Skiing in the French and Swiss Alps

SKIING IN THE FRENCH AND SWISS ALPS

The secret of the French and Swiss Alps is that it is so massive and there are so many ski resorts that it is actually affordable. Except for the few high end resorts, most are geared towards families, have condominiums, efficiency apartments, and large complexes to rent at affordable prices. Lift tickets are less (even with the exchange rate) and the snow is great in most places. If you happen to be in Europe in the winter check out the idea of skiing in the Alps.

For stories on our adventures in the Alps read Fantastic Swiss Alps and
.Skiing at Serre Chevalier with Club Med , The Joy of Skiing in the French Alps French style

South African Cape

SOUTH AFRICAN CAPE - From Capetown to East London

A visit to South Africa is a mixture of emotions; exhilarating, different, similar, sad, grateful, amazing, and absolutely gorgeous. The cape area of South Africa from Capetown to East London in the Eastern Cape has some of the most gorgeous beaches, views, wide open landscapes, friendly people, Malaria Free game parks, and some dangers as well.

Safety is critical and the main watchword is don't go anywhere alone, don't stop for anyone, don't drive in the dark on long roads and remember you are in a country with millions of people who don't have jobs and food to eat and as a result they will steal and kill for something so small as a watch.

In spite of the dangers it is a wonderful country to visit and great for families. Read a few of our Blog entries on visiting South Africa.

CapeTown - A bit about CapeTown, The Penguins, Outshoorn where you can ride or stand on the egg of an Ostrich, and the wine country

The Garden Route and Western Cape, South Africa - Plettenberg Bay

New Years in South Africa - Time in the Western Cape - Glen Gariff Beach Resort/ East London

The beautiful beaches, lion parks, and game reserves all malaria free.

The Best Kept Vacation Secret in the French Alps

Our house had sold and we needed a place to stay while we waited for the money to come in. Also, we were in need of a true vacation when you are taken care of and everything is done for you. In searching our options, we priced out renting a gite, food, and entertainment. Summer prices were high and the beaches did beckon us. We took a drive over to Grande Motte , the beaches near Montpellier and checked out a studio and one bedroom apartment to rent for the week on the beach. It looked small, felt small, and most of all made us all a bit claustrophobic with the crowds and small apartment. In addition, to save money we would have to cook, clean and well to be honest "have no real vacation."

Searching the internet I checked out all inclusive clubs to north Africa, Turkey and Tunsia, but after talking with Jean, we knew we wanted to make it easier and drive somewhere. Continuing my search I hit on to the Club Med site I vicariously visit every once in a while as I always think of them as expensive. However this time I went a little deeper and decided to check out what deals they might have available. Hitting the 20 % discount button I was given a list of a variety of clubs offered at a discount. Letting my fingers do the walking I soon realized that all the beach clubs wer out of our price range, but voila! the alps had some fantastic deals. Club Med has approximately 12 Clubs just in the French, Swiss , and Italian Alps. All similar and all a bit different. In the middle of France was a horse club priced fantastically if you want a horse vacation. Remembering where we went skiing two years prior i checked out and compared Serre Chevalier and saw the offerings, the environment and the value it would offer.  Our decision now was about which of the 4 Alps clubs we wanted to go to, slight variations in activities and prices.

Another week passed and I saw the discounts continue. By the time we locked into Serre Chevalier it was two weeks prior to our arrival date and we had received a discount of 200 euro per person *(600 euro for 3 of us). All inclusive (sans transportation) including 1/2 or full day hikes with a guide and group of 10-12 people, VTT guides, escalading, rafting (for an extra fee), tennis, indoor and outdoor pools, spa (a bit extra) drinks, coffee, food, spectacle at night, and kids clubs the price was not to be beat- 1600 euro for three of us for the week. (about $2,400) with the ex`change rate at that time. If we went to the Club Med at the beach it would have been double.

My secret therefore, is if you are traveing to Europe and want a relaxing and invigorating week in the Alps, check out the Club Med- a perfect family vacation in the summer and less expensive  than staying in a hotel and eating out or even renting a gite and paying for entertainment and food.  If you are willing to wait untl 2-3 weeks ahead the discounts get better and better. From what I heard talking to the GOs their is usually space available if it is not during the high month of July 14-Aug 25 - and besides the prices are better before and after those dates as well.

