They live right on the Loire River with the photo above the outlook from their front window. My school girl French was very rusty (thrown in with having spent nearly two months in Spanish speaking countries) so it was a bonus having the kids as my personal interpreters on call - oh to be able to speak another language.....
In the couple of days I was in Saumur we managed to sneak in a drive along the Loire checking out the beautiful chateaux and towns, a visit to the local markets, drinking 'vin chaud' as we viewed the Christmas lights and most importantly shopping for ski gear for me. Yes that's right after 15 years of abstinence I had been persuaded to hit the slopes again, I wasn't sure that was a good idea for either myself or others around me.......
It was about a six hour drive on christmas eve racing down the auto from Saumur to the alps with a couple of stops along the way. Cluny was a highlight of the trip with it's abbey (back in its day Cluny was up against Rome to be the centre of the catholic church), fruit and veg markets, winding cobble stoned streets, Christmas decorations and beautiful shop windows. We were all mesmerised by this window, food plays a big part at Christmas in France both in the form of gifts and traditions and as usual they do it with style.
But on to the Alps, we were staying in Morillon part of the Gran Massif and once Gerard won the battle with the chains we arrived at our home for the next week with it's beautiful views over the slopes and village. It didn't take long for it to feel like home or Christmas, with our freshly cut pine tree quickly covered in decorations and presents under the tree.
And what a place to wake up to on Christmas Day, blue skies, plenty of snow, lots of Christmas cheer and off we went to hit the slopes. I quickly realised I didn't need to have felt nervous about not having skied for all those years, it just all came back and in no time we were all swishing down the slopes. The snow was plentiful, runs long and views spectacular and with my godson Duncan by my side encouraging me along it was the perfect way to spend Christmas Day.
The weather was right on side with day after day of clear blue skies, quite mild temperatures and the most amazing views. It didn't take long to head off and explore the many slopes and I have to admit I kept on being drawn back to one particular chair lift which provided us with a spectacular look out point to Mont Blanc - it really felt like you were on top of the world!
And on my final two days we woke to a winter wonderland as snow fell and whilst visibility was somewhat limited, and at times non existent, it was such great skiing we had to be out there (that was certainly a change of heart for me where at the beginning of the week I wasn't even sure I would ski!) but it couldn't last and after an adventurous departure in deep snow (thanks to Gerard for braving the roads and conditions) I was on the train hurtling across the snow covered French countryside to Paris.
It doesn't matter how many times you go to Paris, or what time of year it is, it is always magical. The christmas lights were twinkling, shop windows mesmerising, streets filled with immaculately dressed people, many options of live music and of course all the amazing Paris sights.
And then of course New Years Eve - the reason I had landed in Paris at this time of year. I had decided if I couldn't be in Sydney for NYE I needed to be somewhere else iconic. It was a magical experience but very different to Sydney. People didn't come out onto the streets until after 9 having been to dinner with family and friends beforehand. I met up with Laura and we headed to Place de Le Concorde and joined the crowds (and people who just stopped their cars in the middle of the road) waiting for the Eiffel Tower to light up and at midnight it twinkled into life with a gold and silver shimmer.
There were no fireworks, 5 minutes of twinkling and it was over but it was an amazing experience. We wandered up to the Champs Élysées which was packed with people - it's not often you get to walk up the middle of the road to the Arc de Triumph.
The following morning the streets were deserted as we made our way to my favourite part of Paris, Montmartre. I love the steep streets, little cafes interesting locals, views from Sacre Coeur and it has lots of great memories from my 2007 visit with the Leavers and Actons.
Walking around Paris is such a delight, I rechecked out the Seine, l'opera, the many streets, cafes, shops and some great concerts at Eglise de la Madeline - an organ recital and the next night a gospel choir. And of course the many different vistas of the Eiffel Tower - probably my favourite this time was from the ferris wheel at the Tuileries Gardens at sunset.
And so that ends my second France experience for the year. It's hard not to love it. As I left I had to pick up a little part of it to take with me - i'll have to go back to return it soon.....
"Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind." Seneca
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