Today we can tell you about breathtaking views and making raclette cheese. We are currently in the Swiss Alps, more specifically in Nendaz in Valais. Yesterday we went on a trip even higher up in the Alps. Despite the bad weather, we got to experience unbelievable views. We also got to see how the famous raclette cheese and a number of other Swiss cheeses are made.
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Breathtaking views
The first day in Switzerland we were really lucky with the weather, but not yesterday. The weather was at its absolute worst, with rain, damp cold and thunder. But the views from Balavaux in Nendaz were no less dramatic for that. Maybe the opposite!
Ancient trees
The landscape is full of conifers, including pine trees that turn beautiful colours in autumn and shed their needles in winter. There are also some crazy old trees. According to our guides, the oldest pines here are between 800 and 900 years old ...!
Production of raclette cheese
Raclette is a traditional Swiss cheese used for the dish raclette, which is the eating of melted cheese with various accompaniments. We went to a farm where they make raclette, as well as the cheeses 'serac' and 'tomme'.
The cows had been milked before we arrived and the large barrel contained 680 litres of milk. The cheese is then heated to different temperatures depending on the cheese to be made, while the cheesemaker 'stirs the pot'. Finally, he collects the curd and lets it drain.
Three different cheeses
Once formed, the large raclette cheeses are placed in a salt bath for 24 hours. They are then stored for 2,5 months, during which time they are every day brushed with salt. The smaller cheeses called "tomme" are only stored for 20 days and the "serac" is a fresh cheese to be eaten immediately. We tasted this one on the spot and it was really good. Now all that remains is to see what raclette tastes like!
Back by cable car
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This trip was a press trip. The texts, images and opinions are, as usual, our own.
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LinizTravel says:
We also had rain in Antwerp all day so sad! But was on
Museum! You seem to be having a great time anyway! Continued faithful journey! Hugs
09 August 2017 - 8:33
Helena says:
Good to find indoor things when it rains! Keep up the good work! Hugs
09 August 2017 - 8:51
Matts Torebring says:
The first picture, with the geraniums and the view of the Alps, could be the cover of any tourist brochure about Switzerland. What an experience! To have a guide showing you around is almost too good. Have a good time!
09 August 2017 - 8:34
Helena says:
Thank you!!! Oh that was nice praise about the picture!!! 🙂 The Swiss Alps are an experience and certainly it is good with a guide sometimes!
09 August 2017 - 8:52
Veiken says:
Wonderful Switzerland, I've lived there! Yes in Lausanne then. That country is always in my heart, even if it was a long time ago now!
09 August 2017 - 9:20
Helena says:
Oh, you've lived here!? What fun! Understand that you have a special feeling for the country then! 🙂
09 August 2017 - 10:26
Elisabeth says:
What a nice trip! Must be a village dairy to participate. The health authorities have put a stop to that in Sweden.
09 August 2017 - 10:22
Helena says:
Small-scale production is a bit tricky in Sweden. I don't know everything about it, but it feels a bit of a shame.
09 August 2017 - 10:27
Mr Steve says:
It's a great Alpine adventure you're on.
Old trees are fascinating. Imagine how much they have to tell us.
09 August 2017 - 10:27
Helena says:
It's a bit dizzying to think about what those trees have "been through"!
09 August 2017 - 10:29
Ditte says:
Great to come back to Switzerland! Many memories come back. This is really a country in my heart, but now too expensive to holiday in for me. Here is everything and the best of everything. Very nice pictures from your trip. And racclette is so good but very powerful in large quantities. Wishing you continued nice days.
09 August 2017 - 10:51
Helena says:
Glad you like our pictures! Switzerland is not known for being cheap, but we don't think it has been quite as expensive as we thought it would be. We will write up prices and come back with a post about it!
09 August 2017 - 13:29
Lennart says:
Nice pictures!
09 August 2017 - 13:30
Lena - good for the soul says:
But gosh what beautiful and dramatic pictures you got despite a little "worse" weather. So beautiful! And what fun to be involved in the cheese making!
Hug Lena
09 August 2017 - 13:43
Helena says:
Glad you liked the pictures! The slightly worse weather probably made the sky a little dramatic 🙂 .
09 August 2017 - 14:08
Emma, sun like sun? says:
The trees are truly magnificent!
Imagine what you get to experience, to see how cheese is made. But drinking it ...? Sounds a bit nauseating.
09 August 2017 - 13:53
Helena says:
I was not so keen to drink the cheese actually... But the fresh cheese was really good to eat! 🙂
09 August 2017 - 14:09
Lena & Jan says:
Wow what a summer picture with the geraniums, yes what views you are offered there, lucky that it was not more clouds than that!
Yummy with raclettes, had a neighbour at La Fuente, Sp. campsite who offered it, superbly good!
Continue the dizzying experiences ???
09 August 2017 - 13:56
Helena says:
What luck to be invited to a raclette with a camping neighbour! And indeed, the views here in Switzerland are absolutely stunning!
09 August 2017 - 14:11
BP says:
The picture with the rainbow is outstanding! Hope you got to eat the raclette cheese too. It is sooooo good!
09 August 2017 - 16:43
Helena says:
Glad you like the picture! We have tried raclette now. The cheese is very good, but I personally think that there is too much cheese in a meal. But a nice way to eat!
09 August 2017 - 21:36
Monet says:
Wrote a comment in the last post, hope you saw it. Hope you like the raclette cheese, it is delicious. Tomme is sold a lot here in France where they don't have a lot of their own hard cheeses. Also very good!
09 August 2017 - 16:53
Helena says:
I saw your comment, but haven't had time to reply, but now I have! And thanks for reminding me. I usually don't miss, but it can happen. We have tried raclette now, two nights. The cheese is super good! However, I don't really like to eat it as dinner, a little too much cheese for my taste 😉 But fun and interesting to try!
09 August 2017 - 21:38
Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
I have no experience with that cheese. But nice pictures
09 August 2017 - 17:23
Helena says:
Glad you like the pictures! 🙂
09 August 2017 - 21:39
JoY says:
Now Jakob longs "home" even more hihihi Surely it is sad when the clouds cling to the mountains, you got to see a beautiful rainbow, it is not everyone who gets.
Larch trees, as they are called, are truly gigantic.
We like raclette with all the good accessories, and we eat some from time to time.
Hugs
09 August 2017 - 22:07
Helena says:
Oh, they are called larch trees, I didn't know that! So heavenly good with readers who fill in the gaps! 🙂 We did have a guide, but when the guide is in English, you miss things like this ... Fantastic nice country Jacob comes from! Hugs
10 August 2017 - 0:33
Across the board says:
Raclett grill on the table, so is a nice way to have dinner .
12 August 2017 - 16:14
Maria's Memoirs says:
so magical with the rainbow! And interesting with the cheese making
17 August 2017 - 18:40