Slopes everywhere

Transfer: 100 degrees of uncomfortable inclination aboard the 20:25 Eurostar from St Pancreas to Moutiers Salins Brides. Uncomfortable for many reasons. Ambitions of getting a good nights rest before our excursion to the slopes were promptly stifled the minute we stepped on board. People were full of energy and enthusiasm. The elation of finishing a week of work or study coupled with the anticipation of a weekend at the French Alps prompted loud chatter and drinking. Our carriage contained two loud groups; me being nestled between both. Realising that sleep was a case of wishful thinking I popped open the book I had started American Psycho. The chatter became so loud that I couldn't even concentrate on the story. I drifted in and out of murderous ways of the protagonist wishing that Patrick Bateman were on the train.

Eventually, the loud group passed out from excessive alcohol consumption or more likely from the drab dialog. But here's where things get entertaining. One of the guys from the initial loud group now clearly trying to get some sleep starts to complain to the other group. "Hey do you mind, we're all going skiing tomoor w and want to get some sleep?". After this act of self-righteousness the other group starts to complain. "The nerve of that guy, their group was so loud and now that they want to sleep". In the end nobody gets any sleep as we're all kept awake from the loud snoring.


Details: Accommodation was at Hotel le Roc.Location-wise you can get no better, in the middle of town, on top of a bar and within minutes from the ski lifts. Excellent budget accommodation with gracious hosts. We happened to stay during off peak so we were given a free night of accommodation and even a late checkout!


Gear: I am thoroughly under packed. Tried to hire clothing but that failed, ended up borrowing pants from the British tour guide, used the gloves I found in Iceland, borrowed goggles from a friend and used socks and t shirts as padding. Completely roughed it out.


Snow boarding: Not too much to really describe here. 4 days worth of snowboarding in Meribel. Absolute bliss. Boarding level is improving but I'm still in a world of pain after the 4 day trip. Unfortunately I didn't dare bring my camera with me onto the slopes so I've had to pinch a couple of pictures from friends. Most nights we were either too sore or too buggered after a long day on the slopes and retired early.


Of the four nights we spent there, only once did we go out at night. Evolution Bar, full of tourists and the drinks were quite pricey as with all things in Meribel. Luckily the bar had a policy with every order where they presented you with 3 upside down cups, if you happened to pick the cup with the ball underneath it (1/3 chance) then your order would be free. As expected, the bar had a relaxing atmosphere with a nice cover band artist. Evening was spent nursing our bruises, meeting the locals and singing along to classics. Mr Big, Oasis, The Beatles and Guns and Roses. So this marks the end of my final Winter holiday for this season.

Icelandic Food

Smoked Puffin

Pan fried lobster

Hotdog vendor

Lobster soup

Horse

Whale Sashime

Plaice

Chocolate Brownie

Iceland Excursion

I was genuinely looking forward to this trip. The last few trips have been memorable but hardly distinguishable. Walking through the cobbled streets, looking at Churches, eating street food from that vendor in the main square. Wait a minute, which country was that again? In all honesty it does start to become slightly repetitive. This trip would also be different because we had a schedule and a list of things to do. In total, 11 people would embark on the 3 hour flight from London to Reykjavik.

Flights plus 3 nights accommodation at Hotel Cabin (£205). The flight was comparatively longer than most weekend trips but was comfortable and most importantly did not feel rushed. Hotel Cabin was basic but featured a shower which makes a mockery of Australian Water Restrictions. Speaking of water, the tap water was the best tasting water I've have ever tasted.

Day 1 (07/03/09):

0930: Breakfast
1000: Hire Car and drive around the Golden Circle (£25)
2000: Dinner reservation at Humarhusid (£60)
2330: Apotek Bar

That was at least the plan. We picked up the hire car just after midday and began our first day in Iceland.

Gullfoss Waterfall. Absolutely freezing up there, don't let the pictures fool you.


Geysir and Strokkur.


The National Park leg of our private tour suffered a premature end when our hire car showed little enthusiasm against the snow littered tracks.


Day 2(08/03/09):

0800: Breakfast
0830: Pick up
0900: Glacier Tour (17950 IKR)
0730: Northern Lights Tour (€40)

One thing I have prided myself on is surviving the London winter without the aid of gloves and an umbrella. After our first day out in uncomfortably cold conditions I decided I would not survive Iceland without gloves. We sat at bus terminal waiting for the tour bus to arrive when my friend spotted some gloves. "Psst, look somebody left their gloves here, why don't you take them?". I glanced over at the manky looking gloves and picked them up. Some poor tourist had left their gloves while waiting to be picked up. I brought them close to my nose and gave them a whiff. They reeked "Geez, they sink!" to which my friend replied "Do you want smelly hands or no hands?". Promptly I tucked them into my pockets and started our tour.


The glacier tour was amazing, our group consisted of 25 people and two guides. We were separated into two groups and given picks, crampons, pulleys and ropes and we began our ascent up the glacier.


We arrived back at the hotel later than expected. Thankfully our Northern lights tour was canceled. It was reported that for that night there was a 0% chance of seeing the aurora.

Day 3 (09/03/09):

0800: Breakfast
0830: Check out/Pick up (€25)
0900: Blue Lagoon (€18 entry)
1400: Airport Direct
1700: Flight


It's such a surreal feeling floating on your back in hot water while snow and ice blow across your face. What a lacky post.