OR

STAY AT A SMALL HOTEL IN THE FRENCH/SWISS ALPS

Staying at a small hotel in the Alps, hiking all day and coming home to a 5 course dinner can be just what you need! Fantastic for all ages- just make sure and buy a hiking stick or two.

Vallee de l'Abondance- Chatel, Swiss Alps Near France

Costa Brava Spa Surprise

Costa Brava Spa Surprise  - a beautiful family day spa

After a few days vacationing in Barcelona or the Costa Brava beach resorts of Lloret de Mar and St. Felieu de Guixols head west to the village of Santa Coloma de Farners for a family day at the Magma Thermal Leisure Center in Catalonia, 20km south of Girona. Situated at the base of a major hiking area lies a long two story building, sleek in architecture both inside and out and immaculately clean and pristine. Opened in 2002, the thermal leisure area’s grand space is massive with it’s two story glass windows overlooking a grassy meadow, chestnut, oak and occasional beech trees, and the Guilleries mountains . Visiting the thermal waters provides a relaxing and playful break from hustle and bustle of Barcelona and has something for everyone from infants to seniors. The leisure center, 870 square meters of thermal water surface and 45,000 square meters of garden, includes a central spa with a temperature of 36^◦ C with a counter current river, pressurized water cascades, hydromassage benches, bubble basin and hydromassage beds all layed out in a spiral-like pool 1.5 meters deep. Set above the central spa are two hydromassage jacuzzis for 8 people with a temperature of 35^◦ C. Set below is a toddler’s playground set in a pool 5 meters wide and 30 cm deep as well as a four lane 25 meter swimming pool at 28^◦ C.

For the evenly temperate climate a water passage leads outside to a large cold water outdoor swimming pool and warm water spa with jet sprays and mushroom cascades.

If this isn’t enough anyone over 16 can enjoy the 20 person steam baths, Finnish sauna, eucalyptus steam room, contrasting showers, ice pit and heated bed rest area.

While your spouse is downstairs swimming with the kids, meander to the upper floor where the Magma Spa club is located and indulge yourself in an anti-wrinkle facial or special black pearl powder facial. Manicures, pedicures, peels, hair removals, and an assortment of massages are all available at reasonable spa prices. Then switch and let your spouse enjoy the benefits of the hot stone therapy massage or designer men and women treatments. Meanwhile the kids will be turning into fish swimming the river, tickling themselves on the hydromassage benches and bouncing from one cascade to another.

A small snack bar is available as well as a lunch buffet restaurant serving Catalonian specialties for 18 Euro, 1 to 4pm or dinner buffet Friday-Sunday from 8:30-10:30. The key however is to book your entry into the spa before or after lunch as swimsuits are not permitted in the restaurant.

At first glance reading the regulations of the spa and following the strict orders of the locker room attendant makes you feel like a school child. However, once you are inside you realize how their strict discipline of no shoes, calm voices, no eating or drinking, and entry showers keeps the place looking like it was built yesterday. Upon entering the reception area you are given an electronic bracelet which accounts for your time spent and is magnetized to open and close your locker. The Magma spa limits the number of people to enter so it never seems crowded and charges for a three hour block of time (not including spa services) at 27 Euro in high season. Each hour after is an additional 24 Euro, dissuading people from staying longer.  

Passing through an electronic turnstile you enter the changing rooms and secure a narrow private book with two doors; one to go in and one to go out of. Slipping into our bathing suits we giggle at the sanitized method they have created for entering the spa. Immediately upon exiting our booth we enter into the locker and shower room lined with double story orange lockers, sinks, open showers and private toilet stalls. Promptly an attendant dressed in nursing whites greets you, reminds you if you have flip-flops on that no shoes are allowed, shows you which locker to use and how to use the magnetic bracelet to ensure it is secure. Returning to her squeeging of the already pristine floor she points us to the glass enclosed entry shower leading to the central spa area. Never quite having understood the logic of having to shower before you enter a pool, we place our rented bath towels on the dry shelf and run through the showers barely getting our shoulders wet.

Immersing ourselves in the thermal water we soak into oblivion listening to a variety of music from Italian Opera to easy listening piped in through the state of the art sound system. Like little penguins we move in a pack trying out the hydromassage benches, the water cascades and the wave like jacuzzi. Every fifteen minutes the cascades stop and a part of the huge basin turns into a flowing river in which you turn over on your back and float away your worries. As twilight appears in the sky, the spa’s mood lightening in the pools creates an effect of floating in space, soothing the soul even more.

