Rally rally vrooom vrooom

The Monte Carlo Car Rally

The large rally headquarters erected a mini city right next door to Collége de Fontreyne, where I work. It was soooo easy to be distracted with the goings on next door. There was lots of noises and official men with all kinds of equipment. It was easy for the students to be distracted from their lesson.

The setting up took three days.

I had a pamphlet that explained everything that you needed to know about the rally. It had a timetable, maps of routes, and explanations. 

The rally took place over three days. Despite the efforts of the pamphlet to inform me, in french of course, I misunderstood almost everything that it said. This goes to prove that I am not yet ready to sit a formal french exam, showing my high level of comprehension.

Anyway, I thought that I was going to miss out on the action ….. and so I took it upon myself to be proactive. I thought that the rally cars were going to depart, on Wednesday morning, from headquartersi in Gap, to go to another destination, to race. So, I rose at the wicked hour of quarter to six in the morning to watch the cars depart. The sunrises at 8:00 a.m. , so it seemed like it was the middle of the night. The biting cold, reminded me that I was high in the Alps and the surrounding silence as i approached headquarters that there wasn't any action. I berated myself for somehow missing the action.

Not to be easily, thwarted ….. I stealthily passed through a hole in the fence. There were security guards around and I immediately saw the irony of the situation as I infiltrated the bordered headquarters. A bit like a foreign spy situation in Auckland in the late 1980s!!!!

I walked around as if I was an official, so that nobody would ask me what my business was. However, I couldn't take photos, because that would have blown my cover. Nevertheless, I did take this photo before exiting.

Isn't she a beauty?

I returned home and wondered how I interpreted the information so incorrectly!

Later in the morning, I heard the grunty sound of rally cars on the main street not far from where I live. When I stood at the bus stop, I was treated to a rally car zooming past every 10 minutes. On examining my informative pamphlet, I then realised that today was practise day. The cars get to do the circuit four times in preparation for the big event the next day.

I hopped on the bus and at the next stop, I saw that there was a full blown carnival going on! Making a snap decision, quick as a wink, I jumped off the bus to check out the action. There were lots and lots of stalls selling promotional products.

Here is a candy floss stall. Remember what candy floss is in french? Barbe au Papa. Dad's beard.

There were tons of people, groovy music, and lots of food stalls. I cringed at how I could so misinterpret the information in my pamphlet. All my undercover, secret squirrel work in the morning was for NOTHING. I was quite disappointed that I only had ten minutes to suck in the atmosphere before scurrying on into town for my university classes and my private french tutoring.

However, I did have time to snap this audacious number plate!

There were officials EVERYWHERE!!! And there was an overload of police cars. In this snap there are 5 police cars!!!!

Check out this shot of a massive boiling cauldron of something. 

Café madness

I have visited quite a few cafés in town, so it was with delight that I met E, for a drink in a café that I hadn't been to before. It was loaded with personality as you can see from the photos.

There is the front of a car sticking out of the wall; a train that does a circuit of the roof, number plates, etc.

The atmosphere in this café was great as the pulse of the town quickens due to the tourist in-flow because of the impending Monte Carlo rally.

It was cool to chat with E. (in english!) as she sipped black tea with lemon and I, a cassis injected Kir.

I love the photo bomber. Cheeky, but not too cheeky!

Yahooo!!!!

Oh la la. Look what I found!!!!!!! My dream car !!!!!! What a shame the wheels are not that great! Nevertheless, its a Chrysler Dodge.

Furthermore, it has been suggested to me that I might be able to get a ride in one of the Monte Carlo rally cars.  Dreams are FREE !!!!!!! If I did get a ride, my yelps and hoots of delight will be heard all the way to the other side of the world!!!!

The rally gets underway in 2 days time. It is so cool to see Gap come alive. I have already checked out the schedule. I'm gonna be one of those ning nongs, that get all rugged up and cheer as the rally car leaves the starting gate.

Sunrise in the East

9: oo am Saturday morning on the 11th of the first month of the year. The eastern sun began to peek over the top of the distant hill. Its sharp brilliance contrasted with the cotton wool softness of a low hanging cloud in the valley.

I decided to drink in this incredible sight by turning on some classical music,(André Rieu) and marvel at  Mother Nature's light show.

