So the first day (Thursday March 31st), I was up at 3am to get myself ready to be picked up at 5 - which became 6 - by Jackson (my wondrous boyfriend), his brother, and his father in their taxi (the rest of the family travelling in a separate car). That day's journey took us to Dover and onto the ferry to Dunkirk. Here we could rest for an hour or so and eat before embarking on the next leg of the journey. This was, I believe, the first time I'd been on a ferry in daylight hours and a very pleasurable journey it was.
On the other side (France), I was reminded of how peculiar it feels to travel on the right hand side of the road. We stopped off several times along the way for breaks and food at a Carrefour (French equivalent of Walmart or any generic superstore which sells everything). Sandwiches were the main source of sustenance whilst on the move. With daylight fading, we finally pulled into a Formula 1 Hotel in Troyes Sud where we stayed for the night.
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| Beautiful view over Lake Geneva |
Friday April 1st: Breakfast at Formula 1 and the second stretch to the second Formula 1 in Thonon-le-Bains. During this trip, we passed a lot of interesting and beautiful scenery (such as this), passed through the French-Swiss border twice, and had pizza in a French restaurant called Freddos. Again, it was another late night when we made it to the Formula 1.
Saturday April 2nd: Here is where the trouble started (as there always is with large trips of this kind). Upon attempting to manoeuvre both cars from the car park of the hotel, the starter packed up on the Jeep, ergo we could not go anywhere until we had called for help and had the vehicle towed to a nearby garage where it would await repairs on the Monday (yes, a two day wait, and we weren't even at Cervinia yet!) We had to pile what stuff we could into the taxi, along with the rest of the family (leaving many important suitcases behind), and travel onto Cervinia like that. Suffice to say, I do not handle stress well and let's just say, it got to me. I was, however, one of the lucky ones for whom the majority of my luggage was taken with us (aside from 2 pairs of shoes, some slippers, and a gift for our anniversary). We made it up the steep and winding hills to Italy and our final
destination around 3pm. The scenery was such a reward (I mean, just look at it!) but we were unable to relax too much just yet. There was ski gear (helmets, skis, and boots) to fit, and later a meal at a nearby restaurant with friends of the family who had flown to Italy (instead of driving like us). The lasagne - proper lasagne - was just so tasty!
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| Ski-high mountains were so strange at first |
Jackson and I returned to the apartment we were staying in early to unpack and relax before bed that night.
Sunday April 3rd: My first ski lesson! Taught by a friendly Italian named Roberto. I proved myself a little less than able on the slopes, but within the hour I got the basics of slowing, stopping, and turning (at least to the left) into my head - maybe not so in practice! But seeing Jackson watching from afar cheered me a little through my frustration. We had dinner at the same restaurant again (and I was still amazed at how tasty traditional Italian food is - which was just as well seeing as how that was pretty much all we lived off of for the rest of our stay).
Monday 4th April: (Dad's birthday - back home) Second ski lesson, this time with Andreas who made us (that is me and one of the friends of family) attempt skiing without poles, which made me look such a fool when it came to using the 'Magic Carpet' (conveyor belt used to get skiers back up the slope). He asked us to go over to the 'Button Lift' (another method of getting skiers back up the slope - and later my mortal enemy!) This proved tougher than expected, especially when, after removing my skis, I proceeded to slide backwards into a
safety net when trying to put them back on! The lift itself was a peculiar principle as it consisted of a rubber seat on a retractable cord, and a metal pole. You had to brace your legs pretty hard in order to stay upright and be pulled up the slope - a fact which didn't stop me tumbling many a time (ergo the hatred). Going down, however, slowly became easier - and more fun on that particular day as the clouds had descended and obscured the slope after a few feet so I was skiing downhill almost blindly. After 2 hours, we were done and free to return to our friends for chips (yum - and much needed). My legs ached so badly after that lesson, and I wasn't feeling too great about my ability to ski either, so when it was suggested we go to a gelato bar, I declined. Jackson stayed with me that evening, both of us passing up dinner in favour of Breaking Bad and each other's company. On the bright side, his parents had made the long journey to collect the remains of our luggage and so I was able to give him his present (4 snapback hats) and I don't think he could've been happier!
