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Valaisan getaway and… Happy New Year 2018 !
In early November, we went to make VivaLaVida discover some corners of the Valais, an Alpine canton of Switzerland.
Departure for the Santesch Pass, at 7’200 feet elevation, and its splendid lapiaz. The recent snow stopped our way at the pass, beautiful snowdrifts cutting the road down to Lake Senin.
1. Sunrise without many colors…
2. VivaLaVida at the pass, where we slept.
3. Eis on limestone.
4. View to the South over great alpine peaks: Dent Blanche (White Tooth), Matterhorn, Zinal Rothorn, Obergabelhorn, Dent d’Hérens (Herens Tooth)…
5. Life clings…
6. First snow left patchworks on the screes…
7. Snowfields…
8. After breakfast, the sun came up and we went for a walk with family.
9. The big “lapiaz”, a geological curiosity created after the removal of the Tsanfleuron glacier, is gorgeous.
10. Mount Gond.
11. Breathtaking panorama!
12. Near Lake Senin.
13. Family selfie 😉
14. VivaLaVida on the little road…
15. The tunnel to access the pass: 10 feet 7 inches, just enough for VLV!
16. When the mountain crushes the summer camp of Tsandra.
December the 31st, it’s time for us to send you our very best wishes for 2018! We wish you only the best: good health, stars in your eyes, beautiful trips here or elsewher, and lots of new enriching adventures.
See you next year for the continuation of VivaLaVida’s adventures! 😀
Merry Christmas!
To all of you who follow this little blog, I wish the best Christmas! Thank you for your loyalty thanks to which this blog continues to exist.
The next article is coming soon… 😉
Claude-Alain
Swiss Alps.
A short overnight getaway to the Pass of Jaman, with a magnificent view.
1. Sunset over Geneva Lake.
2. Chilly awakening for VivaLaVida.
3. Intyamon side view.
4. Descent on alpine paths…
That’s all for today. But there is another week-end gateway coming soon…
Stay tuned 😉
Must already go back……
After five days, it’s already time to go back home.
1. We camped in the wild not far from Macinaggio, below a Genoese tower. First light of the day…
2. … gently move the village of Bettolacce out of the darkness.
3. To the East, Elba Island takes shape on the horizon.
4. Soft light of sunrise…
5. Good morning Sun!
6. Our boondocking spot.
7. Panoramic view of Macinaggio and its bay.
8. Maquis of Cape Corse.
9. Short stop to reconnect VivaLaVida’s swaybar.
10. Cristal clear water…
11. Lovely marina of Porticciolo.
12. Last sea play for Emile !
13. Loading VLV into the ferry.
14. Square in Bastia.
15. Last look at this beautiful city…
Back on the continent, we spend the night at my brother François’s place, in the Var valley, before driving the 400 miles bringing us home.
Thank you for having followed us during these short vacation! We hope to spend another weekend or two in VivaLaVida before I store her for the winter. We will share them here… 😀
Stay connected!
Cape Corse
We continue the ascent of Cape Corse, the wildest part of the “Island of Beauty”.
1. Botticella village.
2. The small Giraglia Island which gave its name to one of the most important sailing race in the Mediterranean Sea.
3. Old mill.
4. My darling 😉
5. Tollare Marina, at North end of the cape.
6. Swell…
7. Barcaggio marina.
8. Paradise beach.
9. Emile plays…
10. … with his Mom’s hat.
Last sunrise before return ferry crossing in the next update…
North West shore
Our stay in Corsiaca continues…
1. Familly walk on the coast.
2. Emile still loves the baby carrier !
3. And Isabelle appreciates these landscapes
4. But the rain catches up…
5. Fortunately, it will only last an afternoon and a night.
6. Breakfast.
7. Outdoor lunch.
8. St-Florent again…
9. La fantasmagorique plage noire de Nonza, en remontant la côte ouest du Cap Corse.
10. Sea clouds…
11. Pino, small village in Cap Corse
12. Boondocking in a pretty cove.
13. Horizon…
14. Afterglow…
Next of our Cape Corse discovery to come soon…
Program change.
After a few days in the Alps with temperatures well below usual in this season, Isabelle dreamed of warmer places. We decided to cross to Corsica for our second vacation week, hoping to find more sun…
1. Wake up in Menton, before embarking in Nice.
2. Waiting for boarding.
3. Emile discovers the upper deck.
4. Over Mediterranean Sea…
5. Arrived in the night, the next day allows us to enjoy the sun on the beach.
6. Emile loves outdoor picnics !
7. St-Florent, down the Cap Corse.
8. Trail through the maquis to reach a wild beach.
9. Emile’s snack. We met a German guy who announces that the portal located 2 miles from the beach is closed… We decide to turn around and go to another beach of which we know that access is open.
10. Crossing the Agriates Desert on the trail towards Saleccia.
11. Saleccia Beach, accessible only by boat or by a rather rough trail.
12. Inlet behind the beach.
13. We cannot say that it’s crowded… 😉
To be continued soon…
Tende…
1. Tende is a particular village, hanging on the slope of a deep valley.
2. Small streets are narrow…
3. … and most of the houses have views over the valley.
4. Porch…
5. A real little labyrinth.
6. Ancient door…
7. Another, with its guardian. 😉
8. The colors of the church clash..
9. Roof entanglement.
10. Up the street to the church…
11. … and its painted pediment.
12. The interior is also quite spectacular.
13. Still other doors…
14. Balcony on the valley…
15. Going down to VivaLaVida.
16. A chapel bell tower…
17. Swing for Emile…
18. Last look at the village.
To be followed in some days…
Ruta del Sale…
1. From the Tende Pass, the switchbacks of the southern side are impressive !
2. We decide to borrow part of the Ruta del Sale which connects various ruins of military forts.
3. It’s well inhabited by many marmots almost ready for their next hibernation.
4. She looks like a ranger, isn’t she? 😉
5. VivaLaVida follows ridges…
6. … with new landscapes at every turn.
7. Clouds are close.
8. Nice bridge on our trail…
9. … which spans a torrent having dug the rock.
10. VLV makes a short stop.
11. Lunch break in a pretty clearing in the larches…
12. … and some play for Emile.
In the next update, we will show you Tende, a pretty village perched on the slopes of a deep valley.
Italian gateway
The VLV alpine trip continued to the Lombarde Pass linking France to Italy.
1. Going up to Isola 2000, VivaLaVida crosses a small reach to reach a pretty picnic place.
2. Having good time…
3. Emile loves to be in the nature…
4. Over the pass under a rain shower.
5. Small lake going down to Italy.
6. …
7. Switchback turns on the Italian side.
8. Arrival at the Tende Pass and its various abandoned fortress.
9. The view towards North is immense…
10. Some ruins are quite large.
11. We will spend the night in one of these abandonned fortress.
12. Inside one of those…
13. Sun is setting…
14. South side of the Tende Pass, in France.
15. Sunset behind the mountains…
16. Campfire under the stars. This will unfortunately be the only one of this vacation, the riss of wildfire being very high at the moment…
To be followed soon…
D5 Creation