Monday morning started fine although the forecast was for cloud and rain to come later in the afternoon. We caught the first cable car to the top of Bellevarde and set out to walk the path called “La Spatule”.

This was a path that  wrapped around the peak and then descended 800 metres above La Daille and down into Val  d’Isère. Although we had a guide-book the first part was poorly marked and we ended up walking down a piste before meeting up with the path further down.

Once off the piste the walk was mainly on packed scree and a bit tricky at times.

As we descended further down on the village side of the peak the scree was replaced by soil and grassy tufts and we could take in great views into the valley.

We were soon below the tree-line and into pine-forest before crossing the Olympic downhill piste near the bottom.

The walk took around 2.5 hours and we didn’t meet a single person until we got within a stone’s throw of the village.

It was a very peaceful experience and in spite of being listed as “difficult” on the map it was quite easy after getting through the scree section near the top.

By Tuesday the weather had closed in and it was cold and wet.

With a top daytime temperature of around 8 degrees it was an uncomfortable reminder of the NZ winter we were soon to return to after the heat of the previous 7 weeks. Included with our accommodation was a “Gift Pass” which enabled free entry to the excellent indoor pool at the Aquatic Centre, so we spent the morning there.

In the afternoon we took the Bellevarde cable car again to find the landscape had somewhat changed from the walk on the previous day!

By Wednesday morning it was actually snowing in the village, although it never settled. After lunch we went back up the Solaise chairlift and found there had been quite a bit of snow over night.

The “Gift Pass” also included archery, shooting and driving on the golf range so although the next two days were pretty cold and wet there was plenty to do.

On the final day the cloud lifted a bit and we took the Arolle Millenaire walk up to the Solaise. This was a 650 metre climb and again it proved difficult to find the path at times. Much of the early part of the track was very steep and followed the course of one of the pistes.

There were more people on this track than we’d encountered on the Bellevarde track earlier in the week. After a stop for lunch at the top we caught the chairlift back down and headed for the “Parcours Tree Adventure”.

This was something Neil had wanted to do to try to overcome his fear of heights. I wasn’t so sure! It turned out to be a lot of fun but we both paid for it with pain the next day.

Saturday started early, taking the bus back down to Bourg St Maurice to catch the train to Geneva. After a night in Geneva we had a lunchtime flight back to Gatwick.

It felt a bit weird to be back in the UK. It was only once we’d returned that we realised how accustomed and absorbed in the different culture and language we’d become. It had been an incredible adventure with so many happy memories over the previous 8 weeks. Even the stressful bits seemed fun in retrospect. Neil suggested I take up another language and plan a trip to another country. For me, I’d settle for France again anytime. I’m sure we’ll sort it out!

La première jour il faisait froid j’ai dit à la personne au téléphérique < C’est comme hiver>. Elle m’a dit “Non, c’est comme automne – demain c’est comme hiver!>. La personne à la caisse du supermarché a dit exactement la même chose.C’est peut-être une légende locale, mais c’était vrai qu’il était beaucoup plus froid le lendemain. Aussi, les gens du coin ont dit qu’il neige dans la petite ville au moins d’un jour chaque mois, même en été. C’était une surprise pour moi, mais je suis très heureux que nous avons décidé de ne pas rester dans une tente qui était notre idée originale!