Minotel Rhodania Verbier

... control recently has broken down, this was the perfect sign to follow, where I planed to cross the border to Switzerland.

Just arrived in late afternoon to Aosta, I was not only already entered to the italian part of the alps but also to the point of good bye. Here I decided not to spend another night in Italy and crossed the border to my homecountry Switzerland a hour later at Calle del Gran San Bernardo.

BIENVENUE EN SUISSE - WELCOME TO SWITZERLAND

... a glimpse of a massive glacier on our way to the mountain and later got a great view from a peak further down the ridge. I saw a glacier this summer in Montana's Glacier Nat'l Park but I have to say that despite the parks breathtaking views, its glaciers were hardly impressive compared to Chamonix. This was a legit, man eating, climber scaling, cavernous abyss kind of glacier. We were able to take a gondola that ascended the peak parallel to the glacier some 12,000 feet. After nearly ...

... seen no TVs at the Sports Bistro, I
was intrigued when about 8:30 the barkeep unfurled a screen on a side
wall, not unlike in old school days, then turned on a projector and
turned on the French equivalent of ESPN and the bar watched an
Australian rules football match between two French rivals. Good
fun!!!



Back to the room, had some
left over Pringles and off to bed for the next part of the journey,
Annecy in the morning.

... hotel and pick up the car for my first excursion
into the countryside. I decided to head over the mountains and back
into Switzerland near Martigny, a place I have been a couple of times
as that is where I have caught the cog train to come into Chamonix
the two other times I have visited. There was a cursory border check
and then I turned around and headed back into France and to Chamonix.
The roads were somewhat scary in spots, with many switchbacks and
Chamonix, Rhône-Alpes, France nedk

I am only stayin the night just to see the Matterhorn. The sun is out and I took a hike up nearby hill. It was about an hour and a half uphill walk with regular short stops to catch my breath. I think I have had enough of hiking now, I did 4 hours of it at Montreux as well, I must have the best **** at the moment. Spectacular view of the mountain at the hilltop though. It's less of a mountain and more of a giant pinnacle of rock. It looks menacing, to prove it there is a nearby graveyard full ...

... for Jon... he said he was so nervous he forgot how to speak French. Anyway, the next day we wanted to go mountain biking but by the time we checked out, all the shops were closed from 12-3 and we couldn’t rent anything anywhere. I think everyone closes up shop and goes out to play... sweet jobs.

http://picasaweb.google.co m/Jonny.D.Lawrence/7AroundTheWorldChamo nix?authkey=Gv1sRgCPGlpbm6oq3dywE&f eat=directlink

... not any more space in the chalet, are living in a hotel in Verbier with our course organiser Mhari, there are benefits of being a married couple!! Our hotel, Au Vieux Valais, is a small swiss run hotel in the old part of Verbier. The hotel staff are very friendly and speak some English! All our meals and our season pass is included in the course. We are in walking distance of the ski lift but have been told that a free ...

... plays music he is in the mood for) spending New Years day sliding down the main street of Verbier and walking through a blizzard, the unforgettable nights at the farm club where you end up covered in 1000CF champagne and where what happens there stays there! And of course Apres ski at the Fahrenheit and secret knocks and doorways at the Casbah and simply sitting on the Chalet balcony watching the majestic Swiss Vallais Alps! Fitting 5 Aupairs into my studio one ...

... of the last word) but it is pronounced meadie, then when u get to the top ur guide will find you and will take you on a 150 ish metre walk along a norrow part of the peak to a place where you will be able to put ur skis on and get on down the hill.
this run's length depends on how much snow they get. but it took my group about half the day.
I loved it. I stayed in a very confortable motel as well. everything was great.
Definately do it.

www.elodie50a.com

Here is a video (sorry for the very bad quality)
http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=R5_9hODsqgs