A care home resident at Somer Valley House in Somerset has been reflecting on a memorable family holiday in the Swiss Alps as part of Crystal Care Collection’s Postcards from the Past series.
82-year-old Alexander Kirk-Wilson fondly remembers travelling to St Luc, Switzerland, with his wife and two young sons in the late 1970s after being invited to stay with a Swiss friend he had met while studying at university in the UK.
One of the highlights of the trip was arriving at the high Alpine village where they were staying after a long journey up a winding mountain road. Alexander said,
“I remember driving about 6,000 feet up into the mountains. When we arrived, I couldn’t believe how green the grass was. The views were incredible and all the lovely little houses were made from wood. It felt like something from a storybook.”
“It was unlike anything I had ever experienced before. The scenery was absolutely beautiful.”
The holiday also introduced Alexander and his sons to skiing for the first time.
“None of us had ever skied before, but we took to it like ducks to water,” he recalled.
Evenings were spent immersing themselves in local traditions at traditional bierkellers, where the family sampled regional food and drink. Alexander said,
“I tried goulash for the first time while we were there, and I’ve never tasted anything quite as good since. We tried schnitzel and rösti, and the staff were dressed in traditional lederhosen. I even tried my first flaming beer.”
The family’s hosts were keen to share Swiss culture and entertainment, including more traditional past times:
“They taught us how to do the schuhplattler, a traditional folk dance. There was a lot of hilarity involved.”
“My favourite memory is definitely learning about hang gliding. Taking to the skies above such a beautiful landscape was an incredible experience and a real privilege. It became something I continued to enjoy after I got home. It’s a memory I’ve never forgotten.”
“I always tell people they should try it at least once in their lifetime. I was even telling that to people recently, although these days they might tell me I’m getting on a bit myself.”
Alexander’s story is one of a collection being shared through the Postcards from the Past campaign, celebrating the travel memories and life experiences of care home residents.