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| Gondolas up to Plan Maison, Cervinia |
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| Blackbirds circling the town |
Tuesday 5th April: First ski day without lesson - in short, a disaster! Primarily because of the bad snow/ice, but also because I kept falling from the button lift so many times that I hardly got a decent shot down the slope from top to bottom. I was pretty pissed off after 90 minutes of half-hearted skiing and drowned my sorrows in a plate of tomato ravioli from the Plan Maison ski bar.
That evening, we had the family friends over for a big pasta salad dinner. As there were a lot of people my own age, we ended up playing card games, only with the addition of a box of Beanboozled jelly beans (Warning: if you have never heard of them, it's for the best. If someone asks if you want one, refuse adamantly). All I can say is, there are certain inedible things you don't want to know the taste of (care to lick a stinky sock?) Then again, I was a little drunk.
Wednesday 6th April: This was a day off of skiing for Jackson and I, as we decided to go down to the town of Cervinia. Despite the shops all being shut for the afternoon, it was a pleasant walk taking in the many ski rental shops, hotels, and restaurants about the place, as well as the flocks of blackbirds. The walk back up the hill was tough but with the promise of more Breaking Bad and pizza when we got in (which we had bought before we began the hike), it was well worth it. Dinner that night was just a family affair, but I was roped into another round of Beanboozled (even worse than the night before - anyone for skunk spray?) So glad we had wine to remove the taste!
Thursday 7th April: This was my proudest day yet! I was fed-up of being beaten down my the button lift (as well as not seeing Jackson snowboard) so I bit the bullet and went up with him (he was wearing a penguin onesie over his ski gear) on the bigger chair lift which took us to the top of Plan Maison (2555m). Such a beautiful ride up (and so much easier too). I made the chair lift 'my bitch' that day! However, it was here I learnt that I still sucked at turning as upon descending a slightly steeper slope, I picked up too much speed and ended up sliding down on my ass, trying to stop with my gloved hands! Eventually I got the hint that laying back would stop me - which it did. From there, it was a case of picking up tips from Jackson's family on how to turn, until I was gradually weaving my down the mountain. I still lost control and slipped in a few places but made it to the Chalet Etoile in one piece. We waited here until the rest of the group joined us and then went in to eat before attempting the final part of the slope. Somehow managed to jump on the lift once more which gave me yet more confidence which even an awkward fall couldn't mar. I twisted my left knee though, and that worried me the following day. We stopped off in a gelato bar that day which was a pretty sweet way to end.
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| Family and friends group-shot on Plan Maison |
Friday 8th April: Last day of skiing, and as I mentioned, I was so scared that my twisted knee would stop me going. After a short panic on the gondolas (the skis are placed in a rack on the outside before you get in, but it should be noted you do not put your poles with them - as Jackson's brother learnt the hard way), I was relieved to find out my leg didn't get in the way at all. What was even better, I didn't fall once! We returned to the Chalet Etoile for lunch (pasta again - but in Italy, up a mountain, you can't really get tired of the stuff! Had tiramisu too because why not?) We missed the last chair lift so I couldn't have a last run, but it didn't bother me. Ate cold pasta in the apartment and relaxed, watching him play Fallout New Vegas as the snow began to fall very heavily outside. This stopped us going to a bar in town but again, I wasn't bothered, just a little ill....got persuaded into a final game of Beanboozled before bed (Jackson adding vodka and orange to the mix which did not bode well for him the next day). We saw some peculiar flashes in the mountains that night too...
Saturday 9th April: Homeward bound sadly. Our first stop was Dijon. It was a late start, throwing snowballs and playing Tetris with luggage, not leaving Cervinia until around half 1 in the afternoon, and then Jackson started to feel ill (a combination of last night's drinking and the twisty mountain roads) but he eventually got better, and slowly Cervinia was left behind us. It was a LONG and tiring journey to the Formula 1 in Dijon. I slept on and off until we pulled into the hotel at 10.30pm.
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| Snowy morning after view from the apartment |
Sunday 10th April: Last leg of French journey to the ferry which involved a stop at a KFC (as per a tradition of Jackson's) but we made it to Dunkirk by 10, in time for the early ferry. I was very achy and tired at this point. We landed in England just as after midnight and within an hour, I was home.
I will always remember that trip, as a landmark for my relationship and as an experience I couldn't hope to have gained any other way.
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