Furken Birthday

Leukerbad

February 6 - 8

Everyone's birthday needs to be a national holiday and celebrated to the fullest. At least that is what I think and try to give to everyone. So that is what we did for Beth.

Friday night was bowling night. Big plans included pizza, beer, and good healthy competition. Then it started to snow. Really snow, like it does once a year. Prompting e-mails about mandatory chains on the wheels of the vans and frantic phone calls rearranging our dinner plans.

We all gathered at Beth's for some Balmelli pizza and Bio Beer before piling into Masa and Shane's car to get our bowling on. However, the focus wasn't really on bowling but rather the dance party that insued. There was a little shoulder shaking, leg kicking, and a lot of singing. Then the highlight of the night the choreographed dance!

Beginning Choreography

As if bowling wasn't enough we turned in our shoes and took on the punching bag. With some of the highest numbers coming from kicks, open handed slaps and head butts! A couple more energetic souls made it to the clubs after. Unfortunately, I didn't because I wanted my beauty sleep before hitting the road in the morning.

The wind up

for the kick

or slap

elbow?

Bright and early around 10 am Lizzie, Beth and I took off for Leukerbad, a spa town set in the mountains about 2 1/2 hours away. That is if the furken train line wasn't 2 hours long. But it was one of the coolest parts driving my car onto a train for a 20 minute journey through the center of a mountain. From there it was smooth driving.


We checked into the Hotel Astoria and then took off wandering the town. It was a little resort town with German style chalets and of course a church at it's center. We checked out all of the dinner options as well before heading to the Wine Bar to taste the local flavors and receive a little lesson on the grapes of Switzerland.

Birthday toast

Our room...just slightly outdated

Then off to dinner. I originally had my heart set on duck but upon browsing the menu we all changed our minds to a four course set menu with wine pairings. Dinner started with a beef fras gras, a cream soup, then a pork drizzled with a mushroom sauce. With it all wrapped up by a scoop of ice cream topped with black berries and raspberries. We left very well fed!

Sunday morning we had a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before heading to the Alpentherme for our Roma Irish Bath. Where we spent the next three hours in our birthday suits going through a series of relaxing stations. A little like a car wash.

My future home

Clean and sparkling we headed through town to the gondola to catch the breathtaking views. Granted the clouds kept rolling in and out so the vie was sporadic but definitely beautiful.