Some people in my home country always go on about their great memories from the military service. Me, I was never much of a soldier, and only start reminiscing when I’m really drunk, and surrounded by equally drunken Finns (which of course hardly ever happens). But one joy I actually rediscovered during my military service was actually cross-country skiing (known as "murtsikka" in Finnish). Or let’s say that my best and worst memories are to do with skiing. Best since it was at times a great way to enjoy the peace and quite of nature – and the Finnish forests are really very beautiful when they are covered with snow. Worst since you had to carry shed-loads of stuff whilst skiing ridiculously long distances – often when there was hardly not enough snow to ski (we really did get to know the expression “no pain, no gain”. So anyway, ever since I arrived on the Cote d’Azur, I’ve been telling myself I ought to give cross-country skiing a go.
Today was a good a time as any (although admittedly it took some motivation – I had had “a couple” of beers with my fellow Finns in Antibes the night before) – so off I headed to Greolieres. I rented the gear, and reluctantly paid the 6 euro piste fee (it feels a bit odd for us Finns to have to pay to go cross-country skiing). I started off with an easy 2.5 km green track. Kind of to my surprise, I got back into it pretty quickly (I guess it’s a bit like riding a bike in that sense...). After the quick practice round, and a sandwich lunch, I decided to go for thre 6.5 km blue track. That one I really enjoyed, it felt really great to get away from the crowds and just enjoy the great scenery and the cool winter air. And I can tell you, I gave my muscles a good workout too, all those slopes.... That was enough for a first go – I decided to call it quits quite early to leave before the traffic got too bad...
On the way back I decided to drive via Cipieres, for a change. Our good friend Olivier, whose parents have a house in Greolieres, had once said it was “nearly as beautiful as Greolieres” (coming from him, compliments don’t get much better than that). So I decided to stop there and walk around for a bit. And it was a pretty village indeed – dating back to the 11th century, with its charming fountain at the main square, and 17th century chateau overlooking the village. It’s also a bit out of the way – it’s not the kind of place the tourist buses would stop at, I don’t think, with the impressively located but too-touristy Gourdon just a few km away...
Some people in my home country always go on about their great memories from the military service. Me, I was never much of a soldier, and only start reminiscing when I’m really drunk, and surrounded by equally drunken Finns (which of course hardly ever happens). But one joy I actually rediscovered during my military service was actually cross-country skiing (known as "murtsikka" in Finnish). Or let’s say that my best and worst memories are to do with skiing. Best since it was at times a great way to enjoy the peace and quite of nature – and the Finnish forests are really very beautiful when they are covered with snow. Worst since you had to carry shed-loads of stuff whilst skiing ridiculously long distances – often when there was hardly not enough snow to ski (we really did get to know the expression “no pain, no gain”. So anyway, ever since I arrived on the Cote d’Azur, I’ve been telling myself I ought to give cross-country skiing a go. 
Today was a good a time as any (although admittedly it took some motivation – I had had “a couple” of beers with my fellow Finns in Antibes the night before) – so off I headed to Greolieres. I rented the gear, and reluctantly paid the 6 euro piste fee (it feels a bit odd for us Finns to have to pay to go cross-country skiing). I started off with an easy 2.5 km green track. Kind of to my surprise, I got back into it pretty quickly (I guess it’s a bit like riding a bike in that sense...). After the quick practice round, and a sandwich lunch, I decided to go for thre 6.5 km blue track. That one I really enjoyed, it felt really great to get away from the crowds and just enjoy the great scenery and the cool winter air. And I can tell you, I gave my muscles a good workout too, all those slopes.... That was enough for a first go – I decided to call it quits quite early to leave before the traffic got too bad...
On the way back I decided to drive via Cipieres, for a change. Our good friend Olivier, whose parents have a house in Greolieres, had once said it was “nearly as beautiful as Greolieres” (coming from him, compliments don’t get much better than that). So I decided to stop there and walk around for a bit. And it was a pretty village indeed – dating back to the 11th century, with its charming fountain at the main square, and 17th century chateau overlooking the village. It’s also a bit out of the way – it’s not the kind of place the tourist buses would stop at, I don’t think, with the impressively located but too-touristy Gourdon just a few km away...
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