So i have just gotten back late last night from a full on experience in France! I flew out from Bristol the morning of the tenth to arrive in Geneva, Switzerland! The sun was shining, and the mountains looked absolutely beautfiful. Very picturesque, as if it was all just a big painting. I was staying with Hamish, who you could say is a relative of mine though i dont think we had ever met. Chamonix is where he lives with his partner and son, which is in France, about an hour or so from Geneva. It is a very popular ski destination, where slopes everywhere it seems to be the place to go. A gorgeous little cobblestreet town was right next to the house so everything is in walking distance. I had to attempt to remember my french from all those years ago, and soon found i started thinking to myself in french, although it would not have been gramatuically correct what so ever! oh and get this, apparently One Driection were there only weeks before me? so yeah i thought i could torment Tess with that one for a while, haha..
Hamish and i went for a walk in the snow with snow shoe things that help you from sinking which was beautiful and sunny but hard... i managed to get my shoe wedged backwards in the snow so i was stuck, as you will soon see in the photos.
Snow walk
snow shoe walking
where i got stuck...
Chamonix town
I also tried out skiing for the first time! two hour lesson and 122 euros later i was able to slowly move down a slope, but not to a great standard at all. You can pick out the experienced kids at ski school, the five year olds that come down zooming past you with no worries, really makes you feel great. We attempted to go skiing in Italy too one day, however their blue slopes arent quite the same as the rest of ours, and it was too steep for me so i had to get taken back down on the chairlift with an Italian man carrying my ski's and poles, not the highlight of my trip. I managed to gain a bit more confidence with my skiing at the beginners slope in Chamonix which was good, i think i ended up getting my moneys worth, how ever the pain i went through with the boots and my legs was horrendous! i have never felt anything like it, thought i was going to need to get my legs amputated.
Pro skiier
Monday resulted in me being spolit by Grandpa John and Neccy as they paid for me to go up the Aguille du Midi. The particular attraction took you up 3842 m where the view was incredibly amazing. I've never seen anything like it, France one way, Italy the next and then Switzerland. The sun was shining and the mountains just kept going. Looking down below you could see the swerving valley and i even managed to pick out the house i was staying at. Very spoilt, so Thankyou Grandpa and Neecy!
the amazing view, you can see the skiiers heading down
On tuesday i headed up to Paris by train to see the sights. Got in at about 1.30pm and took a taxi to my hotel. Chucked my bags upstairs and headed out for a wonder. I was in a fantastic location, right in the heart of Paris. A short walk and i arrived at the Galeries laFayette, a huge shopping destination with shops like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Burberry and everything else! I felt rather underdressed walking through with my jeans and a cardi on. The next day, wednesday, I was up nice and early to jump on one of the tour buses, it was fantastic! a day two pass in hand, got on the bus and set off on the 'Grand tour' of Paris! this took me to all the main tourist attractions, drove past everything! highly reccomend it if you got to Paris. Just a few of the sights included the Lourve, Notre Dame, Musee d'Orsay, the concorde, Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and of course the Eiffel Tower! i got off at many stops to take advantage of the photo opportunities, that was until my camera died just after the Eiffel tower and i then had to go back to my hotel before heading out on another journey. After a very long day on Wednesday i was up nice and early again on thursday to take more advantage off my bus pass. Checking out at nine in the morning to see some more, took me to the Champs Elysees where i entered the disney shop! i must say it was pretty cool, i wanted to buy every toy they had, but i was very strong and managed to just buy a present for little Tilly, as i know she would love it! but then i was stuck carrying around a bright pink disney princess bag all day through Paris. So that bag has done well, seen all of Paris from on top of the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower! The views were amazing and breathtaking, nothing like you could imagine. The whole time i was in Paris it still felt like a dream, i couldnt quite grasp the experience of being on the other side of the world by myself but and travelling around one of the most gorgeous cities. The photos dont do the city justice, but gives you a slight indication of its beauty.
The lourve
The Seine and the lovers bridge
Notre Dame
along the river
The concorde
Disney shop on the Champs Elysees
Arc de Triomphe
and the Eiffel tower
Back at school now ready to start work again on sunday. Summer term has been promised to be nice to me, after i got super sunburnt in Paris i need to get rid of my farmers tan!
ill try talk to you all soon!
Molly xx
