Zesty, that’s Zermatt..

Just as the doctor ordered!

writes Peter G Brindley, Canadian surgeon

A medical conference brought me to Zermatt in early February, and the inestimable charms of this celebrated mountain town will assuredly bring me back, and I encourage GSG readers to do the same. Zermatt should be on everyone’s bucket list.

As a Western Canadian I have no shortage of nearby skiing and beautiful mountain scenery, so  I can ski my maple leaf heart out without the fuss of airports or google translate. So why am I so keen on Zermatt?

1. The iconic Matterhorn Mountain is so majestic and so up close.
2. Secondly there’s the size of terrain - over 300km of piste.
3. I believe this makes Zermatt the world’s 5^th Canada does not even make the top 20 (Whistler is 24^th) and Lake Louise - in the Rockies near me - can’t crack the top 50.

North American hills cannot hold a candle to Zermatt for on-hill restaurants during the day and après ski once the sun goes down. It was an added treat skiing Switzerland one moment and Italy the next.

Then there’s the Zermatt town – chocolate-box cute and with next level shopping. If you’re a simple lad like me then you may just be impressed that the transport always runs on time (nearly – Ed) and it’s worth highlighting Swiss punctuality. On my departure I knew my train would get me to Zurich airport on time- a huge weight of a traveller’s mind.

But nobody is planning their vacations solely around train time tables, so let me get what matters most: the snow, the lovely snow. It was softer than North Americans expect.  For a skier used to being bundled under multiple layers until at least March, it was a treat to ski in a thin jacket and sunglasses. Transport to and from the hills, while crowded, was always efficient and timely, and the sun just shone and shone. Another unexpected treat was when the old knee needed respite, I took a short train ride to Täsch, and cross country skied between there and Randa.

If you already go to Zermatt regularly, then you will know its among the world’s best. I am darn jealous and intend to be back as soon as possible to gaze in wonder at the Matterhorn, while giggling as I carve through two countries in one day.

In all - a glorious time away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Zermatt and its wonderful ambience is what this doctor prescribes.

• Dr Brindley is an Intensive Care doctor in Edmonton
• Zermatt apres – keep logging on