We left Camberley with more than a lump in our throats and headed home…; home being our car parked in Milan airport. We were finding the ‘vagrant’s’ lifestyle a touch strange, especially as our packing of the car was haphazard to say the least. We could never find anything. In addition to this frustration at our new situation we had some trepidation in our hearts as we would be visiting our rented ‘home’ in a short while. How were we going to feel?
The experience of the Gap Year did show a marked change in our attitude, due mainly to the fact that our budget is now ‘tighter’ than in the past. We had now become very proficient in using the public transport and finding ‘economical’ places to eat. We even managed to keep to budget when in London: not an easy feat.
We arrived at Milan airport fairly late in the evening and sped towards the Mont Blanc tunnel. Our arrival in France was heralded by the flash of a speed camera, on a very windy section of road, where the speed limit signs litter the side of the road ranging from 50-110 kph. I never did figure out exactly what this profusion of signs really meant as under most of them would be a tiny silhouette of the vehicle they were referring to; not easy to spot at over 110 kph in the dark. I predict we’ll definitely be receiving the fine…; no I am not going to comment about the French; robbing b*****ds.
We had two days in Les Gets before heading north and couldn’t resist one more day on the slopes. It was a real joy as we knew the area so well, and the pistes which two months ago had seemed precariously steep, were conquered with almost disdainful ease. Congratulations to our instructor; the penny had finally dropped.
While we had been away the Portes du Soleil area had experienced even more snow. Our hosts had asked us if we could dig out their car buried under a snowfall from the chalet roof. Keen to be of use we set about the task with gusto.
Car under snow
The experience of the Gap Year did show a marked change in our attitude, due mainly to the fact that our budget is now ‘tighter’ than in the past. We had now become very proficient in using the public transport and finding ‘economical’ places to eat. We even managed to keep to budget when in London: not an easy feat.
We arrived at Milan airport fairly late in the evening and sped towards the Mont Blanc tunnel. Our arrival in France was heralded by the flash of a speed camera, on a very windy section of road, where the speed limit signs litter the side of the road ranging from 50-110 kph. I never did figure out exactly what this profusion of signs really meant as under most of them would be a tiny silhouette of the vehicle they were referring to; not easy to spot at over 110 kph in the dark. I predict we’ll definitely be receiving the fine…; no I am not going to comment about the French; robbing b*****ds.
We had two days in Les Gets before heading north and couldn’t resist one more day on the slopes. It was a real joy as we knew the area so well, and the pistes which two months ago had seemed precariously steep, were conquered with almost disdainful ease. Congratulations to our instructor; the penny had finally dropped.
While we had been away the Portes du Soleil area had experienced even more snow. Our hosts had asked us if we could dig out their car buried under a snowfall from the chalet roof. Keen to be of use we set about the task with gusto.
Car under snow
Despite all our efforts the car would not budge and it was then we realised logs had been put under the front tyres to prevent it rolling up-hill! Strangely nobody is admitting to this illogical health & safety action… Thirsty from all the exertion we walked down to the local bar to meet our old landlords and another couple who had taken ‘our’ apartment. They had also embarked on a gap year; we were not alone. However they don’t really qualify as one is still working as an airline pilot on long haul, but he does manage quite long periods off; sounds like a ‘bobbies’ job to me! Fly for 20 minutes to 33,000 feet and flick on autopilot, then occasionally elbow the co-pilot to make sure he stays awake for 10 hours; tough life…? It was then our bubble was well and truly burst. We were comparing our itineraries and our newly acquired ‘comrades in arms’ stated they were organising a float plane to fly over Alaska; this did seem to have the edge over island hopping in the Caribbean; but horses for courses!
View from the chalet
The next day, as we sat sipping a coffee on the veranda admiring a magnificent view of the Alps, we had the opportunity for a few moments of reflection.
At the outset we had laid out three main objectives:
Firstly to keep to a fairly tight budget. Our personal target would be to ensure the cost of the trip would not exceed the cost of just ‘staying at home’. The weakening Sterling was making this very difficult but we were actually enjoying the challenge. No more jumping into taxis; it was the number 137 bus and an Oyster card!
Secondly, we wanted to experience three habitats. To live in the mountains, by the sea and finally in an ancient Italian city; each for a reasonable period of time. We had now experienced the mountain life; it had been better than we could ever have dreamed. The crisp air, sunshine, constant breathtaking views and the feeling of well being countered the ‘harder’ life style.
Finally we were seeking “places of interest but value for money”. We have also been very fortunate as we believe, so far, we have experienced more than our fair share.
