I tried to organize all the higgledy-piggledy thoughts in my mind and found out most of the thoughts took a retreat from the mundane daily life and escaped to a world of a fairy tale. After all, December brings Santa, snowman, snow-draped roads, reindeer along with blessings from Jesus. Even an adult can choose to become that innocent child in the holiday season and escape into a different world; an uncomplicated, unambiguous and innocent world. I chose to escape to the mountains. I boarded a train from Montreaux to Château-d’Oex, in Switzerland. It is located half-way between the beautiful Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland and the small town of Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg. In fact, the international competition in hot-air ballooning is held every January in Château-d’Oex.

I tried to organize all the higgledy-piggledy thoughts in my mind and found out most of the thoughts took a retreat from the mundane daily life and escaped to a world of a fairy tale. After all, December brings Santa, snowman,… Click To Tweet
A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train
The combination of blue and white provides the perfect setting for dreamers.
Even an adult can choose to become that innocent child in the holiday season and escape into a different world; an uncomplicated, unambiguous and innocent world. #Travel Click To Tweet

Wonderful Mountainscapes along the way to Château-d’Oex

Inside the train, I heard conversations in different languages (that’s one charm of Europe) and saw merry faces all around me. The journey started with positive vibes. After a little while, when the train started climbing up the mountains leaving behind Lake Geneva, refreshing and wonderful mountainscapes filled my window frame.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train
Swiss trains take you through mountains and tunnels
After a little while, when the train started climbing up the mountains leaving behind Lake Geneva, refreshing and wonderful mountainscapes filled my window frame. #Travel Click To Tweet

From a quiet corner inside a train, I savored the beautiful landscape slowly in a relaxed tempo. The firm grip on reality loosened and I found myself besotted by the commanding ice-shrouded peaks.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train
Knock, knock! Who is there in the house?
The firm grip on reality loosened and I found myself besotted by the commanding ice-shrouded peaks. #Travel Click To Tweet

Lacy needled pine trees, snow-clad empty branches of trees and the crisp brightness kept on passing by while I remained in the realm of awe. The beauty in nature is like a mother; a calming refuge.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train
Idyllic postcard!
Lacy needled pine trees, snow-clad empty branches of trees and the crisp brightness kept on passing by while I remained in the realm of awe. #Travel Click To Tweet

Old decorated Chalets along the way to Château-d’Oex

Blue skies, white mountains, and traditional timber chalets presented me with hundreds of idyllic Swiss picture postcards. Some I framed and most remained in my memories.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train, Wooden Chalet
I would happily
Blue skies, white mountains, and traditional timber chalets presented me with hundreds of idyllic Swiss picture postcards. Some I framed and most remained in my memories. #Travel Click To Tweet

Whenever I see a little hut amidst the snow-covered Alps, I get a strange feeling. An urge to leave this modern life and retreat to this idyllic place washes over me. But in the next moment, I question myself, do we really have an option to escape in this modern age? That day, I escaped though. Thanks to the festive spirit of December.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train, Wooden Chalet
In Switzerland, it is hard to differentiate between reality and painting!
Whenever I see a little hut amidst the snow-covered Alps, I get a strange feeling. An urge to leave this modern life and retreat to this idyllic place washes over me. #Travel Click To Tweet

It was a kind of journey where an itinerary, a checklist of monuments, was of little use. I waited to be surprised by the sights serendipitously. A few horses standing on the snow-covered field in front of some wooden chalets filled me with joy.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train, Wooden Chalet
It was a kind of journey where an itinerary, a checklist of monuments, was of little use. I waited to be surprised by the sights serendipitously. #Travel Click To Tweet

Idyllic train stations along the way to Château-d’Oex

A little wooden station surrounded by pine forest and covered with snow under the blue infinity gifted me unbidden happiness. In truth, we need so little to be happy. Isn’t it! Just a glimpse of a picturesque place is enough. No doubt, why we travel bloggers are being followed and loved so much on Instagram. We inspire after all. Perhaps we nurture that germ of wanderlust in you.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train, Wooden station
A beautiful station!
A little wooden station surrounded by pine forest and covered with snow under the blue infinity gifted me unbidden happiness. #Travel Click To Tweet

Still, nothing beats a glimpse with our own eyes.

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations, Train, station
Another beautiful small station along the way!

Mundane objects shone brightly along the way

Wherever the snow settles, it adds an extra spark. Mundane objects shone brightly along the way. It is easy to be conditioned by the splendors of extraordinary. It is also not completely impossible to find the charm in ordinary. Perhaps just a try would do wonders!

A fairy tale ride from Montreaux to Château-d'Oex in Switzerland, Travel Realizations,
It is not completely impossible to find the charm in ordinary.
Does it look like a movie scene?

Travel Realizations

One morning, the day when you are not at your best, get inside a train or your car and just go completely unplanned and unhurried to some uncrowded place. Spend some time with yourself and see how a simple journey turns to your very own fairytale ride. Give space to the dreamer in you and let him/her succeed willy-nilly one day.

After reaching Château-d’Oex

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Chirasree Banerjee

Hello. My name is Chirasree. I have been traveling for almost 11 years to places all over the world. I enter into a separate reality during my travels and enjoy the allure of escape from the mundane. I seek beauty through nature and human-made creations. Because beauty is powerful. I seek knowledge. I observe, absorb, and write about the places I visit and the profound realizations and inspirations that each place has to offer.