Dear Friends
It’s time to talk about skiing – a passion yes but one that has changed over the years. As a younger man – it was all about, speed, couloirs (including Corbet’s which I have done albeit not quite as acrobatically as they do now!), long skis, fluorescent trousers, deep powder, skins, refuges, walking up hills etc. Now, there is one glaring omission from that list – lunch! Back then it was about building the largest Scooby snack (a sandwich typically made in a baguette which normally requires the owner to dislocate their jaw to eat it) to fit in your rucksack – now it is definitely 2 courses with a bottle of something local, preceded by a beer at 11am, although the passion for deep powder remains.
The Author…
I like having a guide to go properly off-piste probably once during a week and feel that I have actually earned my lunch – I was lucky enough to ski the Face Nord de Bellecote last spring and although the snow conditions were pretty atrocious (wind blown) the feeling of being where few others are is still majestic and awe inspiring and the cider at the bottom whilst waiting to be picked up is still the sweetest one.
Skiing with one’s family and friends is something magical – I may not be able to keep up with the 20 somethings (i.e. my sons!) all the time but somehow they will still accept an invitation to come skiing – I kid myself that it is love of their parents and sense of family – but the reality is that we are paying – pure and simple.
The season is not far away now…I have always loved skiing in Italy - the ambience, food, wine and mountains are all superlative - Aosta, Alta Badia and the Dolomites in general should all be considered.
WHERE CLIENTS ARE GOING…
The first is a ski safari in the Dolomites – 4 nights in wonderful hotels with fantastic food, 1 night in a refuge (don’t think French mountain) think Dolomites style. 5 different ski areas, luggage transferred between each hotel, wine tastings; you don’t even have to be a skier, you can snow shoe if that is your vibe, as everyone ends up in the same place for lunch and the evening.
The second – also in the Dolomites is a wine and ski safari – what’s not to like? I do not know what the term is for an Oenophile on skis – but I am going to discover it - I am not sure that Piste-Oenophile has the right ring to it! maybe Vinalpi is better.
Others are going snow sure in high resorts in the Alps late in the season including Cervinia, Tignes, Val d’Isere, Zermatt
And finally the Japanophiles are still booking to try and get their powder fix.
FOOD & DRINK
My food and drink tips are not linked to skiing but we were lucky enough to be in Rome recently and went to a couple of Restaurants that deserve a mention.
La Taverna Del Ghetto http://latavernadelghetto.com/ as the name would suggest it is in the Jewish quarter and as a guide once said to me, “the Jews are more Roman than the Romans”. Delicious food – think Artichokes two ways, grilled fish, lamb chops, truffles…
Osteria Del Tempo Perso - https://osteriadeltempopersoroma.it/ Wonderful if mad staff, a twist on the normal Roman fare – think blue spaghetti with red prawns – and we encountered an unrehearsed flash mob to boot – wonderful.
It was bizarre but surprisingly delicious
CULTURAL HIGHLIGHT
There’s too much going on in Rome to discuss in these pages, it is all wonderful and the room of our Hotel had a pretty special view…
The view from Hassler Roma
I would, however, like to pick out two churches –
Basilica di Santa Maria in Aracoeli – right behind the “wedding cake” on the Capitol – not somewhere you would want to stumble up or down 124steps for midnight mass but well worth the climb any other time.
Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi – only in Rome can you go into a church for free and then be confounded by not only one but three Caravaggio’s – sublime. Also a French king who built and incredibly ornate church getting canonised – I wonder why?
BOOKS
I set myself a new year’s resolution to read at least one classic this year and it has taken me until October (!) to start reading War and Peace – loving it! I would point out, however, that the surnames are quite confusing a lot of “ovs” “ovsky’s”, who’s a prince or princess, who’s a count or countess, who’s not…will it be finished before the end of the year?
Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss any travel plans.
Barney
