jamesdeluxe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 17, 2020
For the final day of this trip, I checked out the large circuit known as the Espace Lumière, which doesn't translate well into English: basically, the Region of Light -- referring to how sunny this area is year round. It includes 180 km/108 miles of trails and an impressive amount and quality of offpiste, divided into two sectors: La Foux on the looker's left and Pra Loup (wolf's meadow) on the right.
The 3,600-vert runs on Pra Loup ski nice and long:
... before ending at the ski village with the Ubaye Valley in the background along with the town of Barcelonnette, which is known for having a huge Mexican Festival in August. Apparently, quite a few residents left for Mexico in the late 1800s, became successful entrepreneurs over there, and eventually moved home, bringing a lot of Latino cultural influences.
Heading back to the La Foux sector:
Stopping for lunch at the self-service Parapente restaurant. I noticed quite a few stickers from California ski areas (notice the one from Kirkwood in the window). Reportedly, the owner's son had spent time in the Tahoe region and came back inspired.
Being France, even cafeterias have a comparatively high quality of cuisine -- look at the dessert lineup on the top shelves:
You know you're in the south of France when you see a truck like this in a ski-area parking lot -- a company that cares for palm trees:
Heading back into the village with the requisite old church:
And a visit to the locally famous Sainte Brigitte cheese dairy. You're not supposed to bring unpasteurized cheese into the U.S., but I managed to sneak some in, despite the pungent aroma:
On my final evening, I went with local food connoisseur Robin to a cute traditional French restaurant. I had a vegetarian version of the beloved winter dish tartiflette and he opted for a heaping plate of charcuterie.
The 3,600-vert runs on Pra Loup ski nice and long:
... before ending at the ski village with the Ubaye Valley in the background along with the town of Barcelonnette, which is known for having a huge Mexican Festival in August. Apparently, quite a few residents left for Mexico in the late 1800s, became successful entrepreneurs over there, and eventually moved home, bringing a lot of Latino cultural influences.
Heading back to the La Foux sector:
Stopping for lunch at the self-service Parapente restaurant. I noticed quite a few stickers from California ski areas (notice the one from Kirkwood in the window). Reportedly, the owner's son had spent time in the Tahoe region and came back inspired.
Being France, even cafeterias have a comparatively high quality of cuisine -- look at the dessert lineup on the top shelves:
You know you're in the south of France when you see a truck like this in a ski-area parking lot -- a company that cares for palm trees:
Heading back into the village with the requisite old church:
And a visit to the locally famous Sainte Brigitte cheese dairy. You're not supposed to bring unpasteurized cheese into the U.S., but I managed to sneak some in, despite the pungent aroma:
On my final evening, I went with local food connoisseur Robin to a cute traditional French restaurant. I had a vegetarian version of the beloved winter dish tartiflette and he opted for a heaping plate of charcuterie.
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