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No time to sleep
 Well
Chamonix is now
well and truly open. Believe me, I've battled down the runs (and
some ropey off piste) and been to a million opening parties, not
easy to squeeze round work but without sleep it's possible.
The snow still isn't great, the base is very thin and because the
resort was so busy during New Years week most of the snowfall of
the 2nd Jan was swept off the runs very quickly. Things have been
getting steadily icier on the lower runs and rockier up at Brevant
(no one seems to like it there yet) but there is still fun to be
had over at La Tour and Grande Montets. Just watch out on the home
runs, they get very busy and icy in the afternoons (see later).
Snow has fallen, and is still falling, so this may be the start
of the good stuff. It's pretty cold and the wind is supposed to
pick up so wrap up warm if you're out there for fresh tracks.
Beer beer beer
On the nightlife front, I have been seduced by the lovely La Privilege.
It's a wonderful place with low tables surrounded by a variety of
chairs from carved wooden hands to comfy sofas. There's a log fire
and, best of all, fabulous cocktails. Actually I've only had the
caparinhia (lots of) which is perfect, they do very odd things to
the Seabreeze, blokes should not order. On Wednesdays they host
a "lingerie fashion show", I'm dubious but I haven't been, so I
can't judge.
Dick's tea bar is now
very much open. They have a hip hop night on Wednesdays (at least
that's what the manager Jamie promised me) with Richard playing
all those classics you'd almost forgotten. Thursday is the night
for live rock/pop stuff, sorry not my thing so I can't describe
it properly. Lots of jumping up and no talking as it's quite loud.
Basically, it's on Rue de Moulin, close to most the other English
dominated bars, and they don't charge before 1am, so it's worth
a look if you fancy a dance and can't be bothered to hike all the
way to the Garage (in
the ghetto, sorry Chamonix Sud). Though the Garage does have lots
of mirrors in which many people seem to enjoy watching themselves
dancing, mmmm tempting.
All the boys I talk to love South
Bar (also in the ghetto), it's a Scandinavian bar so blokes
head there hoping it will be packed with statuesque blondes called
Helga. I think there is generally at least one there, and I believe
she is very nice.
 Cantina
(we're back in town now) has a few DJ nights with music you would
not necessarily expect to find in a less cosmopolitan resort eg.
reggae. Check out their listings for the week ahead. Explore, lots
of places will be dead or full of strange people in tapered trousers,
failing to dance and drinking overpriced drinks; but hey, it's a
ski resort. You can always return to the bustling Queen
Vic, order a nice familiar pint and play pool. Life is good.
You'll miss your knees when they're gone
Right enough of my rambling, now to let you into a secret, not a
very good one though. I'm not actually in Chamonix anymore. I took
my hangover skiing on New Years Day and between us we managed to
rupture my left cruciate ligament. I had a huge fall whilst avoiding
a beginner on the red run coming down from the Grand Montet cable
car at the end of the day (yes a red, I know, but it was very busy
and icy and.... ok no excuse). I felt my knee go pop and, after
rolling around in agony for a while, skied down (this is not a good
plan, get a blood wagon or your doctor will shout at you). I was,
eventually, shipped back to suffer house arrest and physio in Sunny
Sheffield for the forseeable future. Someone rescue me please.
So there we have it, a sad cautionary tale. Don't take your hangover
skiing. Well I hope the snow does great things this season - be
a bit careful but not very. Til next year...
Picture from Emma
Grant - Natives Resort Reporter
in Chamonix
W ith Redeye - Natives reporter
official beanier sponsor
 
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