Traveling again la Tuille

Of traveling again, this time back to the alps and this time to a new resort as part of the previsit for the school's Easter ski trip.

Today I'm traveling alone, which is something I can't remember doing before. All of my previous adventures have been with someone or a group.of others. This morning came around quicker than I had expected. Alarms set for between 2:15 and 2:30 and I missed them all. I awoke at 2 and thought another 15 minutes which turned into an hour and a half later and a little more panic in my routine. 

The car decided to add a fuel stop into the mix! Desperately trying this morning.

However the arrival at Gatwick, parking up and going through security probably took less than 30 minutes including walking through time. Security is now really efficient without the need of getting liquids out makes the process seem quicker. Big tick for the shouty security staff!

Can't travel without a breakfast at the airport but since the new year the size of my food portions has taken a significant nose dive so a breakfast bap rather than the full English and I'm completely stuffed and ready for the day.

The flight to Turin was really uneventful. Smooth flight and far from full, I guess people don't really want to travel quite so early on a Friday morning so spare seats give a nice breathing space. 

Having been to Turin airport before I was expecting long queues especially for us Brits but the new installation of automated gates followed by a quick stamp made it really efficient and I was off to the car rental place in record time.

No queuing there either, straight in, quick document check and keys in my hand. I wished he staff a good day but they said that it was unlikely to be a good day for them so I replied with try and and have a good day.

I can appreciate sitting in a booth built within a draft carpark at the airport a difficult space to have an enjoyable work day, but I got the sense that they are a friendly bunch and I hoped that my parting comment didn't go to waste on them.

My car this time was a jeep. Hybrid too. Never driven either before so this was going to b e a new experience. The electric part was flat so the engine kicked in pretty much from the off. This jeep however has more buttons and lights then I think I have ever seen before. The car felt big and driving it through the narrowest of carparks was something of a challenge. Paid the damage waiver anyway but didn't want to have to go back with my head in my hands having had an accident.

Technology in cars can be a wonderous thing. First thing I tried to do was connect my phone so I could sort out directions. Bluetooth was a no go so this was going to be difficult until I plugged it in and all of a sudden my phone was on the big screen, directions and Spotify. This made the drive so easy.

Then the toll booth came into view. I had forgotten about these things and started to panic about which lane I should be in and started scrambling for my wallet. Clearly I didn't need it as the first booth is just the collect a ticket at the start of the journey. Whilst this whole system is annoying having to pay for the roads it is really efficient and actually a fair system. The more you use the road the more you pay. The roads were light and the scenery was beautiful. Heading into snow capped mountains just brings a smile to my face.

A quick snack and comfort break and I had left the UK at 6 and at my destination before noon!

La tuille is a small town aside the mountain. The last stretch of road before the town is a zigzag of bends up the mountain. You leave the valley floor and into the snow after t a few twists and turns.

The town itself it an alpine village that clearly is a ski resort with the sort of shops you'd expect and then apartments and hotels scattered all over.

I met the rep and coordinator at my hotel and they showed me where we will be staying in march. Seems a really nice complex with everything at your fingertips. Shops, supermarkets and restaurants all in one place. I must say they did an amazing job of reassuring me about the place and looked after me. They gave me recommendations of where to eat for dinner so more on that later. After a tour, ski fit etc I was happy to get back to the hotel and just freshen up. It was still only 1pm by now so lunch was needed but I had been on the go since 3am!

I picked a little bar for lunch next to the ski lifts so I could see what was going on. I went for a safe toasted sandwich which on reflection was a little disappointing but sufficient for a quick bite.

Back to the hotel for a snooze before dinner and I booked a restaurant for dinner based on the reps recommendations!

La Grotta didn't disappoint either. I went in not sure what I wanted and the menu had lots of options that looked good. The waiter came over and said their speciality is pizza and the calzone was his recommendation. Never had a calzone before but this was absolutely delicious. God only knows how I finished the whole thing!

Post dinner walk back up to the complex where we are staying in march to see how busy it is before heading back to the hotel to finish my book!