WI Not??????

A recent trip to Zermatt illustrated the strength and diversity of change that is overtaking this most popular of European mountain destinations. None the least is the propensity of WI FI (hot spot) Internet possibilities. A place to open your notebook and start emailing, messaging or calling is, literally, just around the corner. Any corner. Go to many pubs and restaurants and access is totally free if you are eating or drinking. In some cases one does not even need a computer, just borrow the house's. This is the case at Potter's Bar anyway. Besides good home made and affordabe food, the local workers are to be found at most hours of the day busily logging on and doing their thing. This is also but to a lesser extent true at Nelly's pub and in many other casual but trendy and friendly places to work, chat and eat too. As well just about every hotel worth its salt features a wireless connection. At some you pay a fee, at others its included in the room price, whatever. Now one would think that this is the death knell for Zermatt's countless Internet cafes. Such is definitely not the case. Most people do not go to Zermatt packing a notebook, so, the traditional Internet cafe suits them fine. Did you catch the word traditional and Internet cafe in the same sentence? Internet cafes in Zermatt are as traditional as, say, sheep on the main street in summer. However it was not long ago that they were not. To my knowledge one of the earliest Internet Cafes in Zermatt was at the Hotel Post. It was the brainchild of Karl Ivarsson who came up with the idea when he was in his sixties. Karl no longer runs the Post but is busy with the Zermatt Yacht Club. The headquarters of which can also be found in the friendly confines of Nelly's pub. Great forward vision Karl.