 TAKING SHAPE
 ALMOST THERE
 KEE HUA CHEE AND GLASS BLOWER
 HE GAVE ME THE GLASS
 KEEPING WARM
 CUTE
 CANDLES
 CANDLES
 NICE
 COOL
 RM 25 EACH
 I LOVE THESE BOOKMARKS!
 BRILLIANT
 BOOKMARKS TO MARK YOUR LIFE
 THEY LOOK LIKE TREASURES!
 SUPER COOL BOOK MARKS!
 HE MAKES THEM HIMSELF!
 ALL HIS HANDIWORK
 DRAGON AND BUDDHA FOR THE CHINESE
 BUDDHISTS LOVE THESE BOOK MARKS
 BUY THEM BY THE DOZEN AND DECORATE YOUR BOOKS!
 PERFECT FOR YOUR LIBRARY
 I BOUGHT 20!
 I HAD DINNER HERE
 THE TRADITIONAL WAY TO COOK CHESTNUTS!
 WINE HOLDERS CAN YOU BELIEVE?
 SO COOL
 WINE LOVERS DROOL!
 FANCY WINE HOLDERS
 HAVE CAR WILL HOLD WINE
 FOR GOLFERS
 FOR GARDENERS
 NOT EXPENSIVE
 COOL
 VINTAGE CAR FOR VINTAGE WINE
 TOUCH THEM
 PUT EACH IN A MICRO WAVE OVEN AND THEY KEEP YOU WARM FOR 3 HOURS!
 FREDDIE MERCURY DIED HERE IN HIS BELOVED MONTREUX
 WE LOVE YOU FREDDIE
 LIFESIZED FOR SOMEONE LARGER THAN LIFE
 FREDDIE IS IT!
 NICE LIGHTS
 LIGHTS FLOAT WITH SWAN
 BACK TO FREDDIE MERCURY
 SEE THE FLOWERS THAT CONTINUE TO PILE YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH
 IN EVERLASTING MEMORY
 I LOVE THE FERRIS WHEEL
 HOT PHONE BOX
 IN HONOUR OF FOUNDER OF MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL
 THAT'S THE FOUNDER OF MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL
 NICE TREE
 BIG WHEEL KEEPS TURNING
 INDOOR MARKET
 SWISS MEN CAN BE VERY VERY TALL...
 HI THERE
 SANTARINAS DANCED FOR ME




 KEE HUA CHEE ALMOST HAD A HEAT STROKE
 BLUE SANTA
 INDOOR MARKET
 ST BERNARD
 SAINT KEE AND SAINT BERNARD
 2 SAINTS
 YULETIDE MOOD
 STARRY STARRY NIGHT
 CHESTNUTS BEING ROASTSED

 A RESTAURANT NOT A SPACE SHIP
 INSIDE MY RESTAURANT SERVINGF SWISS FONDUE
 DARLING DOGGIE
 I ATE 2 BOWLS OF THIS DELICIOUS  SOUP!
 ALL 3 SO ADORABLE
 EVERYONE LOVES A DOG
MERINGUE!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

The first image is amazing.
I could appreciate a beautiful living room like that, when it's snowing outside. :)