Harry and I took an almost unheard of four weeks off work, starting from the middle of December. I thought I'd have heaps of time to do things I wanted to do but Christmas still snuck up and bit me in the bum and Harry's birthday and New Year both went by in a flash.
Then it was time to start packing for our holiday in the French Alps. I may have mentioned a time or two that I hate snow, so a week in a ski resort is way out of my comfort zone. Harry has the bug, though, and invited our elder daughter and her partner to join us. Harry and I travelled by car over three days, picking the other two up at the airport on the last leg of the journey.
I'd never imagined going on a ski trip. If I had, I'd have thought of a ski village, quite separate from the slopes. I knew about chair lifts and cable cars taking skiers up the mountains to get their fun, so it came as something as a surprise to me that the snow started right outside the apartment building. It was impossible to go anywhere without walking on that nasty white stuff. Did I say walking? I meant slithering, hanging on to Harry for dear life. After a couple of days DP (Daughter's Partner) suggested looking in the ski shop to see if they sold crampons. It was much easier with the grippy things but I wasn't let out alone, mainly, I suspect, because I have no sense of direction and am known for getting lost in unfamiliar places.
Though I loathe snow it was impossible not to be awed by the stunning scenery. I was even persuaded to ride in a cable car up to another resort higher up the mountain, where the snow was deeper but, curiously, easier to walk on.
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| The view from our balcony |
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| The view from 1600 metres up |
We've been back a week now. I've cleared the mountain of laundry and dealt with the avalanche of mail that was piled up behind the front door. Harry has got us back on track - you know what that means!
Rosie
Hi Rosie, I envy you your holiday in the snow. I am fed up to the back teeth with all this interminable rain. Glad you are home safe. Hopefully it will be Harry's turn to do it for love and head for the sunshine next time.
ReplyDeletelove Jan, xx
Hi Jan, I'm getting fed up with the rain too; it's been torrential here today. Rather that than snow for me, though. Harry's next trip is a boys' only jaunt back to the same resort in a few weeks' time. We'll get a break in the sunshine in the summer, I expect. He fancies Crete!
DeleteRosie xx
I love the snow, so your vacation sounded wonderful. Ty would hate it though, he likes sunshine. Glad that you are all back on track. Lol
ReplyDeleteI wasn't keen to go but we were in a great apartment, with views up the slopes. Our daughter took me over to the nursery slopes to watch the tiny tots rushing about on skis. That was a lot of fun!
DeleteHarry lost no time restoring the status quo!
Rosie xx
Rosie,
ReplyDeleteLove your title as that oldie goes through my brain! You are a good wife to accompany your family to the slopes. Your photos have been spectacular indeed.
Jack is a skier....... a swan on skis. His wife...... not so much! We have stayed at Whistler in Canada and the cable car and lifts meet you at the door of your hotel. Almost ! I did a lot of reading on those trips. I am not a fan of snow up close, but love it from afar.
Glad you had that much needed time off. Glad you are back on track. We are heading to those tracks, those same tracks soon as we have returned from a much needed sun break.
Great post!
Meredith
I love that song, Meredith. I thought the line "Like walking in the rain and the snow when there's nowhere to go" particularly apt! The scenery was stunning, worth the trip just for that really.
DeleteI think we both expect those tracks when we return from vacation!
Rosie xx
Rosie Girl,
ReplyDeleteYou deserve a sunny holiday as a reward for being such a good sport. Stunning scenery, though.
I, too, only like snow when I am sitting inside watching it out the window. I will brush off my bird feeders, but that is my limit.
Ella Says Roll on Summer
Rosie Says Roll on Summer too! I'd love another beach vacation like the one I had last year.
DeleteI don't like looking out the window at snow at home, it depresses me, but the scenery was too stupendous not to enjoy it in the Alps.
Rosie xx
Hi Rosie,
ReplyDeleteI'm with you...frozen water is nasty stuff that you wave over a good whisky, then throw as far away as possible. Glad you survived the trip
I prefer a good brandy Don, no ice goes in that! It's lovely to see you here; hope you and Mumski are keeping well.