How lucky am I to have such a beautiful vista!

I multiplied my joy by plopping a bean chair into prime position. I scooped some fromage blanc into a bowl with a spoon of honey, a dollop of goji berries, a sprinkle of smoked peanuts and a couple of dried figs. Yummo! Next course was a warmed up lemon muffin with jam in the middle, accompanied with a hot mug of milky English Breakfast tea.

I love the photo below as you can see my armchair positioning ….. and also the reflection of the sky and the trees in the window.

Monte Carlo Hits Gap!

The 2014 Monte Carlo Rally will be held over three days between 14 and 18 January. Last year the headquarters was based in a nearby town called, Valence. This year the headquarters have been relocated to Gap.

There is a flurry of activity around town. I have been warned that it impacts on traffic flow and that normal life in town will be totally disrupted. 

A twinkle of glee entered my eyes as I was told this. Yay! A world-wide event held in our little town ……. on my doorstep, nonetheless! I looked out the window of the classroom at school to see a whole lot of energetic, muscular young 20 year old men. They all wore the same rally promotion t shirt. There was much banging and clattering as an enormous structure was in the process of being erected.

I tried prodding a few people for a bit more information; alas, no one knew much. In fact one person said that she thought it was a circus that was coming to town.

The photo below is a shot from last year's rally. No snow here in Gap at the moment.

So, I've looked up "Monte Carlo" on the internet. This year there are 71 entries. The entries feature three VW Polo R WRCs, two Hyundi i20 WRCs, two Citroën DS3 WRCs and seven Ford Fiesta RS WRCs.

The roads around the alps would be incredibly difficult to negotiate at speed. Boy, it's gonna be exciting!

I read an article in the Riviera Times that the third generation Mini is set to launch in March. (The Mini took the 1964 Monte Carlo Rally by storm and won!)

Personally I am very excited about the new Mini about to be released. I LOVE the car. 

And so when I saw this little baby parked not far from my house, I seized the opportunity to take a couple of snaps.

Très chic!

Ok. And this little honey puts a smile on my face every morning as I walk to school. There are a few driving around town. My private sport is to have a good look at the type of person driving the car. Frequently they are the youngish, bohemian sort of person. ( A bit like a person who hangs out in cafés in Kingsland.)

I also see a lot of these little Bambinos scooting around town. They are brightly coloured and ALWAYS put a smile on my dial.

I was sooooo lucky to visit the famous car museum in Italy. I was entranced with the early cars of the 1920s.

The exhibits were pristine and magnificent!

 The lighting wasn't that great for taking photos. Aside from the Mini, my other car of choice, that fills up my imagination, is the Chrysler Dodge. I love the way the rear door opens backwards, the running board adds flavour, along with the sleek lines around the wheels.

The displays in the car museum gave life to the cars. They showed lifestyles that the cars fed into ….

This little baby was around in the sixties. The "Hair" musical; the movie, "The Love Bug". It epitomises freedom and release from stiff regimentation.

I guess the painted VW vans that you see around NZ are paying tribute to this paradigm.

I can hardly wait to get back to NZ to ride " Gigi."

Quelle horreur!

Quelle horreur!!!!!!

The smoking habits and laws are very different to NZ. 

These cigarette butts are very well behaved. They are the ones that made it into the receptacle provided. 

There are countless butts that didn't quite make it into the bin.

This sight really challenges my "rose-tinted" glasses perspective.

leisurely lake promenade

Today, i was picked up by N. and her two daughters. I was transported the most wonderful, little secret lake, only kilometres from Gap.

The french sign says that it is strictly forbidden to swim in the lake. Well, it was easy to take that advice. I decided not to go for a swim, after all. (Yeah, right!)

The massive mountains were stunning. Check out the drop of the cliff in the middle of the picture. apparently, it is a world famous area for mountain climbing. (You need serious equipment to conquer this baby!)

The little wooden cabins in the foreground by the edge of the lake,  are where people come to spend their summer holidays.

At this time of the year, normally this area is covered in snow. So, the ski fields here, are not open at the moment.

The petit lake was a picture of beauty in the low, afternoon sun.

Too cute!

In only a few kilometres of climbing in the car, the air temperature was astoundingly cold!

The local walks around these rocky peaks was pointed out to me.

Fantastic!