Yesterday we had a nice day with A & L. We were looking for a day trip, and since they were absolutely dying to see some snow, I spent some time Googling the closest mountains accessible by public transport in the Vaud region. I eventually stumbled upon Rochers de Naye, and it turned out to be the perfect plan for a quick getaway into the snowy peaks.

We hopped on the cogwheel train from Montreux, and once we reached the top, the kids had the best time playing in the snow and building a snowman. We even got the chance to visit Santa’s Village, walking through a light-decorated tunnel, taking pictures with him, and leaving with a couple of treats in hand.

The train ride itself is an attraction, offering amazing panoramic views, just like the one in the picture above.

Today we decided to have a nice Christmas lunch with my colleagues at work. We’d been discussing this for a couple of days and agreed the plan was to go to this ramen place we had tried before and all liked.

But when we were about to make a reservation, it turned out it was closed. Arrgh :/. A classic Monday issue!

So, debating what to do next, a Moroccan colleague suggested a Moroccan place he knew near CHUV. I was very curious because I’d never tried tajine before and it sounded like a nice culinary exploration.

So we went there and all of us ordered this traditional dish. The tajine arrived in its classic cone-shaped clay pot, and when they lifted the lid, it smelled really nice! The slow-cooked chicken with preserved lemons, olives, and a blend of spices I couldn’t quite identify made the dish really appealing.

It was not surprising that the taste was even better, with a balance of sweet and salty flavors. Based on what my colleague described, I tried it with warm bread and couscous, and the combination was really good.

I can’t believe I’d never tried this dish before. Really nice!

One of my favorite places in Basel is the Markthalle. This historic market hall has been transformed into a vibrant food court with a variety of international cuisines. The architecture of the building is quite interesting, with its high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light during the day.

Last week, when I was passing by Markthalle at night, I noticed the full moon shining brightly above the building. The combination of the modern "Markthalle" neon lights and the natural glow of the moon created a beautiful view that I tried to capture in the photo above.

Last weekend I took a stroll up to Münsterberg, and this part of Basel looked absolutely lovely! The sky was clear and blue, with that same hue you sometimes see on those nice late-autumn days. I captured this shot while wandering around—there, the church’s clay-colored walls were brilliantly highlighted by the rays of sun.

Dun Laoghaire is a beautiful coastal town located just south of Dublin. As I mentioned in a post a couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to visit Ireland recently and during the weekend, I took a trip to Dun Laoghaire.

I repeated a plan that I used to do quite frequently when I lived in Dublin years ago: take the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit) train from the city center to Dun Laoghaire, walk all the way through the pier back and forth, and then head to the bookstore on Marine Road, grabbing a coffee and a scone in the café next door.

When I looked out the window and saw the church of St. Michael's, I remembered those days many years ago when I was in that same café writing the dissertation for my Master's degree.

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