After a swim in the lap pool take a tour of the hamman (dry steam), wet steam, and assorted showers, wrap yourself in a towel and lounge on the swing chairs facing the gardens and mountains in the distance. It’s time to immerse yourself in a good book or just close your eyes and feel the winter sun shine through the glass windows warming your face. What a better place to be than inside a modern spa on a fall or winter’s day in Catalonia. 

Prices and Reservations;
Book a spa or beauty treatment and buffet lunch or dinner by calling Magma Booking line at +34 972843535 and also ask for entry to the Thermal Spa area. Rates run from 24 Euro in low season to 27 Euro in high season for a 3 hour pass, Children and seniors are slightly lower at 19.20 Euro. Special rates and multiple entry and season passes can also be purchased. Reservations are recommended because of its limited capacity. Bookings for the Thermal Leisure Area only can be made via the ServiCaixa system, +34 903 33 22 11 or a travel agency. Magma is open all year from 11 am to 10pm during the week and 11pm on weekends, but closed on Tuesdays and other designated closing days throughout the year. Check the website at www.magma-cat.com for details.

Staying Nearby:

Across the road from the Magma Thermal Spa is the Balneari Termes Orion Hotel and Restaurant, and is the source of the thermal waters. A prestigious establishment of 70 rooms with updated facilities set in a historical building surrounded by natural woods and gardens is a perfect choice for a peaceful stay. This Hotel offers an extensive program of personalized thermal cures under medical supervision. This hotel also has a small spa and pools and access is provided to the Magma Spa at a discount.

A week in Marrakech, Morrocco

RELAXING IN THE SUN 

The few afternoons we had beautiful sunshiny days. We relaxed at the pool and soaked up the sun. In addition I decided to try the Haman (steam room) and spa and gave it mixed reviews.The Haman was built in the old Maroccon tradition with three rooms each getting progressively hotter than the previous other. Stone and tile benches, arches and a water spout for hot water to warm the room. Once you were in the Haman you felt like you were taken back in ancient times.The massages I believe are knew to the Maroccon people and aimed at the tourists. We were even somewhat surprised to see Muslim woman wearing scarves providing massages to the men (the men have to keep their bathing suits on by the way). Jean had a massage but described it as a waste of money. The women who gave it, religious and possibly scared, had her friend sit in the room the whole time for presumed �safety� , while they talked and screamed non-stop and the friend even brought lunch in and chewed loudly while the chatter never stopped. Needless to say, relaxing it was not at all. Jean canceled his next appointment and opted for a hike instead. Mine was better and I think it was because of the gender issue, even though it was not your typical relaxing massage.The one masseuse I had was terrific and the other mediocre. The masseuse also talked non-stop with a colleague at the front desk, more like screaming in Arabic, versus giving massage treatment. So much for cross-cultural training on other�s habits and needs, as somehow their training in tourist ways, completely missed the point that a massage was supposed to be relaxing, rejuvenating and a quiet and peaceful experience. We chalked it up to Morocco and the culture learning Western ways and let the hotel know about the problem that needed attention. Overall, Morocco was fascinating; we enjoyed it very much and definitely could go back another time. If you plan to go, just be safety conscious and use common sense. Fortunately, my friend Dina had given us some solid advice before we went about eating, drinking and the market and we therefore never got sick as most other tourists did, and had a fascinating time. 

Visiting an Arab Village for Mint Tea

One morning we took a guided walk from our hotel to a nearby Arab village. In the center of the village was a 4 star Bed and Breakfast built by a Belgium man handcrafted with the best of everything. In order to buy the property he had to build the village a mosque. Surrounding the hotel were one level houses built out of brick from mud and straw. We visited a family (see outdoor living area for mint tea and fresh baked bread. Surrounding the center room was 2 bedrooms for 5 kids and one tiny kitchen with an alcove for the cows and chickens.  