Visit our sister blog: http://www.facts-oldgitsgapyear.blogspot.com/
However we still have a lot to do…
A typical example of “places of interest but value for money” came from an excellent website for B&B’s called Alastair Sawday. On our drive back to the UK we stayed in a French “Family House” in a small village to the West of Verdun. If ‘La Montgoniere’ is anything to go by then we highly recommend this website. Our ‘room’ was more like a suite at the Dorchester, the house was decorated in an exquisite French style and the food was home cooking at its very best. While we sat alone in the family dining room we noticed the wine had the same name as the owner…, it turned out the family own the vineyard in Bordeaux: now that’s having one up on the Jones! The village is very typical of the area where the farms seem to be an integral part of the main street.
Harricourt: A one horse town?
However we still have a lot to do…
A typical example of “places of interest but value for money” came from an excellent website for B&B’s called Alastair Sawday. On our drive back to the UK we stayed in a French “Family House” in a small village to the West of Verdun. If ‘La Montgoniere’ is anything to go by then we highly recommend this website. Our ‘room’ was more like a suite at the Dorchester, the house was decorated in an exquisite French style and the food was home cooking at its very best. While we sat alone in the family dining room we noticed the wine had the same name as the owner…, it turned out the family own the vineyard in Bordeaux: now that’s having one up on the Jones! The village is very typical of the area where the farms seem to be an integral part of the main street.
Harricourt: A one horse town?
The local fire engine was in need of updating!
Not all the houses were grand and we were informed one was up for sale, but it might need a little bit of work doing to it…
For sale: may need some attention…, the French Estate Agents are not that different to the UK!
One aspect that strikes you when driving through this part of France is the number of war graves; from both World Wars. The sight of so many cemeteries, full of youth, evoked some sobering thoughts and makes one appreciate being from a generation never having to experience a major war.
Again the Channel Tunnel service was excellent. We did experience an eerie moment, however. The sunshine had made the automatic booking-in screen unreadable. When I pressed the help button I was answered by, “Good Morning Mr.Jordan, how can I help you?” How do they do that?
We drove to Cheshire where we had to ‘endure’ one week meeting and catching up with all our friends and family; we thought the après-ski was bad for the liver… Our visit to our ‘home’ to switch suitcases, and meet our tenants, turned out to be a real pleasure and our fears of regret or being homesick were ungrounded. To say we are lucky to have such a lovely family looking after our ‘home’ is an understatement.
We once again struck lucky as some friends lent us a small cottage in their grounds, which over looks the Cheshire Plain and the Welsh mountains in the distance. (Yes, the same ones with the Chalet…there will be a huge sigh of relief when we leave Europe!)
View across the Cheshire towards the Welsh hills
Again the Channel Tunnel service was excellent. We did experience an eerie moment, however. The sunshine had made the automatic booking-in screen unreadable. When I pressed the help button I was answered by, “Good Morning Mr.Jordan, how can I help you?” How do they do that?
We drove to Cheshire where we had to ‘endure’ one week meeting and catching up with all our friends and family; we thought the après-ski was bad for the liver… Our visit to our ‘home’ to switch suitcases, and meet our tenants, turned out to be a real pleasure and our fears of regret or being homesick were ungrounded. To say we are lucky to have such a lovely family looking after our ‘home’ is an understatement.
We once again struck lucky as some friends lent us a small cottage in their grounds, which over looks the Cheshire Plain and the Welsh mountains in the distance. (Yes, the same ones with the Chalet…there will be a huge sigh of relief when we leave Europe!)
View across the Cheshire towards the Welsh hills
We didn’t however totally fritter our time away socialising and we have been updating the sister Blog:
http://www.facts-oldgitsgapyear.blogspot.com/
We hope this website will give others, mad enough to undertake a similar adventure, a taste of our experiences, some assistance in their plans and maybe a few ideas.
The UK weather hasn’t been too bad, but we are already hankering for the mountain air, blue skies, the swoosh of skies on powder snow and of course the après-ski environment. Oh well, will just have to put up with the Caribbean. We are not sure when we will be able to find an internet connection but hopefully our next posting will be from St.Kitts; life’s a bitch…
http://www.facts-oldgitsgapyear.blogspot.com/
We hope this website will give others, mad enough to undertake a similar adventure, a taste of our experiences, some assistance in their plans and maybe a few ideas.
The UK weather hasn’t been too bad, but we are already hankering for the mountain air, blue skies, the swoosh of skies on powder snow and of course the après-ski environment. Oh well, will just have to put up with the Caribbean. We are not sure when we will be able to find an internet connection but hopefully our next posting will be from St.Kitts; life’s a bitch…
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