Nightlife Previews and reviews in Val d'Isere

This week brings the return of the much-anticipated X Games to our neighbours in Tignes and, with Olympic winner Shaun White making an appearance this year, there’s an exciting buzz around.

Now that over a week has passed since New Year’s, its time to accept certain things. No, we will not be nicer to the coworker who purposefully doesn’t do her job. No, we will not be going to the gym 5 times a week or eating only one croissant a day. And no, we will not stop going out, drink less, and behave more. Nope. In fact, we have continued to do the shopping cart dance followed by the lawnmower dance followed by the fishing reel dance as most of our friends have left the dancefloor out of shame of who their friends are. We have continued to drink Jagerbombs, much to our liver’s chagrin even though it was our top resolution for 2013. We can’t help it. This is Val d’Isère, after all!

It’s been a lovely week weather-wise with clear blue skies everyday and although it’s a bit cold, if you wrap up warm you don’t feel it. The pistes are great and it’s clouded over today in preparation for the snow that’s forecast for these next few days. Life is good here in Val d’Isere.

Val d’Isere is such a multi-national little bubble that sometimes you forget where in the world you are.

We would like to say that we behave, we really would. But as our parents have always instructed us to tell the truth, we’ll just say that it’s definitely work in progress..... It will come as no surprise then that this week was just another epic series of jagerbombs, awesome DJs, and all out shenanigans. This is Val d’Isere; we just can’t help it!

With the season ending in two months and our minds drifting towards our summer plans, we’ve been trying to figure out how to save our Euros and even make some extra cash for our next trips. We’ve considered selling grilled cheeses for drunk passer-bys, trading kisses for cash, and even giving our kidneys away. As you all can imagine, we’ve been getting creative. And desperate.

Maybe we needed a week for our New Year’s resolutions to kick in or maybe it was the fantastic -24 degree weather we’ve been having this week, but either way, we’ve been behaving. Or at the very least, we’ve been working on it, reminding ourselves that our little Euros could be spent on something other than apres-ski! Needless to say, we could be trying harder to stay in control…

After the PDA's (Public Displays of Affection) cleared this week with Cupids departure, they were quickly replaced by the now very familiar sight of fat snow flakes. We were again treated to snow upon snow upon snow, which is quickly turning February into one of my favourite months of the year.

Welcome all to the first Val d’Isere après report of season 2011/2012, and I’m pleased to say I’m looking out the window onto a blanket of snow several feet deep and bluebird skies. This certainly wasn’t the case a few days ago when the mountain was still very green (red and yellow) and autumnal. But, thanks to Hewie, the beloved god of snow, wishes were granted and the white stuff fell from the sky in masses, and apparently more is on the way.

The end of season is nigh and people are starting to pack their bags and leave. It’s always sad when the people you’ve become close to leave, even after only a season or two and it’s harder still when you know they’re not just leaving the country but the continent too!

This week was Valentine’s Day and just happened to be my day off too. I made the most of it by going out for dinner with my partner. By the time we were both ready to go it was getting quite late, as in 10pm late! So we decided to head down to the Taverne d’Alsace, located beneath the Billabong Café and Hotel Kandahar, on the opposite side of the roundabout from the bus station.

It’s been one hell of a musical week! With the après music sessions taking place every day, it’s surprising our lives haven’t become a singing only musical!

This winter in Tignes, seasonnaires and holiday makers in-the-know have been lucky enough to bear witness to a new epic night out. An alpine music initiative described by its creator as “summer festival vibes in the snowy alpine playground” known by the name of Bass Station.

It’s been a busy week for me this week. I’ve had friends visiting and what with going on the hill, going out and working, I’m barely keeping my eyes open. Luckily, on my day off I got a lie in before heading up the hill and then in the evening we headed out for a meal.

Just like Bob Marley sang, here in Val d’Isere the sun is shining and weather is sweet. Unlike Bob though, this doesn’t make you want to get on your dancing feet but rather grab a chair in the sun and kick back and relax.