Week 2 25th - 31st Jan
25 Jan 2023
Back by bus again to Pre de Joux and all the way to Avoriaz. Some lovely runs. We also did a momentous photo catch up from the last time we were here. Gavin and I were skiing together as everyone else was crook. He took a photo of me with the caption ‘The 6 of us skiing in Chatel’. We found the same bar and took these photos as a joyous record of THIS skiing holiday.
Lunch in Landrets then home via Pre de Joux and ski bus.
Nick from downstairs and 6 mates came up for drinks. Nick said that the car lift was being problematic so I moved the car out of the garage. When they left we had a Burns supper with haggis brought by Gavin & Sylvie. Butternut squash to replace the neeps, actually rather good. Much fun and hilarity with Gavin and Howard in fine performance mode!
26 Jan 2023
A slower start this morning. We skied Super Chatel on our own while Steve rested his knees and Gavin and Sylvie went back to their favourite slope. We went as far out as the Barbasonne run, but Big Mistake! It was blocks of ice, icy patches and bare bits. It should have been closed but it is a link to Petit Chatel thus must stay open.
Coffee at a small restaurant in the sunshine tunnel. We had to have 2 coffees each to reach the minimum card spend! An older English couple at the same table were inspiring - multiple joint replacements, both wearing ski mojos and each tucking into second pints by 12 noon! We came off the hill by 2PM, returned our kit to Intersport and had a drink at the bar beside 1200, the restaurant we will eat at tonight. Very happy to have had another injury free ski holiday!
Back home we packed our stuff and loaded the car, cleaned bathroom etc.
Pre dinner drinks at La Godille then a nice dinner at 1200.
27 Jan 2023
We left everyone after breakfast. Sad to say goodbye.
With a 8:45am start it was -10C but the Tesla did fantastically well getting out of the snowy roads and down the mountain. We managed to make it all the way to Grenoble before charging.
Whilst having a coffee in the hotel beside the chargers we decided to go all the way to Barcelona today, to have longer with Katy. We forgotten to bring her key so we had to rendezvous with her after work to collect a key before she headed to a concert. We parked at the same garage in Via Julia as in September. We had a kebab meat dinner just down the road (which was a mistake).
28 Jan 2023
Kay was sick today, possibly from the kebab last night but somewhat strange since I had basically the same meal. She spent the day in bed.
Katy and I took the car to La Maquinista and bought the electric fire unit like Liz’s one plus some other bits from Leroy Merlin then did a big shop at Carrefour. Howard did some bits of DIY whilst tending to Kay and dinner (for 2) in the flat.
29 Jan 2023
Thankfully Kay felt a bit better today so we took the car to Caldes de Montbui which had been recommended by Louise. A lovely little town with Roman ruins including a baths, hot springs with an outlet in the square which issued water at overly hot bath temperature (it was labelled as 73C !!).
We walked through a small park, had a coffee at a popular little outdoor cafe with all the sojourning Catalan locals. Back over the Roman bridge (which like Tavira is not Roman, this in is 13th C ) and a drink at a cafe near the church and then into a super little place for a tapas style lunch in the hot springs square, great table in the sun. Kay had fun ordering fuerte wine!!
30 Jan 2023
An early start and departure from Katy. It is always too soon when we leave the girls in their respective homes.
The car recommended two charging stops but we decided we could do it with one which was at Sagunta. Then on to Manzanares where we are staying in a Parador. The Parador is lovely but quiet. Free drinks because I am an Amigo and we had booked the Dias Dorados ( over 55 ) half board package so we had a nice dinner at the hotel with a fine bottle of Rioja. Kay had told them about my birthday am so at the end of the meal a piece of cheesecake with a candle and some decorative fruit arrived with two glasses of Cava, very nice touch.
31 Jan 2023
My 68th birthday. We had a lazy start to the day. Nice breakfast at the Parador before heading for Seville.
Kay drove all the way so that I could FaceTime with the girls.in the car The landscape was much greener than we found it in October.
We checked into the IBIS near Seville airport then took a bus into the city. It was lovely to be back here. We wandered about the old quarter recognising streets and places we had been. We found a €13.50 menu del dis available at 7PM so had an early dinner before a taxi back to the hotel and a family FaceTime and present opening.
