Page 22 - The Highlander Fall 2024

A DESTINATION TRAVEL
EXPLORING SWITZERLAND
Paige MacDonald
August is always a busy month for me. The highlight is Virtuoso Travel Week, where we take over the Bellagio, Aria, Vdara and Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. More than 4,700 Virtuoso travel advisors and representatives from Virtuoso’s network of hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, tourism boards, airlines and more came together for the ultimate annual global travel community event. Exclusive to the Virtuoso network, it features personal network- ing appointments, extensive professional development seminars, Community Globetrotting, and a celebration of Virtuoso, the world’s top luxury travel network.
After a successful Virtuoso Travel Week of meeting new and current representatives, learning about the top travel trends and destinations, and scheduling Travel Night Presentations for our community, I was exhaust- ed. After telling him some highlights of my week, he said “Let’s go to Switzerland!” Although I prefer a little time to plan the perfect vacation, my husband put me to the test. Six days later we were on a plane headed to Switzerland!
Our journey began in Geneva, a city that felt effortless- ly sophisticated from the moment we arrived. The first night we indulged in the famous Gruyère fondue with a selection of meats and potatoes. The next morning began in style at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel de la Paix for breakfast, with views of Lake Geneva and the distant Alps. The experience was the perfect way to start our Swiss adventure, leaving us both energized and ready to explore Geneva’s rich cultural history.
We spent hours on land and by boat exploring Lake Geneva, where the towering Jet d’Eau fountain sparkled against the clear blue sky. We took a tour which included the city’s Old Town, with its narrow streets and ancient buildings; St. Pierre Cathedral, where the views of the city and surrounding mountains were breathtak- ing; the United Nations; the Broken Chair Monument; and the Flower Clock.
Before continuing to Zermatt, we decided to take a short detour into the heart of Switzerland’s culinary heritage. We boarded a train that took us into the
rolling green hills of the Gruyère region, famous for its cheese and chocolate. Our first stop was the Gruyère Cheese Factory. Stepping inside, we were immedi- ately welcomed by the rich, savory aroma of cheese. The tour was both informative and fun, guiding us through the centuries-old tradition of cheese-making. Of course, the best part was the tasting! We sampled Gruyère at various stages of aging, and each one had its own distinct flavor and texture. The younger cheese was creamy and mild, while the older Gruyère had a sharper, more complex taste.
From the cheese factory, we headed to Maison Cailler, Switzerland’s oldest chocolate factory located in nearby Broc. We started with a chocolate making class, where we created our own flavored chocolate that we could take home. We then took an immersive tour through the history of chocolate from ancient Mayan traditions to modern Swiss innovation. We were guided through the entire chocolate-making process, from selecting cocoa beans to the delicate art of tempering chocolate. At the end of the tour, we reached the tasting room, where tables overflowed with Cailler chocolates of every kind. We sampled rich milk chocolates, intense dark varieties, and even pralines filled with hazelnut and caramel. Needless to say, we left with our bags (and bellies) full of chocolate and smiles on our faces.
After our delicious detour, we boarded the train to Zermatt, and the scenery shifted from gentle hills to towering alpine peaks. Zermatt, with its car-free streets and charming wooden chalets, was the perfect mountain escape. The Matterhorn, standing tall and majestic, was visible from almost every corner of town.
Our first big adventure in Zermatt was the cable car up to Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, the highest cable car station in Europe at 3,883 meters. The views stretch all the way to Italy and France. People were hiking and biking all over the mountains, and snow skiing at the top. Inside the Glacier Palace, we explored ice tunnels and marveled at intricate ice sculptures, all while surrounded by the glittering blue of the glacier.
THE HIGHLANDER MAGAZINE | 22 | FALL 2024