Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Snowed In

This past weekend I had the good fortune to be snowed in at the Quintessence hotel in Mont-Tremblant, Canada. With a blizzard raging outside that prevented my flying back to New York City, I climbed into a hot tub on the edge of frozen Lake Tremblant and watched the snow pile up around me. Then I went back to my room, sat on a plump, beige couch in front of a wood-burning fireplace, propped my feet on a large, leather hassock — and did nothing. Every once in a while, I opened the door to my balcony to see what was happening outside. It was shimmering white and quiet except for the gusts of wind. Perfectly lovely. I lit candles and took a bath in the deep, whirlpool tub, which was placed so that I could see the fireplace. Then I went across the road to the Mont-Tremblant pedestrian village for a steak dinner complemented by a fine glass of shiraz wine, returning through almost knee-high snow to a cozy bed. The next morning was bright and crisp and cold, with two sunny eggs Benedict for breakfast.

The plane could depart.

The list of winter activities at Mont-Tremblant is long: skiing, snowboarding, dogsledding, snowmobiling, tubing, zip-lining, ice climbing, and so on, but I would put lazing in a hot tub watching the snow fall at the top, followed by doing nothing. For people like myself who usually try to do too much, that's the ultimate luxury. With or without a snowstorm as an excuse, I recommend it.

Terese

2 comments:

ClaireWalter said...

Being a winter person and a skier, I probably would have been out there, slogging through the snow on snowshoes or skinny skis, if not braving or enduring cold lift rides for powder runs. And THEN I would have sought the warmth of a hot tub! When I read your description, however, I realized that I miss the sheer relaxation that comes from NOT skiing or snowshoeing. I really ought to try that sometime.

Claire @ http://travel-babel.blogspot.com

Terese Loeb Kreuzer said...

You really ought to "try that sometime," Claire, but I know you won't. The siren song of a blizzard would be too much for you. I, on the other hand, must be the reincarnation of a cat — curled up in front of a fireplace. I loved the beauty of deep, untrammeled snow drifts, but what I liked best about the storm was how cozy it made me feel in the hot tub and in the cocoon of my fire-lit room.