Piste de Berber, Morocco

Following the Piste de Berber (visiting the Berber People)Traveling with 6 4x4 Jeeps, we journeyed up to the Piste de Berber to see the original population of North Africa living in the Atlas Moutains. We had heard about the colorful Berber people living in the mountains and their unknown origin (perhaps from India) and were determined to see them. We had heard about their longevity, love for the sun and ecological lifestyle and wanted to investigate for ourselves.Historically, here are a few facts known about the Berber people. There are about 300 local dialects among the Berbers. Berbers are Muslims, but there are many traditional practices found among them. Since Berbers typically outnumber Arabs in rural areas, traditional practices tend to predominate there. The conversion of Berbers to Islam took centuries and in many areas Islam was not dominant until the 16th century. This has resulted in Berber Islam being somewhat atypical in its incorporation of traditional beliefs, preserving more traces of former religious practices.Of major cities in North Africa, only Marrakech has a population with a Berber identity. The Berber dominance in the mountains can be traced to the days of Arab conquests, when the Arabs took control over the cities, but left the countryside to itself. The number of Arabs being too small for a more profound occupation. Berbers in those days had the choice between living in the mountains, resisting Arab dominance, or moving into the Arab community, where Arab language and culture were dominant not unlike today.Until a few years ago, Berbers were considered to be second class (like in many societies in the West: Indians in America, Aboriginals in Australia, Lapps in Norway). For example, in the most modernized society in North Africa, Tunisia, being Berber has been (and still is to some extent) synonymous with being an illiterate peasant dressed in traditional garments.Adapted from: http://lexicorient.com/e.o/berbers.htmBerber ArchitectureBerber architecture is essentially troglodyte. Houses and mosques are constructed by digging down into the earth and rock, so that most of the accommodation is underground, with only a small area built up on the surface. The advantage of this type of building is twofold; namely, protection from the Jabal's biting winter winds, and also from the fierce summer heat. The soft rock of this area permits easy digging, and the underground rooms remain at a constantly pleasant temperature of 17�C.The plan of the troglodyte houses is fairly uniform, with a steeply sloping tunnel leading to a large courtyard at a depth of about 8 meters. From this courtyard several rooms are cut into the surrounding sandy rock; these can be used as living accommodation, stables and storage areas. Fodder for the animals or human food supplies, such as grain, can be dropped through holes in the ceiling into the rooms below. Living quarters have whitewashed walls, with shelves cut for storing possessions. Water is stored in cisterns. Oil lamps were originally used for lighting, although many of these dwellings today are supplied with electricity.From: http://www.arab.net/libya/la_berbers.htmThe way of the life of the Berber people is from sunrise to sundown. Up at 6 am in which everyone has a bit of Olive Oil for breakfast. Work in fields takes place from 6:30-10 when the sun is low in the sky. A mid morning meal is followed by rest, relaxation and doing the chores or making crafts under the cool shade. Dinner is at 5pm and bedtime soon follows as the sun sets. The kids go to local village schools for 2-4 hours a day dressed in western wear that has been traded by the villagers for their fruits and vegetables. The average Berber person who lives in the mountains lives to a minimum healthy age of 85 versus the 65 in the neighboring city of Marrakech. Is it the morning Olive Oil for breakfast, climbing up and down the mountains every day, or living with the sun that keeps them so youthful and healthy so long?Later on we learned that the tour company believes in traveling in Jeep caravans through the mountains for safety reasons with small groups of about 6 persons followed in discrete distance by other Jeeps, but still showing a certain unity and potential force if needed to help each other in case of danger or accident. At one stop as 50 children surrounded our Jeep and people started getting a little scared, we could understand why. The children, like all those in Africa are taught to beg for money or gifts. However, in Morocco they have made a huge campaign asking tourists to only provide school supplies (i.e. pens, paper, etc.) to the kids to encourage them to learn. We bought a stack of pens and Zoe-Pascale handed out pens to the begging children and learning about another cultures and their needs. On our trip, 100� s of pens were given out to the needy children we saw.

Costumes and Dances of Morocco

Costumes and Dances of MoroccoOne evening Zoe-Pascale came home from Mini-Club announcing that she had tried on a variety of costumes, had chosen one, and we all had to rent a costume to dress up for the evening in Moroccan style. Getting into the spirit we went all out, rented clothes and dressed for the evening dinner and events. Below you will see pictures as well as some of the dancers from the show. It was terrific and the child acrobats in particular were amazing to see as they twisted and somersaulted doing incredible acts while guests clenched their teeth in anticipation.