Arrival in Arolla

After landing in Geneva in the late evening we stayed in a hotel close to the airport that provided a shuttle service to and from the airport. We used this the next morning to return to the railway station adjacent to the airport to catch the 10.27am train to Sion.

Of course it was bang on time and disembarking at Sion we had no trouble locating the stand for our post bus to Arolla.  We had a quick coffee and shared a florentine cake while we waited.

The bus was soon climbing towards the mountains and we were interested to see some unusual rock features along the road.  Were they natural or man made? We couldn't decide.

Strange rock formation as we drive to Arolla

As we passed through Les Hauderes we spotted tomorrow night's hotel and were surprised how far above this town Arolla was situated.

The post bus dropped us in the square at Arolla and our hotel was just a few strides away, looking very picturesque in the afternoon sun, its balconies covered in flowers.

Our hotel in Arolla

The view from our hotel was stunning - snow covered mountains, snowfields and a glacier which looked perfectly accessible, this was no doubt an illusion!

The view from our hotel

It was still early so we walked round Arolla and stopped off in a cafe for crepes and beer.  We might as well start as we intend to progress and it was very nice to sit, eat and drink in the afternoon sun.

Crepes and beer in Arolla

Our balcony

Dinner at the hotel was not what we expected.  The first course was an enormous quantity of beautifully displayed cold meat and sausage, plus gherkins and bread.  More meat than we would eat in a fortnight at home.  The second course was fondue with dry bread.  We cut the bread into cubes and dipped it into the bubbling cheese.  Desert was fresh fruit which slipped down easily.

We slept well!

To Day 2