Now, to follow the gps on your car- display is not alway so straight forward as you might wish to believe. Firstly, with this model of car, you can not zoom out far enough to get the bigger picture…So once you've keyed in the destination, I do not really know if the "voice" will actually take you on the road that you WANT to go….
On the last day of 2022 magical Annecy in the dark, needed to be explored in day-light too… so after breakfast in the junior suite, we duely packed our bags and struggled them downstairs to our car. Arno has al last figured out how to puzzle the bags into the limited space - His mission: nothing fall on the brave child, who volunteered to sit in the little 'post box' beside all the luggage.
We made our way down to the old town centre and lake-front - hoping to park in the same spiral underground parking garage than the previous evening….BUT it was Saturday morning beside the lake and the place was heaving!! Joggers, families, cyclist, electric scooters, bicycles…dogs… you name it.
Eventually we found a parking place up the hill, close to the Annecy Castle.The small cobbled streets of the old town were now filled with Saturday second-hand vendors. The girls were in their element, exploring the glass ornaments, old frames and cute little jewelry boxes. And it was busy with people…very busy!! We found a little patiserie and stock up on the nesaccery pan de chocolates. I tried a 'flan' - this is a tart-like treat, almost like the South African milk tart, but more dense in texture and a less sweet. Very yummie. Our first experience of the 'machine-coffees'...this one was really bad….
We were looking forward to our shorter(less than 3h's) drive to Saint Francois Longchamp(SFL for short), in the French Alps, south of Geneva. Well, in the attempt to drive through the coutryside, in stead of on the Toll roads, our gps took us back to Geneva, and not south as intended…so we were drivin in the wrong direction and we were stuck….on a motorway. Well, what can one do?? Breath and enjoy the scenery….
It was nearly dark when we eventually arrived in SFL 1650 (There is a SFL 1450 too - indicates the hight above sealevel) We made a stop down in the valley, to fuel up and to purchase some food and neseccities for the week (with the limited space in the car, the groceries for a week for 6 people were piled on the laps of people for the last 30km up the hill!)SFL was like a ant-nest….cars, people walking and on ski's EVERYWHERE!! Eventually we found the tourism office, where we were supposed to pick up our keys and linen. We lined up and waited patiently.While I got myself comfortable in the slow-moving que, Arno popped over to the ticket office, where he picked up our pre-booked ski-lift passes. I waited very patiently in line….. It was change-over day. EVERYBODY who were checking into the resort, could pick up their keys from 5pm…so this line was not short… Outside it was turning dusk and then dark….I was at the front of the line.
Yay!!
No???
Ok, there is another Tourism Office??
We found 'our' tourism office right next to where we've parked the car…in the relatively quiet area…… oh my goodness…we could have saved ourselves so much time, but let us not cry about spilled milk…
Apartment Blanc de Soleil A03 Navigating a new area in he dark is never a joke, but I am happy to report, with the help of Alana on google maps, we just did one or two wrong turns!! Our apartment block even had a lift from the level zero drop off car park. Thank you!!
A well fitted 'tiny house' for the next 7 days, welcomed us. Just a quick bag drop, then we had to rush over to the Sport2000shop to pick up the pre-booked ski's boots, snowboards and helmets. As with cycling, skiing and snowboarding has now also made the safety transition…nearly everyone is wearing helmetson the slopes, by own choice .
Ski's and boots fitted So for those of you who do not know the details - just a short description: Ski's get allocated according to the athlete's length and weight and also ability level. The very hard plastic ski-boots needs to fit very tight, with the heel of your foot pressed hard against the back of the boot. Luckily, the inside of the shoe is well padded, but still…one's feet do suffer, more so if the boot is not tightened enough or if the boot is of the wrong design. As you hopefully can understand now, the whole process of picking up your ski's boots, poles and helmets can take considerable time. Once you've picked your boots, and your ski's have been chosen for you by the expert assistant….. It's not the end yet!! Now the boots needs to be fitted to the ski's. The tightness of the bindings also depends on your ability…normally quite accurately guessed by the assistant, according to the skier answering the questions posed in nearly understandable French-English: ' When was the last time you've skied? Expert? Intermediate?'
Once the springs on the bindings have been set to the 'hopeful' right tension, you are good to go.
Before you leave the shop a set of ski-poles get shuffed into your already full arms… now we were really ready for the next week of exhillirated fun, pain, laughter and memories that will last a lifetime.
Back in our cozy apartment, beds had to be made, dinner had to be prepared (no luxuy of dining out for BIG South African families on the ski-slopes of France!!), we had to find a place to store luggage and get a system going for dirty clothes and what to do with the wet boots and jackets. Eventhough the space was limted, we felt so blessed to be on the slopes as a family together.
There was only two things missing.....cold weather, causing snowfall... and our German friends. Family Krause was supposed to have joined us in SFL. Unfortunately one of the girls was unwell, plus because it was a long drive for them and the snow conditions were really awefull, they decided to postpone their ski-week. Rightly so. We just missed them very much though!
Just as we were about to sit down to our meal, we were called outside on the little balcony for an unexpected firework show. That was a great red cherrie on the cake of 2022.
After dinner and special Hogmony pudding, the ski-week had to be kicked off in traditional fashion with a round of UNO and todd of schnaps!! And do not forget the Hogmonay RAVE party for 6!!!
Bring on the snow 2023!!
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