Slow Chalets

// A cold welcome.

Our first guests arrive today. They probably couldn't have picked a better time to visit. It seems few people can remember such cracking conditions for the first proper week of the season. I wandered over to Chalet de la Manche this morning in thigh deep powder, blazing sunshine and sub-zero temperatures. And with Santa in town, empty pistes and the promise of more snow this week, could there be a better place to be?

We've still got availability w/c 3rd January for anyone who wants to make the most of the fantastic conditions.

 

 

// Surprise Surprise.

Got back to Morzine last night after a week in the UK. The drive back was illuminated all the way by a full moon so I could see the huge banks of snow that had accumulated in my absence. But nothing could prepare me for just how much had fallen when I went for a stroll around Le Chargeau this morning. There is tons and tons of snow, and everywhere you look there's the most beautiful white blanket covering chalets, mountains, cars, trees... everything!

// Phew.

The snow plough works. We're going to need him if the past few days are anything to go by...

// Wise words.

Walking through London recently I was greeted by this outdoor campaign from British Airways. A Slow campaign if ever there was one and good to see someone of BA's scale trying to spread the word. You'll find more on their site. And for our own hints and tips on how to make your Alpine holiday a bit slower, have a look at the Slowness section of our website.

// Doors open, 29th November.

The rush for snow tires is on with massive amounts of snow forecast for Morzine at the end of this week and into next. There's already been a fair bit up in Avoriaz and rumors are awash that the resort will open on 29th November. We've still got space on 6th December if you want to make the most of the wide empty slopes.

// What a super market.

A wet Wednesday in the Alps seemed like the appropriate time to head down to the centre of town and finalise the last few pieces for the welcome packs. And the market didn't disappoint. The only issue was choosing which saucisson to go for. The market is on every Wednesday year round, so take a morning off from the slopes and pop down to just outside the post-office whilst you're here.

As for the saucisson, we went for a selection in the end...

// The orange half of Manchester.

If you're looking to fly out to Geneva next year and live in the North-West, you might be interested to hear that Easyjet are now offering flights between Manchester and Geneva from December 12th.

But you don't need to bother ticking their 'carbon off-set' box. We off-set all the travel of every guest each year as part of our small attempt to make Alpine holidays a little gentler towards the environment. It's not perfect, but it's a start.

// This little piggy went to Morzine.

This weekend saw the Fete du Cochon in Morzine. Never having been to a 'Celebration of the Pig' before, we didn't really know what to expect.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there were pigs. Lots of them. Metal pigs, fabric pigs, fake pigs, real pigs, raw pigs, cooked pigs. Apparently it all goes back to the fact that pigs were traditionally killed at this time to see Savoie families through the winter. Now it's something of a secular tradition.

But there was also a real emphasis on getting closer to where and how we get out food. Traceability and quality were the watchwords, and it was a real celebration of what we can take from the soil in all its forms. There was even a Slow Food representative there.

And with it falling on All Saint's Day (a bank holiday in France) there was a real carnival atmosphere about the whole affair. For anyone interested in a quirky, charismatic and decidedly Slow Autumn break, you'd be hard pushed to beat this. It would make a splendid half-term holiday (book now for November 2009 and make the most of our early bird discount).

// Russell Grant time.

It's always dangerous making predictions about the season ahead. Every year, the same tales emerge... the spiders are coming in early, the bees are out in September, the mushrooms are plentiful. Most are more Mystic Meg than Met Office.

But so far this year, we've had the first snow early on October 3rd. And our first proper dump today - a few weeks earlier than last year which turned out to be a great season. That doesn't mean it will snow every day now until April. But it's certainly not a bad sign, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of the mountains don't emerge again until May.

So here's Chalet de la Manche in all its glory just this morning...

// Be prepared.

Thursday 30th October. Oops...