J'Adore Chamonix

Last week we spent a glorious ski holiday in Chamonix, France. On Saturday we left out of Richmond and connected in Newark where we met up with my parents and mark and janet. Family rule is that we always meet up in the bar closest to the gate so all were able to find us right away. Our flight overseas was uneventful and my nose was in Twilight the whole way. We arrived in Geneva, Switzerland early in the morning and camped out in a coffee shop in the airport while we waited for Ash and Jason's flight to arrive from London. Then it was onto the bus and on our way into France and to Chamonix. 1.5 hours later and we arrived at our Chalet Villa Vallet in the center of town. Our lovely home for the week was a three bedroom, two bathroom chalet just off the main drag in the largest ski town we have ever visited.

The first afternoon was spent going to the grocery store and having a delicious lunch and then returning to the chalet for an afternoon of cheese eating, wine drinking and bananagram playing. In other words, best afternoon ever.

On Monday morning, the skiing began. We met Ashley and Jason's friends Megan and Steve in town to catch the bus to the first of many ski locations included in our lift pass. We had high expectations of Le Tours until we got there and realized we would be skiing INTER-Cloud (new term made up by Megan). We literally could not see ANYTHING and spent the day skiing very slowly in a line so we would not a) fall off the side of the mountain and b)get lost. We clearly (or not so clearly) called it a day a bit early on Monday and took the ski train back to town. Monday night was a delicious dinner of rotisserie chicken and salad courtesy of mark and janet followed by vin chaux and scattegories. What fun!

On Tuesday we woke up and headed to the closest ski area just behind our Chalet. Brevent and Flegere was delightful and one of our favorite areas of the week. Zio Stefano joined us on our skiing adventures and so we were of course in stitches all day long. On Tuesday night we had a delicious 4 hour dinner at La Caleche-a traditional French mountain restaurant with lots of cheese heavy entrees and a live yodeler. Jeff and I chose an entree where we got to grill our own meat on a hot stone. Interactive feasting is one of my favorite things to do. Mom and Dad had Raclette-another interactive eating experience of oozing, melty cheese.

Wednesday morning we headed back to Le Tours so we could see what it actually looked like without soupy fog. We had a fun day spent skiing with mom, dad, mark and janet. Lots of wide, long cruisers. Wednesday night brought tacos courtesy of Ash and Jason and more fun game playing, vin chaux and Stefano making us all laugh.

On Wednesday night, the snow began to fall much to the excitement of my husband meaning Thursday morning we woke to glorious, soft, pillowy, knee-high (or thigh-high in my case) powder. If we were to be in a Warren Miller film, Thursday would have been the day. We all finally understand why people risk their lives to ski powder. It is amazing. It also creates tremendous thigh burn and we couldn't ski as long on Thursday as we had other days. Thursday night was our dinner night and after a day in the snow we though hot, carbo-loaded pasta with meat sauce, garlic bread and salad would do the trick. Afterwards was a heated game of catch phrase and more and more wine.

On Friday morning we headed to my most beloved country in the world-La Bella Italia!!!! A day of skiing in Italy was included in our lift pass and I couldn't contain my excitement as we crossed the border. Skiing in Italy means sunshine, wide open slopes, small mountain huts, delicious pizza, headband wearing men with fantastic hair, and more. Ah how I love you Italy. Ti Amo. An apres ski bombardino and a grappa purchase later and we were back on the bus to France. On Friday night, Mom and Dad made a delicious pesto pasta and we played more catch phrase.

On Saturday morning, we woke with heavy hearts knowing it was our last full day of vacation. We skiied Le Grande Montets with our first run of the day starting at 10,000 feet. It was by far the best run of the trip due to the condition of the snow and the fact that there was not a cloud in the sky. We spent the rest of the day in true Team Extreme fashion zooming down the slopes and catching rays on the way back up. We ended the day on a steep mogul run with the most fantastic wipeout by Jason ever!!! Afterwards it was beer time in the sun and then skiing down to the very bottom. Saturday night's dinner was out at an Italian restaurant in Chamonix where we all had our final Italian pizza until our next European vacation.

On Sunday morning, we were up at 4am and on the bus back to the airport in Switzerland for our long day of travel back to Richmond.

Vacations are just the best. And even better are those that involve fresh bread from the Boulangerie every morning, cheese and salami every afternoon, game playing at night, time with my dear dear family members, and hours upon hours of skiing. I am longing to return already!

Thanks for such a great trip mom, dad, ash, jason, janet, steve, zio stefano and megan and steve. We cannot wait to do it again. xoxox