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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Still, nothing beats a glimpse with our own eyes.
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!
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.
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