Zuoz in Klarer Hotel - Covid strikes

Well, it was certainly going to happen some time with Covid cases everywhere. I got back from St Gallen feeling a bit off colour, tested, and immediately positive. No surprise really. Anyway, with Swiss rules being virtually non existent, my life didn't change much apart from keeping others safe around me. I didn't go to the school and only met friends outside, far apart. No problem actually. I had breakfast after the crowds left and travelled off peak. On the tracks I was virtually alone, and fortunately I had plenty of energy.

Sadly, I had to cancel my table at Hauser jazz, but watched from the other side of the street. Very unswisslike, I sat and enjoyed a cup of tea whilst listening to an incredible Finnish singer Ina Forsman. 

I realised that St Moritz was holding a massive music festival throughout the day, so came back later, after a very pleasant walk around the Silvaplana See with Dennis

It is a very popular walk, so it was a bit spoilt by the cyclists speeding past, but otherwise gorgeous.

Back I went to the music festival. I was the only one with a mask!

It was a fabulous festive atmosphere, with tables and benches set up from the bottom to the top of the main street, and with a stunning centre piece of wild flowers on every table. I was fortunate to find a chair in front  of the stage, all alone, so could spend three hours enjoying tremendous
music and watching the kids dancing. It was fantastic and very restful. Perfect for firstbday out with Covid!
Today, I went to one of my favourite places, Guarda, a tiny, picturesque, living museum, perched high up above the valley - a little like Soglio but instead of simple stone, the homes are beautifully decorated and the most incredible window boxes add even more colour. 

You can visit countless times and never tire of its beauty.

Like Zuoz, it has an endless number of fountains, in the past the meeting place for the locals, and now simply supplying thirsty walkers and cyclists with pure  mountain water. I drank litres of it!

My plan two years ago was to do a pottery course here, attracted by the incredible ceramic figures outside.

The idea was  to make a mountain chamois or Ibex!
I am sure mine would have been smaller and not as brilliant, but the idea of doing a course inspired me to take pottery lessons, which I now adore. Perhaps I will try to copy this one and see how I get on!

With plenty of time and nobody nagging me to hurry up, I was able to browse some of the little craft shops and view the tiny Schellen Ursli house/ museum. It is a very sweet local story which is very famous, but most of all I enjoyed looking inside one of the old homes, probably over 400 years old. The renovation inside to create the museum, a tiny self service restaurant, with honesty box , and a tastefully decorated and pristine toilet, was amazing.

The stone carving shop was equally stunning. I would have loved to have taken home a few items, but ....! I shall just admire them in this photo, with their spectacular background.

Time to get walking, mostly downhill thankfully. It was warm, but there was an occasional light breeze, virtually no traffic, no cyclists, nor pedestrians, so I had these fantastic views to myself! It was interesting to see the farmer and children out harvesting the hay. Holidays must be helpful for farmers with big families!

The temperature was rising and with no shade I was happy to see the lesser-known village of Ardez below me. I guess it is similar to Queenstown and Wanaka. Both are sensational, but Queenstown the star attraction. Actually, I love Wanaka, and here also Ardez. What a fabulous setting, nestled into the hills, still relatively high above the river. 

Animals seem to be a focal point on many of the homes.

This house below has animals everywhere. It is also so typical of the area with the watering can at the ready, a woodstack, steps(!), a little window seat which juts out, and a bench to sit on and chat to neighbours and passers-by. Not to mention the Swiss flag, for Swiss National Day, 1st August.

I lunched adjacent to this house, in the shade! I was  fascinated by the remarkably precise parking! Driving in these narrow cobbled streets must be a nightmare, but parking takes it to another level.

This home below would certainly get my gold medal for wood stacking - and the home is for sale! I wonder for how many million. One smaller place in Zuoz is up for 7 million Swiss francs! The wood here alone must add to the value!

Doors and windows are stunning artworks.

There are, of course, a few places which might not fetch a high price. I was slightly anxious even walking past the place on the left in the picture below. The walls were horribly cracked and the windows totally wrecked, but amazingly it is still inhabited, and I was lucky enough to chat with the proud owner, probably a lady in her eighties, with whom I tried out a little Rumauntsch. She was quick to correct every mistake! The house is about 500 years old apparently..

There have been some wonderful renovations. Thankfully, many homes have been given a modern touch to make the house lighter with spectacular views, without losing much of the wonderful original architecture. What a great job they have done here.

Time to head home and leave this peaceful and picturesque little village.