Birthday gift from Mr M- 3 days trip in Switzerland

Mr M is a practical man and he rather treats me a trip than actually giving me a birthday present. Since he started working in London about 6 years ago, he started taking me to different places or countries as my birthday gift. For the past 7 years, we had been to many places together and I truly appreciate what he has done for me.



The spa area


This year, he decided to take me to Vals in Switzerland and stayed in Therme Vals hotel  and the Therme is designed by a Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. It's a 2 nights 3days trip in Vals, to be honest, I never know this hotel before until Mr M mentioned about it. I browsed through the hotel website and I was amazed by the design of the spa area. At first, I was more interested in vising Notre Dame Du Haut  by another Swiss architect Le Corbusier, but sadly the church is not opened until April, therefore we decided to go to Therme Vals.
There are a few different part of the spa pools with different temperature, I love the outdoor spa area where you can enjoy the spa and the scenery at the same time. On Sunday night when we arrived, the spa area were opened exclusivity for hotel guests and for adults only from 11 to 12:30 midnight and it's called the ' night bath'. We were supposed to keep silence while in the spa area. It was so amazing when the first time we entered the outdoor spa area. Looking at the starring stars and the enjoy the silent of the night. 90% of the hotel are couples, it's a really romantic location you can be as a couple!

Zurich city center

We only had a couple of hours sleep before we departed for Zurich early in the morning at 0600. I was feeling so sleepy and tired when we arrived in Zurich city center but yet felt excited and looking forward to this trip.

I love this coo coo clock!

A really cute butik shop

We strolled by the riverside for few hours before taking a train to Vals. The park is beautiful and romantic. It's early Sunday morning in Zurich and there were many joggers and family taking children and dogs for a walk.

This is another museum designed by Le Corbusier called Le Cobusier center, it's just located in the park by the riverside at Zurich. Only 15-20mins walk from the train station.

The Yummy chocolate shop! The strong chocolate smell has occupied the shop and I fell in love with this shop immediately. Lots of Easter bunny shaped chocolate.

Train station in the city center 

To reach Vals, we need to take train from Zuric to Ilanz. On the way to Ilanz, we change to Chur (prounced as Koo). This was the scenery we had on our journey to Chur. So beautiful..

The scenery from Chur to Ilanz, isn't it amazing.. I called it A breath taking view... even though I was so sleepy but I didn't want to close my eyes, I wanted to look at the view which I may not be able to look at it again.

After about 2 and half hours, we finally reached Ilanz. The train station is small and not many passengers. There is no platform too.

Love the wooden tracks, it's so original.

From Ilanz station, we took a bus to Vals and it's another 30mins journey. Again, I was amazed by the beautiful scenery and the quite nature.

 
The above 2 images are the views from our little balcony.. isn't it breath taking?

I was sitting on this ship skin chair on the hotel's cafe terrace, it kept me warm while I was enjoying the scenery.

The hotel terrace.

The corridor bridge from hotel rooms to hotel reception area and restaurant.

The Red restaurant, we went there for our breakfast.

My breakfast, it's so yummy!!!

You can boil your own boiled egg. I didn't realise I have to boil my own boiled egg, I thought I can just take it from the boiled egg area, until Mr M told me someone was complaining about someone took his boiled egg.. oops.. I hoped it's not me who has taken his egg.. I felt embarrassed!!

We went for hiking on the second day. On the way, I realised most of the houses store timber, it might be for their fire place.

The exterior spa area. We were not allowed to take any picture in the spa area, it's a pity, because it's so ... amazing. I can only say the architect has done well!!! Please visit their hotel website for more pictures.

On the way of our hiking, we saw little cute goats! they are so excited to see both of us coming. We tried to feed them with some grass and played with them.

I didn't want to leave them, but Mr M said we need to keep going.

In the hotel guide book mentioned that it will only take 1hour for us to reach to the next village, but we had been walking for nearly 1hour and half, and we still didn't see any sign of the village... but we didn't give up and kept going. My legs were killing me because the slop was quite steep!!

We saw the sign and kept going. I found a long stick for Mr M, it's just so much easier to hike with the help of a stick!

Taking a rest on a bench..

The spring flower are starting to grow! so little and so pretty.

We hardly see anyone on the way of our hiking, so Mr M started to play some baseball on the hill, using a wooden stick to hit a rock!

We met a cute donkey, he was so cute! but the smell is... not nice at all

After 2 hours of hiking, we finally reached our destination, Leis village and found the restaurant Ganni which is recommended by the hotel. well, it's the only restaurant in that little village, there were not more than 20 houses in Leis village.. We were not sure if we had arrived at the right destination because the village is just too small.. i won't even call it a villiage....  

quite a few little streams on the hill

I wanted to try the Swiss styled cheese fondue. It was a strong cheese fondue we had, we think the chef had poured a bottle of white wine in this cheese fondue. Accompanying the cheese fondue are the pear, apple,s walnut and salami. It will refresh your mouth after you have your cheese bread. Love it.

Every village has a church and this is the church in Vals. It bells every hour!

Almost every households place a broom in front of their doors.. i wonder what is the purpose of it.. to get rid of some evil spirit?

I needed 2 sticks to keep me going... 2 legs are not enough for hiking..

We headed back to Zurich on the last day and went round the center again before coming back to UK.

the rich and yummy swiss ice cream!! must try.

Mr M couldn't get his swiss knife so I got him a Swiss knife chocolate.. hahaha

I love this trip and it's so memorable. Vals is just beautiful and the spa experience is superb. I highly recommend to any couple who wish to go for a relaxing yet exciting trip should visit Theme vals! It's an experience I will never forget.  Thank you Mr M for taking me to this wonderful place, although we were tired from all the hiking and walks, but I think it's the most romantic place we have been.

Mr M & I in Vals, at our hotel room's balcony.