It's true that you should start your day as early as possible in the mountains; not only is the air the freshest (afternoons are too hot to start climbing), but also the weather is at its best. Normally we don't need to worry about the latter one, because the Southern Alps are basically the sunniest part of France (read: almost 300 days of sun), but this time we knew the weather would close in later on. So we kicked off in the early morning while the air was still crisp, there were pretty drops of morning dew on plants, and we got some sunrays through the beautiful mist.

The past winter was generally pretty long in the alpine region and the snow stayed longer on the ground than usually. We’ve been hiking in the Southern Alps many times before in June, and while it's considered a summer month, in the altitude it is often still springtime. It just actually fun not knowing if you’ll come across snow or if you’ll see some pretty flower fields and lush greeneries.

This June we came across all of the above, and I must say it’s quite something to have so many different elements combined in a scenery. Not to mention all the rivers and waterfalls that are running wild and plentiful this time of year! Although we were a bit limited by the snow and couldn’t go as far as planned on some treks, we ended up having great couple of days outdooring and spending time together with our parents. Also, we did a little riverside barbeque on one of the days- it's nice to have some downtime… and just eat, drink, and eat some more…

Morning Preparations

Just like in many southern families, the grandparents’ house in this one is the most central meeting point. Thus, we were expecting the bride to arrive here around noon to get dressed and photographed before heading out to the civil ceremony. We were lucky enough to get to sleep pretty long, and just after waking up we headed to the cute Provencal Saturday morning market to pick up some fresh croissants for our breakfast. As we sipped our morning coffee, everyone around us had started to get ready for the wedding; hairstylist occupied the kitchen, the salon was all beautifully set for the bride and the rest of the family kept popping in and out of the house finalizing all the details. In between all the hassle, it was a beautiful day (although tiny bit windy) and we all chilled on the sunny terrace while the bride was getting ready in the next room…;)

Growing up with four seasons, I’ve always had a soft spot for each season and I’ve always looked forward to the next one. Autumn’s no different. Although it indicates that the warm and sunny summer’s behind us, I find it refreshing to switch my flip-flops finally into real shoes, put up a candle or two as the nights are getting darker, and most of all, enjoy outdoors with all the colours nature is showcasing to us (Note: Denis would definitely want to mention here the opening of the oh-so-delicious Raclette season!). And what about that special moment when you look outside and the first snow starts falling- enchanting!

Meanwhile all this may or may not actually happen in Paris, it certainly does down in the Alps. Last autumn around Halloween we headed down to Briançon to make the best of the long weekend, and get on to those hiking trails. The train from Paris takes us directly to an Italian alpine village called Oulx and from there we need to cross a mountain pass (Col de Montgenèvre) with a car to get to Briançon. Now, we were informed that it would be snowing quite a bit on the pass and thus we took a shuttle bus* instead of someone picking us up (with summer tyres on the car). And good that we did, because as soon as we left Oulx, the road was covered in snow and more kept coming down! Pretty excitement-filled drive, I'd say...

It's always great to be back though, and every time we open the front door we can already smell the dinner that's waiting for us in the kitchen...

Over the next three days we tried picking up hikes that would still be doable without snowshoes or skis, and we ended up having three wonderful days walking on the first fresh snow, getting lost in the quiet nature and simply just breathing the freshest mountain air! 

As we got to there I wanted to take my parents around Aix - one of the most visited city in Provence. This city isn’t just accidentally the southern hot spot for rich: inviting alleys of the old town, colorful markets, numerous boutiques, fine dining, ateliers, museums, and outstandingly lively southern street life. It has definitely established itself as the cultural center of the region. But it’s not only a venue for old and rich people; it’s also a university town, making it home to number of students from all over.  In the center runs a large boulevard Cours Mirabeau that divides the city into the older quarter and the newer town district on the other side. At the other end of this major boulevard are many of the town’s theaters, and at the other end is the famous Place du General de Gaulle and its fountain La Rotonde or Rotunda fountain. This fountain is one of the many (around 40) fountains in Aix, and surely the most widely known one.