We went skiing again this weekend, and while the trip shared a lot in common with previous Swiss skiing trips (amazing views, great runs, good food, etc.), there were a few interesting details/moments that set this trip apart from others:

• Engelberg is a quaint Alpine village situated in Central Switzerland that was primarily developed by Benedictine monks.  The monastery actually dates back to 1120 and is tucked away in a little valley surrounded by the Alps.  On Sunday, we enjoyed a walk through the gardens and explored their active cheese factory.  Of course, Sarah couldn’t leave without buying a few wheels of brie.

• Because busy season is in full swing in January, celebrating Sarah’s birthday has been a challenge in years past.  This year, however, we were able to get away and properly celebrate together.  Chris was a dear and had the restaurant bring out a special dessert (thankfully without an embarrassing birthday song) and he went out of his way to fulfill all of Sarah’s birthday whims and wishes.

• Our hotel this weekend was lovely.  It was a great location with incredibly hospitable staff, but our favorite amenity was definitely the outdoor hot tub.  After a long day of skiing, it was truly a treat to relax our muscles and enjoy a few cocktails in the 20-degree weather.
• Engelberg is actually the home of the first rotating gondola, Titlis Rotair (yes, you guessed correctly – we could not stop giggling at the name).  It was only about a 5-minute ride, but it gave us a full, 360-degree view of the alps.
• We were both surprised by the amount of crazy adventurists in Engelberg.  We saw parachute skiing, snowmobile races, and the most extreme off piste skiing.  While it was obviously entertaining to watch, we are both content with our cautious courage and ‘black’ diamond adventures.