Skiing in the Alps

Hello everyone!!!

Last week myself and my family drove to France for a weeks skiing in the Alps. Yes you heard right, we drove. It took a whopping 26 hours. Luckily i'm very used to these long overnight drives as we haven driven across France, drove to Italy, Belgium and Austria. Despite how long it takes, driving allows you to take almost double the amount of luggage with you (depending on your car size) than if you were to fly and when you each have your own skis, snowboards and boots, it actually works out a lot cheaper to drive. Plus you don't have to hobble around with mountains of luggage. 

Skiing is one of my favourite hobbies which unfortunately I can only fulfil once or twice a year. When some one mentions winter, I instantly think of skiing and snow and become all exited and giddy haha. 

I will run you through a typical day of skiing for those people who have never been and have wondered.

The day begins at about 7.30am. Early I know and if you thought skiing was a relaxing rejuvenating holiday, think again. Of coarse theres time to relax in the sauna after a long day of skiing but ultimately, you're there to ski, not to relax. 

When you have risen from your warm, cosy bed, I like to look outside to see what the weather is like.

Usually a sunny blue sky kind of day means its going to be extra special. When its sunny, you can see the glorious snowy mountains for what they really are. On snowy cloudy days, its sometimes rather challenging.

A hearty breakfast is definitly needed and whilst in France, taking a morning trip to the patisserie is a no-brainer. Unfortunately I didn't manage to snap any pictures of the amazing pastries and cakes but i'm sure you could let your imagination run wild imagining what they would look like.                                                                                                    

Ski school  starts at 9.00am in most resorts, so for those beginners, you would probably be in ski school for the morning. As a child I loved ski school as they make lessons so fun and exiting. Some people who are new to skiing think they will be fine not taking lessons but you defiantly have to. They teach you the proper techniques and not taking lessons, is quite frankly dangerous, not only for yourself but for other skiers and snowboarders. 

Ski lifts open at about 9.00am and so its up the chairlifts we go!!! Allez on y va. 

The views are simply fantastic. 

How cool is this paraglider. You see them a lot when the weather is good. Im so desperate to try this and have made a promise to myself that next year I will pluck up the courage to do this with someone tied to the back of me of coarse. 

After a busy and hard morning of skiing, its time for lunch. There are many places to eat on the mountains but we more than often come back to eat and have a quick nap. My favourite thing for lunch when skiing is a big bowl of thick soup with French baguette, followed by an unhealthy amount of biscuits. The pros of coming back means you can relax on a comfy sofa to gain back some energy needed to be able to ski for the rest of the day. 

Got your energy back yet? Oh good, its time to get your ski on haha. 

Skiing in the morning on fresh, unmarked snow is one of the best feelings ever. When you can make your own tracks, it makes you feel so special. Plus the sensation is even better. 

If you're unsure about the colors of each slope, i'll give you a quick run down:

Green=Beginner

Blue=Easy/Intermediate

Red=Advanced intermediate

Black= Difficult/Advanced/Expert

Some blacks are harder than others but some reds are almost equally as hard. You often see some skiers who look like they know they've made the wrong decision by coming down a certain slope and you can only hope they make it down in one piece haha. 

Trying desperately hard not to be blinded by the sun whilst having my photo taken. 

So this photo brings a close to a day in the life of skiing. The lights are so warming up on the mountains and I love to walk through the village, walking in and out of little shops. 

To end the day, we would typically head to a bar for a refreshment of some sort and to get some supper. 

I hope you've enjoyed following what a day of skiing is like for me. Its different for everyone and if you have never been and you get the opportunity, don't even hesitate to say yes. 

Thats all from me peeps.

xoxo

A.Corn

Paris Day Two

After a very busy day yesterday, today was certainly no different and possibly even busier. As this was a very last minute trip, we were only managed to squeeze in four days with only two full days so this was technically our last day, cue the violins. 

We began the day at the Louvre to see the vast amount of exhibitions and galleries but mainly to see le incroyable, Mona Lisa.

Lucky for us brits, entrance is free to most if not all of the exhibitions going on in Louvre if you can prove your british.

Before joining the humongous Queue to get through security, we found ourselves taking a few typical touristic pictures and by few, I mean a lot.

The architecture in France is just so spectacular and grand you cant help but be jealous of all the Parisians who live here. 

Selfie time haha. 

The interior of the Louvre is just as spectacular as the exterior. You will find yourself walking up and down incredible stairs feeling like Cinderella but with two glass slippers rather than one. Okay okay, maybe they weren't glass slippers but walking around Paris all day in heels would not be the most practical thing to do, unless you're Posh spice of coarse. Instead I wore my Birkenstocks which I agree, not the most fashionable thing to wear but they are just so comfy!!!

Casually chilling with my older male friends haha. These are actually mirrors with the three men painted on it. Looks rather real if you ask me. If you look closely the man in the middle is giving me evil eye :s. What could I have possibly done wrong? 

We followed the crowd and stumbled across dum dum dummm, Mona Lisa. The painting is much smaller than imagined and both myself and my friends thought she looked a lot more smilier in person  but I think we were a bit delusional. 

Obviously something tickled my fancy here. Im pretty sure I was trying to imitate the mans face in the right corner but it didn't quite work. 

After a while we pondered our way over to the Napoleon III Apartments which are an exceptional record of Second Empire decorative art. If you ever only have a limited time at the louvre, going to Napoleons apartments is a must!!!

Each room is filled with the most minute detail and each with a magnificent chandelier. I do sometimes wander what it would have been like to live in the 1800's and what it would have been like to be someone like Napoleon and live on such a grand estate.

I have visited a vast amount of grand places like this but this has to be the most grand and most jaw dropping I have been to. Long hall ways and grand staircases lead you to large rooms which were there to entertain guests. I would certainly love to have been entertained in a place like this. 

The view isn't too bad either. 

A table large enough to feed the 5000.

Scandalous haha!!!

After a long yet fun filled morning, we headed to Rue Saint-Honoré, a street filled with shops and cafes. We decided to have lunch and cake in Angelina's which I was recommended to go to by a close friend of mine.

Angelina is home to one of Paris's most scrumptious desserts and is just moments away from the Louvre. The hot chocolate is just pure delight and some would describe it as heaven in your mouth. Its so thick and creamy and tastes just like hot chocolate from Italy but better. 
I opted for the quiche and had some sort of chocolate tart which were both tasty but I must admit, I have had better quiche in my life. 

Next stop: Le Jardin des plantes. 

Its a lovely park with lots of greenery and there is also a zoo. There is a hill in the mist of the large park which once you have figured out how to get to the top of it, a little seating area awaits. We sat here for a while reading magazines and just relaxing after a busy morning. 

We wanted to wait and see Notre dame at almost sunset as we thought the light on the cathedral would be prettier and prettier it was. 

We were all very exited to see the catherdral as the Hunch back of Notre dame is one of our favourite films. 

On our way back we came across this bridge with thousands of love lockets on it. I think the concept of it is just beautiful and one day when I am in love,  I can return to paris and put a locket on this bridge. Supposably, after locking the love padlock onto the fence, lovers toss the keys into the Seine river and then this a sign of their eternal devotion.

And that my friends is where our Parisian adventure basically ends. If you have never visited Paris before you should as there is something to do for everyone. Its such a wonderful, vibrant and busy city that it would make even the hardest of people smile. 

Au revoir xoxo