Pierre & Vacances Residence Les Constellations La Plagne

hello everyone!

so we got to London at 5PM on Saturday, jumped on a coach and went to France. We got there around 11.30AM on Sunday and just chilled out for the rest of the day, were a bit dead from the coach journey. there wasn't any snow when we got there.... got a bit drunk in the chalet in the evening but couldn't go out as nowhere was open!

Monday we got up and it had snowed overnight and it hasn't stopped since! started training, got uniform etc ...

... out from lack of oxygen I was able to gather myself and enjoy some really amazing views along with a packed lunch. After the mountain trek we went into the small ski town and enjoyed some of our "favorite brewage and enjoyed the surroundings" (per request of prof. Delmar).

Heading to Rome and Barcelona next week, another post should follow shortly after.

We're approaching the final week of this "bi-mester." The work load is getting steadily heavier and I combat it by ...

... into MacD's and decided a big mac meal for 6 euros would hit
the spot. This was a very unique McDonalds, done up in
mountaineering theme and was located out of the way, as for 2 ˝
visits to Chamonix, I did not know it was there. After lunch I
wandered around town for a bit as it started to brighten. Back to
the room to read and ready for dinner, although I was not hungry
after the meal at the arches. I headed out for dinner, still not
hungry and after seeing a ...

... was awakened by the fire
alarm going off in the hallway. I got my shoes on and went down the
stairwell to the lobby floor. I was on the 3rd floor
(the 4th floor in the US) and did not want to be caught by
a fire. It turned out to be a false alarm and back to the room I
went. I gathered my stuff and headed off to the town center to see
what was happening. Chamonix was the birthplace of mountaineering as
it sits at the base of Mt. Blanc, the tallest mountain in ...

... have french onion soup which is soooooooo good and Dan has a seafood salad which he loves, then we have fondue with champagne, mushrooms and dip in bread, potato and meat. It was a seriuosly yummy fondue! No room for dessert, we head back to the room and try to decide where we want to go the next day. I am interested in St Paul de Vence..Dan thinks its a bit far. We discuss Avingon, St. Remy and various other combination, but don't find the solution. Bed time and a rethink in the morning!

From there we drove from Switzerland to Chamonix, France. For all you skiers out there, this would be a wicked ski vacation. It’s a true little French ski town and the mountains looks insanely steep. The food is melted cheese, potatoes and bacon. Yes, heart attack in a casserole dish. Yummy. We also had a fun encounter with the Chamonix Gendarmerie... Jon drove up a one way street by mistake. There was construction and it was ...

As we were next to the Alps, we decided to go trekking around Chamonix for a couple of days, and get some fresh mountain air. Nats felt at home as the place we stayed in Chamonix was the exact same as where she stayed 4 years ago when she came skiing here!!

We were very lucky wih the weather on the first day, and the views over the mountain range was magnificent. We walked from Vallorcine up to the lac ...

... our chalet, Les Menezes. Finding our seats and squeezing all the luggage wherever it could fit, snowboards over the seats, and bags all around, we sleepily but happily looked out our window up the mountain for any sign of snow hoping that despite all dire warnings of global warming that we were going to find something on which to board for the next seven or eight days. We were the first of the group of 13 to arrive. Our hosts Jo and Max (both British) welcomed ...

... I said 'nous avons deja achete, nous avons deja paye...?'). Calling over our Crystal representative didn't help at all of course, since he spoke not a word of French. Luckily the same drama was happening at the other check-in desk with another group who had arrived with us, and somehow Crystal and the hotel sorted it out. After lugging our gear uphill through the car park we finally arrived at our room, which was in the highest apartments of the resort ...

The reason I went to France was to go skiing at chamonix/Mont Blanc, which i did and it was fantastic and i will be doing again very soon before i get tied up.. while i was there i did the world famous ski run Valley de blanche you ski over a glacier. which is amazing, the veiws you get on theis run are spectacular. definately take a camera.
to start this run however you take a gondola up to the summit of Aguille de medie (i'm unsure of the correct ...