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The times they are a changing' Or are they? Here is a resort that
truly has not sold out. To the naked eye it still remains virtually
unchanged since my first visit to this car - free mountain village
about 20 years ago.
Then I was struck by the strict adherence to the old days in the Swiss
mountains; the almost shed - like buildings and the carefully natured
structures which were still being used as dwellings and in some cases
even businesses. It was a marriage of the old and the new, with the old
being every bit as prized and cherished as were the leaps into modern
day tourism.
Dear reader if you were to visit Saas Fee anytime soon I bet that you
too would be pleased at this presentation. Little seems to have changed,
at least not in my mind's eye anyway.
Car
free in that it has no combustion engine powered vehicles, Saas Fee
retains, no, make that delights in its portrayal of typical Swiss
village life. It presents itself as a throwback to more tranquil and
less aggressive times when it comes to attracting tourists, but as the
saying goes, looks can be deceiving.
Yet, when it comes to being a well turned out tourism destination, no
matter what time of year, this dandy little resort is a thoroughly
modern millie. It
has honed all its edges, polished every facade and treasured every
natural asset. And oh what natural assets it has.
We
could start with the Dom, which at a height of over 4,500 meters above
sea level is the highest mountain housed completely within Swiss
borders. Bet you thought it was the Matterhorn didn't you? Yep, that's
higher all right, but don't forget, a good portion of that famous
landmark is in Italy. The Dom though only lends to the cosmetic value of
Saas Fee. One can't actually ski on it.
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