Joy! Winters nadir is a distant memory and an excitingly snowy New Year once again heralds our return to the slopes. Eager as we are in our pursuit of the ideal winter holiday, we’ve spotted a likely haunt and we’re ready for some fun. Our destination this time is the mysterious Saint Sorlin d’Arves.
Now then, were ski resorts girls at a disco, then for us St Sorlin would bea pretty girl whom we know so little about. She may turn out to be dull, like cats and dance self-consciously whilst wittering on about the romantic poets. Or, on the other hand, she may be the broad minded daughter of a brewery magnate who’s after a bit of rough. We’re yet to find out (brewery heiress with luck). However, that’s all part of the fun of trying new places, you never know when you’ll bump into a brewery heiress, myopic supermodel or “actress”. Just thank God Tiger Woods doesn’t ski.
The truth of the matter is that we’re circling the room dancing with as many girls as we can. All the time casting meaningful looks at our former belle, the ever saucy Val d’Isere, with her pretty white dress, obvious charms and an entourage of eager suitors. Tart! You’ll be back! (So will we)
Anyway this year we’ve brought some new blood into the team; We still have Ashley(youthful exuberance), Phil(experienced Himalayan explorer) and Rhod(grumpy, plump, insurance-risk). But, we’ve also recruited Matt (tea-boy and poker school victim). Matt is a first time boarder (long time reader) and has the joys of ski school to look forward to. If I remember correctly this involves a bunch of gauche French types who’s “ teaching” technique (if you’re a bloke) entails pointing, shouting and shrugging, but switches to close contact body moulding, meaningful glances and smouldering pouts if you’re a woman anywhere between ten and a hundred. Good luck Matt!!
In a bid to make the trip as complicated as possible, we’ve decided on a multi-transport, multi-destination pfaffathon involving cars, overnight ferries, the tunnel and a number of interesting French towns to explore. Plus Lens, which is a bit of a dump. We’re quite looking forwards to Aix les Bains, alpine spa town and night number two on our itinerary. Aix hosts a large collection of Rodin’s art, the second largest in France (possible museum trip ahoy!) and between 1948 and 1960 hosted motor races around the streets of the town with luminaries such as Stirling Moss and Jean Behra making appearances.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aix_les_Bains
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aix_les_Bains_Circuit_du_Lac
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Jean-d'Arves
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Sybelles
