Cyclist Paul's Travels: St. Moritz, Switzerland

I've been to St. Moritz (population 5,000) multiple times but my last visit to this ritzy ski resort was in 2009. I'm back to see what changes (if any) are visible. Cycling into the town center I pass this new building housing very high-end fashion names.

Directly across the street from the previous photo is the main entrance to the opulent Badrutt's Palace hotel. Dating back to 1896, the 5-star Badrutt's Palace is one of five hotels in St. Moritz with 5-stars. Why so many? Building permits for new homes/chalets are severely restricted and foreigners are prohibited from buying property which prevents neighboring Germans, Italians and flashy Russians from taking over the place.

This means jet-setters have to make do with bedding down in St. Moritz's slew of high-end hotel properties

Located next door to Badrutt's Palace, this building houses more famous luxury brands.

This pedestrian-only street is lined with high-end shops.

Downtown street. Jeez, you know I have a sweet tooth and the two pastry/bakery shops in St. Moritz are mediocre at best.

See that yellow building? That's the Kulm Hotel. Dating back to 1864, the 5-star property boasts a slew of amenities including its own 9-hole Executive golf course--which they say is the highest golf course in the Alps. Hmm, I was just in Davos (reportedly the highest town in Europe)--with their golf course on the edge of town. Searching the Internet I find the elevation at St. Moritz 5,910 feet above sea level and Davos only 5,120 feet.

This tennis complex belongs to the hotel. I snapped this photo to show the church tower to the right of the hotel. Yep, your eyes aren't deceiving you----that church tower is leaning (more on that later).

This is the home of the St. Moritz Bobsleigh Club. They take winter sports pretty serious here. In 1928 and in 1948 St. Moritz hosted the Winter Olympics.