Les Montagnes

So, where do I start?

A five hour drive and we arrived in the heart of the French Alps (Grand Massif) at a cute little village called Les Carroz. We stayed with Claire's brother Jacques and his wife Annique in a cute and luckily rather large chalet just out of town with wonderful views. It was dark when we arrvied but by the headlights I could see... la niege!! YAY!!

The whole family is really nice and the day after Christmas we were a total of 20, which makes setting the table a real task. We had 2 Christmases - one on actual Christmas Eve and then one on the evening of the 26th December. They put their presents beside shoes - it was all very confusing at first but i think i have the hang of it! From my host family I received a nice book of pictures of Montpellier, a silk scarf from Lyon, some cute photo holders, and something else... I forget, alas. I missed Christmas back home a little, but as we were skiing all Christmas day, i didn't really have time to dwell on it - probably a good thing!

Food was generally quite normal (possibly because I wasn't having the same as everyone else) but the special Christmas bit was the desserts and sweets and treats afterwards. We would sit around the table for an hour after dinner munching on truffles, weird dates with suger bits, Papillots, Christmas Log (yummy), glace quinces and chestnuts. Yum!!

Next to talk about is the skiing. We went skiing Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday. I was all geared up in my ski combination (which looks hilarious - wait forthe photos!!), beanie, scarf etc. (Note - snow boots are the most comfy shoes ever - like waterproof ugg boots! BUT ski shoes are the most UNcomfortable shoes ever! It is impossible to walk in them, but funny to watch other people try - it is a cross between a strut and a moonwalk but really unco!!) First day in my mini-skis (best for 'debutants' - that is me!) i started out in a bad way, falling every time i tried to turn; but once you have got it - you have it!! And so i mastered the art of turning that morning and from then I was all good! The first day i probably fell about 10 times after I learned to turn and it reduced from there - Thursday i only fell twice! But i find falling isn't that bad, as long as your skis are perpendicular to the slope, you stop pretty quick and dont get hurt!

We skiied all days at a resort called Flaine, which was a 20 min drive from the Chalet. It was nice, with great views of Mont Blanc from the top - 3400 metres up!! Normally at this time of year they can go skiing literally from the back door of the Chalet, but not this year. :-( I think there was about 5 cm of snow, but even with that, there weren't many slopes open and so is was a tad crowded. by the last day as well, many of the sloped were getting either rocky or icy. but it was still fun. I got some video of me skiing on my camera so everyone can see when we get back. And now that i can ski this means that Dad you will have to take me skiing back in Aus.

Both the days that we didn't go skiing we went on little hikes up mountains to more great views and some very enjoyable picnics! The whole of the French Alps is very picturesque - with all the chalets built in the traditional style and with a light covering of snow. And, while you are up there (even at the Chalet!) you are actually above the clouds. Every day we were there it was sunny (which was nice for skiiing but bad ebcause it didnt snow!) and you can see the 'mer de la nuage' (sea of clouds) between the mountains below you. Uber cool!! Another cool thing is the white trees - its not snow, but the trees have been in fog or cloud, get wet and then the water freezes - and they loook white! This is also awesome!

Okay - who wants pictures?? Maybe today, maybe not. We leave again tomorrow (heading South West this time) for New Years and then return in a few days.

Hope that everyone had a great Christmas (i think possibly the weather in the French Alps was more pleasant than in Melbourne!) and enjoy your New Years Eve parties!!