Yeah, I know that looks like it would sound like somebody coughing or sneezing. Gstaad is located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Like most mountain villages, it’s known for its skiing. There are 155 miles of downhill skiing trails and 60 miles of cross country runs. Naturally, tourism is the primary industry of the small village (population 3200). In addition to skiing, there walking/hiking trails. Among the current residents is actress Julie Andrews, and former residents include actor Roger Moore and actress Elizabeth Taylor, There’s an annual classical music festival every winter. But I don’t care about that. The village is just so darn charming!
There’s not a darn thing on tonight that I want to watch. So I’m not sure what I’ll watch.
Reading: Still reading Fire Ice which is excellent.
I can’t believe I forgot to blog yesterday. 
Anyway… today we’re headed to Central America and the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal was one of the greatest engineering feats of the 20th Century. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, eliminating the need for ships to sail around the southern tip of South America. The canal is currently undergoing expansion to accommodate our mammoth cargo ships (mammoth as in large not cargo ships that carry mammoths 
). There are some great pictures and links in the article.
Well, I ordered my new desk calendar today. So we’ll have plenty of new sites to visit next year.
Today in history:
- 1888 – German film director Friedrich Murnau was born. Never heard of him? He’s best known for directing the silent film horror classic Nosferatu which was based on Bram Stoker’s book Dracula.
- 1905 – Actor/comedian Cliff Arquette was born. He was best known for his character Charley Weaver. He’s also the grandfather of Patricia, Rosanna, and David Arquette.
- 1908 – A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Messina, Sicily killing over 75,000. See? Massive earthquakes are nothing new.
- 1912 – The first city-owned streetcars took to the streets in San Francisco, California.
I heard something yesterday that really surprised me. Cheetah, the chimp from the 1930s Tarzan movies, died at age 80. I had no idea he was still living!
On TV tonight: not much except a new episode of Decoded
Reading: Finished up No Rest for the Wiccan last night and now I’m reading Fire Ice by Clive Cussler. I always enjoy his books. 
I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas or Hanukkah! Mine rocked!
We’re off to the French Alps to visit the ski resort town of Megève. The town became popular with High Society in the 1920s. You’ll find both downhill and cross country skiing. They even hold an annual polo tournament on the snow! Sounds dangerous for the horses, if you ask me. And there is even a snow golf tournament. (How do you find your golf balls in the snow???) You can also play regular golf in the summer and, I assume, hike the trails. And if you like, you can ride in a horse-drawn sleigh in winter. It’s a pity there aren’t more pictures. I’m sure it’s gorgeous.
Today in history:
- 1863 – Film pioneer Charles Pathé was born.
- 1898 – Marie and Pierre Curie announced the isolation of radium.
- 1900 – A relief crew arrived at the lighthouse on the Flannan Isles of Scotland, only to find the previous crew has disappeared without a trace. What happened to them? Nobody knows!
- 1903 – Actor Elisha Cook Jr was born.
- 1914 – Actor Richard Widmark was born.
- 1919 – Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox was sold to the New York Yankees by owner Harry Frazee.
- 1921 – Comedian/musician/writer Steve Allen was born.
- 1933 – FM radio was patented.
On TV tonight: the only thing on is a new episode of Rizzoli & Isles
Reading: I’m reading No Rest for the Wiccan by Madelyn Alt. I like this series a lot.
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