Every winter the mountains start calling and I begin to yearn for our trip to Morzine Avioriaz in the Portes du Soleil area of the French Alps.
There’s a whole host of reasons that I love a week in the mountains, none more significant than any other, it’s all wrapped up together. A feeling of being at one with nature, insignificantly small in a vast mountain landscape and more alive than I feel anywhere else. Here’s some of the reasons I’m drawn back each year…
1. The Views and the wide open spaces. White-topped peaks, soft, billowing drifts contrasting with rocky terrain and the bluest of skies I’ve ever seen. I’ll let the views speak for themselves…
2. The Air is cleaner, fresher and more invigorating than anywhere I’ve ever been and it’s the only place I can really breathe properly – I have allergies but the air is so pure in the mountains they all seem to disappear.
3. The peace and stillness. It’s so, so quiet at times with just the faint sound of skiers schussing through the powder, a muffled laugh in the distance, the breeze, and the sound of my own breathing and I want it to last forever.
4. ‘Jubilee de Neige’ is a french term which I heard for the first time this year which describes the sparkles of sunlight dancing on the snow in the sunshine. Lovely.
You might also like: What to pack for a Winter Ski Trip and when is the best time to go skiing in France.
5. Hot Vin Chaud. You knew that was coming didn’t you!
6. Evenings cosied around a roaring log fire with friends, wine, comfort food and feeling like you’ve really earned it after a hard day’s skiing.
7. Ski lifts – I love the journey to the top of the piste – time to really soak up the views and that fresh mountain air.
8. The fact that you can just ski over the border to Switzerland without checking-in or going through security. No passport required.
9. Cheese, oh yes the cheese! The alpine shops are full of gorgeous, tasty, gooey, smelly cheeses! Comte is my favourite.
10. I love the sense of achievement at the end of the day when I’ve kept up with all the others who’ve been skiing for 10 years longer than me!
What do you love about the mountains…?
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Suzanne Jones is a full-time travel blogger and writer at The Travelbunny which she started in 2011 during her time as a professional travel planner. Suzanne enjoys exploring new destinations, culinary encounters and the outdoors. When not travelling or writing about her adventures you’ll most likely find her, camera in hand, enjoying coastal walks in Sussex.
Suzanne also runs Hello Sussex a website which showcases the best of East & West Sussex. Read more about Suzanne.
Pierre
Tuesday 19th of September 2017
Bonjour Suzanne, I've just discovered your blog and this particular post about the French Alps. This year my wife and I had the choice between moving to Eastbourne/Portsmouth or Annecy. We chose the Haute-Savoie and yes, this place is stunning - and the cheese is indeed divine! :-)
Suzanne Jones
Tuesday 26th of September 2017
Bonjour Pierre, Haute-Savoie is a fabulous part of the world and we love it there. Coincidentally, I live just a few miles away from Eastbourne!
Agness of eTramping
Wednesday 26th of April 2017
The French Alps are stunning! This is an excellent post, Suzanne!
Suzanne Jones
Saturday 29th of April 2017
Thanks Agness - easy to write because the French Alps are stunning :)
Destination Blogger - Suzanne Courtney of the Travel Bunny
Monday 3rd of March 2014
[…] blog seems to be constantly hopping around the world (pardon the pun – I couldn’t help it) from skiing in the French Alps to hot air ballooning in Turkey. Needless to say she’s a very busy blogger indeed. If you’re […]
atravelingb
Thursday 6th of February 2014
Beautiful photos, Suzanne! The French Alps look like quite the place to go skiing. I love your #10 as I felt the same way recently. I hadn't been skiing in about 13 years and my friends heli-ski, you can imagine it was hard to keep up, but a great sense of accomplishment after!
Suzanne Courtney
Thursday 6th of February 2014
It made me all the more determined - now I'm often the one out in front!
viveka
Monday 20th of January 2014
I love the French Alps too ... but only been around Grenoble in the summer on our way to Nice ... 2 times - and if I wanted to I could had ski ... and they who was skiing was so tanned. Food in the Alps are fantastic ... and as you say the views. Wonderful gallery - great deceleration of love ... from you.
Suzanne Courtney
Tuesday 21st of January 2014
What's not to love heh!