the end of hibernating

Over the Easter break we were fortunate enough to have a very good reason to spend a week in the French Alps, Chamonix to be specific. The holiday also signified a faux-end to the relentless winter underway in England at the moment. France blessed us with two full days of blissful sunshine, blue skies and jacket-free worthy weather. I now understand why 
British people sunbathe in parks at lunchtime while barely 20˚C. Since returning we had a day of half of sunshine in Oxford and we are now back to overcast and drizzly days. 
The wedding of two wonderful friends took us to Chamonix and resulted in many magnificent days of eating, drinking and enjoying great company. We stayed in a small studio apartment in a old chalet in central Chamonix that afforded us some pretty spectacular views of Mont Blanc and the surrounding mountains. 
Ski school for me followed by a cable car ride to the 3,842 metre high peak of Aiguille du Midi and some impromptu off-piste ski for Ash afforded us even more spectacular views of the mountains and glaciers surrounding the Chamonix Valley. The skiing also caused some serious shin swelling and aching muscles, but nothing the delicious croissant, cheese and champagne we enjoyed while there couldn't distract us from. 

Above. The view up to the Aiguille du Midi (the highest peak on the right side) from our chalet. Below. Views from our chalet of the surrounding mountains.

Above. The view of Brevant from Chamonix. This is where everyone went skiing the first day - more snaps below. Directly below. Mont Blanc on the left during sunset.  

 Above. Lunch spot on Brevant. Below. The perfect day for some skiing, even falling over multiple times while learning didn't seem so bad with those views.

Above and Below. The half way station of the cable car to the top of Aiguille du Midi. 

  Above. Skiers and snowboarders carefully manoeuvring the steep walk to begin the Vallee Blanche run that Ash along with the bride, groom, and nine other friends undertook. I watched from the top and took the cable car down!

Below. The view of Chamonix.

Above. Mont Blanc. Below. One of the many spectacular views from the top of the mountain.

Above and below. Probably a more accurate view of the skiers

making their way down to start the run - a pretty extreme, and from seeing them all down the bottom, exhausting but exhilarating day.