The Perfect Gentleman Issue 9 - Christmas | Page 35

The Perfect Christmas Getaway Dear Gentleman, It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Time to get in the mood for the festive season but I’m sitting here in my favourite cigar lounge, enjoying a good Cuban cigar and a dram of single malt whisky while watching others rush around the city, getting ready for Christmas. Whilst observing this busy scenery, wouldn’t it be a great idea to simply escape from all this Christmas hustle and bustle? The question is where to find the perfect Christmas getaway? Personally, I try to avoid all airports – call me old fashioned but when it comes Christmas time, I spend it with my family in our chalet somewhere in the Swiss mountains. What is a typical Swiss mountain Christmas? Usually we will arrive one or two days before Christmas Eve to do all the grocery shopping for the up coming days as all the shops are closed until after Boxing Day. On Christmas Eve the whole family will decorate the Christmas tree in the morning and then go for a walk in the nearby village. Switzerland doesn’t have a real traditional Christmas dish but in the last years it became very common in Swiss families to eat Fondue Chinoise or Cheese fondue as it allows everybody to be together. After dinner we light up the Christmas candles on the tree (Yes, we use real candles) and open the presents. Christmas day is fairly relaxed. We spend it having long afternoon teas or early dinner with friends and relatives. The rest of the holi day is divided between some serious winter sports e.g. skiing, snowboarding or sledding, and more eating and drinking. In the end, it doesn’t really matter what you are doing or where you are, as long as you are with your loved ones, it will be a perfect Christmas. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Your sincerely, Paul Ernst 1st Swiss Gentleman Our Man in...Switzerland 35