May 18, 2013

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Chamonix as an Extreme Sport Destination

June 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

chamonixFrance is one of the premiere places in all of Europe for extreme sport destinations. When you think of France, many think of the Alps and a sport paradise, it’s no wonder that along with the United States, the Winter Olympic Games have been held in France the most.

Some of the best extreme sport destinations are Grenoble and Chamonix. The area surrounding Chamonix, home to the Mont Blanc region, is especially popular with those who are seeing new and exciting adventures. There is literally something to get out and do for any kind of extreme adventure you can come up with!

Home to not only some of the best skiing and snowboarding in Europe, these areas also offer ice climbing, dog sled tours, and ice diving under some of the area lakes. For those who are more summer sport orientated then there are plenty of extreme options available as well, anything from bungee jumping to mountaineering, paragliding to rafting and even canyoneering.

And don’t think that just because it is a winter favourite, that Chamonix isn’t full of action packed extreme sports all year round. The steep and rugged trails provide a perfect challenge for mountain biking, as well as hiking for those who are looking to summit Mont Blanc.

If you are considering planning a holiday to a place that is known for all of its great extreme and adventure sport options, it makes a lot of sense to explore everything that France and especially Chamonix has to offer. With everything that is offered there, it would be extremely difficult to end up disappointed.

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Filed Under: Chamonix, France

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A Singleton’s Visit To The City of Romance

February 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

ParisParis, the City of love. I have never been… to the city, of course. But spurred on by a week’s holiday I have to take before the end of the financial year and the fact I have always wanted to go – I am off to visit.

So, with the world literally at my finger tips, I thought it would be best to do some research into the land of crepes, garlic and interesting culinary tastes before I go, and sharing what I found might give you some food for thought.

Choosing a hotel

Now the first thing I found out is that PARIS IS EXPENSIVE! Fair enough, I want to stay somewhere central and close to the action, but averaging around £75 a night for a 3 star hotel is a little steep. I did find some better deals, but without actually checking them out first hand I can only go on the reviews, therefore do not want to comment on specific hotels in this post.

Being that I am only going for a long weekend (in March) I found a great deal for 3 nights at one of the better looking 4 star central Paris Hotels I came across, cheaper than a few of the 3 star ones ;). No real groundbreaking advice on choosing a hotel, apart from, as I did, get a personal referral. My friend recommended my accommodation, and unless my friend has a wicked sense of humour, I trust all will be well.

Finding things to do

I am going to Paris by myself. Slightly ironic for one of the most romantic cites in the world. However, I am reliably informed Paris is one of the better cities to visit alone, because you can lose yourself and blend into the general City buzz. I won’t sit here and bore you with a list of Paris landmarks, if you are reading this, you probably know them all. But what I will say is, don’t be afraid to go somewhere alone, take your camera and have some ‘you time’. Another idea, which may seem obvious, is to put out on your social networks that you are visiting somewhere. Sometimes you don’t know or even forget that people you know are actually living in the place you are visiting. When I was travelling in South-East-Asia I found out through Facebook that my friend was actually on the next beach along from us in Thailand, so went to meet him for a beer. Luckily I have a couple of friends in Paris, so I hope to meet up with them. Here is my main ‘to do’ list whilst I am there:
  • Meet up with old friends;
  • Eat a Snail;
  • Speak to a stranger in French;
  • Walk around the Eiffel Tower at night;
  • See the Mona Lisa (probably overrated, but hey);
  • Eat lots of Crepes, just because.

Where to eat cheap?

It may be tough to do this in Paris, but I am definitely going on a shoestring budget. My suggestion is to take your own food, a box of cereal will save you on eating out for breakfast, unless it is included in your Hotel of course. If you do have a small budget, and are more about the experience, than the luxuries of a ‘holiday’ I would consider taking a box of pasta or rice and some tinned tomatoes to really save on some lunch and dinners, remember we eat to live, and spending loads of money on food instead of experiences you will never forget would be wrong.

I will certainly let you know how I get on when I return from my trip in March!

 

Image credit: TaylorMiles via Flickr

Filed Under: France, Paris

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5 Things to Do in Toulouse for Free

November 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Things to Do in ToulouseToulouse is the capital of South-West France, the big city where, at one moment or another, everyone living in the region needs to be, if only to catch a flight or shop in IKEA. Beside of that though, there are certain things you can also do in Toulouse for free:

5 Things to Do in Toulouse for Free

1. The Basilica of Saint Sernin – and the resting place of Thomas Aquinas, les Jacobins. They are both just a short stroll from the main square, le Capitole, and well worth an afternoon of examining first the majesty of each lofty structure and then the details. The cloisters in les Jacobins are a little haven of coolness and tranquility on a hot day.

2. The River Garonne. Toulouse turned its back on the mighty Garonne a long time ago, fearing floods and disaster, but that is now all in the past. Today, the city turns to the river welcoming it with wide walkways along the banks, parks and restaurant-barges moored beside them. Go down to the Place Dalbade (4 minutes from Place Capitole) and stroll the banks of the river, admire the ancient Pont Neuf and the long low outline of the Hôtel Dieu, while walking up to where the Canal de Brienne pours into the river.

3. The Mediatheque. Housed in a new building which dominates the tree-lined Allées Jean-Jaurès in central Toulouse, this is a splendid address for a wet day (yes! It sometimes rains in the South of France). It is spacious and bright and houses not just all sorts of books and magazines but a vast array of DvDs and music which can be visualized on site in comfortable – and quiet – surroundings.

4. Le Jardin des Plantes. Just south of the city centre, this municipal park exhibits a fine selection of trees and shrubs in a quiet and verdant setting. There are ponds and ducks and children’s playgrounds and merry-go-rounds and all the things that make little and old like about public parks in France. If you have more time, it’s worth getting out to the bigger and wilder park at Pech David at the southern limit of the city with its stupendous views over the entire range of the Pyrenees.

5. Le Capitole. We have already mentioned Toulouse’s central square and it’s a must-see. You can visit the City Hall (Le Capitole) for free, visiting the formal rooms and halls and admiring the great mirrored longroom where civil marriages are celebrated and the works of local painter Henri Martin hang on the walls. Outside, on the main square, the Toulousains like to gather, be seen, demonstrate and generally take the air. You can observe all this from the comfort of one of the many pavement cafés which surround the square, spend a bit of time people-watching and admiring the changing colours as the pink brick of Toulouse changes slowly from light rose to dark red. You don’t pay for the spectacle, but a cup of coffee will cost you a few eurocents, money well spent after a free day out.

Things to do in Toulouse for Free

Photo credit: cercamon

Filed Under: France, Toulouse Tagged With: , , , ,