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CMSC - Trips In Review

Europe 2024
January 27 - February 7
Zermatt, Switzerland and Milan, Italy

Europe Sixty-seven people from 20 travelled to Zermatt by bus and train before arriving at the four-star Hotel Alex which was located within short walking distance of the train station. Our group quickly checked into our spacious hotel rooms before joining together for a welcome reception with wine and appetizers in the lounge area next to the hotel bar. A general informational meeting conducted during the welcome reception provided a nice preview of the upcoming week at the resort.

Dinner was served promptly after the welcome reception in the hotel’s ornate dining room. The quality of the food and service were excellent each night. Many people took advantage of the many amenities at the hotel including a pool, hot tub, Finnish sauna, steam bath, fitness room, badminton, table tennis, squash, and an indoor tennis court. Others spent their evenings visiting the many nightclubs in town or enjoying the hotel bar and lounge.

The next day offered opportunities for our group to visit the four different ski areas of Rothorn–Sunnegga, Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise at Klein Matterhorn, and Cervinia, Italy. The ski areas were easily accessed by bus, train, or funicular to begin the day. All the terrain appeared to be open during our trip although no recent snowfall resulted in some hard-pack and icy conditions on the trails. Charming on-mountain huts provided nice breaks for lunch and refreshments during the ski days. The best snow was experienced in our runs to the base areas of Valtournenche and Cervinia. Many group members traveled to the capital city of Bern, Switzerland on Wednesday to visit the many historical sites and attractions.

Pre-dinner cocktail parties were offered on two nights to allow our group members to socialize with members from other clubs. The dinners offered nightly buffets with either salad and appetizers or local food specialties that were enjoyed by all. The multi-course dinners were always anticipated each night with a wide selection of entrees and wines.

The group gathered early on Saturday morning for the short walk to the Zermatt Shuttle Train leading to our bus stop at the Täsch train station. Our luggage was transported by van to Täsch, but it still arrived shortly after our train arrived at the station. A 3-hour bus ride to Milan provided a scenic trip before arriving in the heart of Milan. Our four-star hotel, StarHotels Ritz, was located on a narrow side street which provided difficult access for our bus driver who finally decided to park about one block from the hotel.

Europe The next day we were treated to a walking Milan city tour that featured many highlights including the Duomo and the famous La Scala Opera House. On Monday, an optional day tour to Lake Como was enjoyed by most group members with a city tour followed by a scenic boat ride on Lake Como. Tuesday morning provided another optional day tour to the Upper City of Bergamo to view the historic Venetian walls built in the 16th century and walk the narrow medieval streets with historical buildings including a citadel, palazzos, a basilica, a cathedral, and many museums.

Join us in 2025 at Andermatt / Lucerne, Switzerland! Steve Patzer