DeleteRosie xx
Seeing the Alps would be quite a draw...but whenever I am planning a vacation I dream of warm weather and beaches...hope you get to plan the next get away..
ReplyDeletehugs abby
I like warm weather but can't take a lot of sun, my pasty skin hates it. Harry always plans our holidays. He's off skiing again soon without me but we'll probably get a break somewhere warm in the summer.
DeleteRosie xx
Hi Rosie, :) I can see your halo all the way across the pond! You were a trooper. I too hope that you have a nice warm trip coming your way soon.
ReplyDeleteYour photos are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing! I'm not a skier at all. I do appreciate the beauty of snow, and animals/nature during that kind of weather. You won't find me on the slopes. I tried to learn once, in the eves, when our youngest was small. I'm a wuss! I did have the kids learn, which they did in grade school on early release days. I didn't want them to end up like me. I'll stay in and have a nice hot adult beverage in front of the fire, thank you! LOL! Think beach! Many hugs,
<3 Katie xoxo
I polished that halo to a very bright shine, Katie! It was good to be away, despite having snow as far as the eye could see! It was a good break for our daughter and her partner too, they work very hard.
DeleteI had a fair few cold adult beverages. We kept the champagne out on the balcony.
I am thinking beach!
Rosie xx
Wow Rosie,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a wonderful long get away that should be followed up with a warm week with your toes in the sand!
Amy
Amy, I'm sorry you're in the doldrums right now. You have a lot on your plate. I hope you and Eric will get the chance to get away somewhere nice to forget awkward clients and nasty bosses.
DeleteHarry will probably book us a warm holiday in the summer.
Rosie xx
Glad you got to go and glad you are back safely! Nick taught me to ski before we were married. I was okay but never loved it. Last time I skied was before I was pregnant with LJ - he'll be 30 next month. You really were surrounded by beauty!
ReplyDeleteGetting there was a bit of a nightmare, the weather was awful, but all was calm at the resort. I have poor balance so I couldn't ski if I wanted to - which I don't, of course. We were, indeed, surrounded by beauty, I don't have enough adjectives to give justice to the scenery.
DeleteRosie xx
Hi Rosie,
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you were able to take that much time off. This time of year being summer here we usually take most of January off. It does make it harder to go back to work and routine though. First day today, sigh.
Even though you may not like the snow, your trip to the mountains sounds amazing. Such beautiful scenery. I agree with the others, it now needs to be followed up with a sun break :)
Hugs
Roz
Hello Roz. I have to admit the trip was amazing. I've seen photos of the snow-covered Alps before but nothing could compare to seeing the scenery in all its glory. My daughter took a photo of Harry and me against the backdrop of the mountains as proof that I had actually been there!
DeleteWe'll probably take a sun break some time in the summer. In the meantime, Harry's off skiing again soon!
Rosie xx
i've only ever been in snow once. and i envy your vacation. the fotos look wonderful but that last bit about Harry getting you back on track? ahem ahem. sounds like the best part of this post!
ReplyDeleteTrust you to pick up on that, Fondles! Harry likes to get back to 'normal' after a vacation, even if I've been an angel, as I was on this trip.
DeleteRosie xx
I'm not too keen on the snow but I would happily sit with a glass of wine looking out of the window at those views. You'll have to insist on a sunshine break next.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear you are back on track.
Love,
Ronnie
xx
I sat looking out of the window with a few glasses of wine, quite happily! I didn't manage to capture any night-time photos, unfortunately. Some of the views were spectacular in the dark too.
DeleteI'm happy to be back on track!
Rosie xx
Rosie you are wonderful doing this for your loved ones seeing you hate the white stuff so much. Love your photos.
ReplyDeleteHugs Lindy xx
You were such a good sport spending time in the cold white snow. Glad you enjoyed spending time with your family. :-) Hugs
ReplyDeleteLove the pictures! You are a trouper! I would never go up in those cable cars! I’m petrified of heights! I do love snow. However I am not a skier! I’ve only gone once many years ago!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had fun!