Postcard from Mâcot La Plagne

We weren’t going to send a postcard from Mâcot as we’re not strictly caravanning; however, we did get here in our motorhome - the long way round via Spain & Portugal. (On a recount, Catherine says that we’ve pitched at 20 different sites on our way here, including club sites at Ashwell and Blackhorse.)  So, with some poetic licence, here we go!

 As we’re here for two weeks of intensive grandparenting, we’re living in the village just a few minutes’ walk from our daughter and her family. Many of you skiers will have passed this spot on the way up to the La Plagne resorts. Macot is a typical Tarantaise village, with a baroque church, shop, boulangerie, school and town hall. There isn’t a campsite though!

 Our eldest grandson (6½) finished school today for the spring holidays, so we hope to seem more of him next week. We plan to ‘spring’ our youngest (1½) from his Nounou ( child-minder) for a few extra days as well. Their Mum & Dad are hoping for a bit of a respite, and to fit in some family afternoon skiing before the season closes. (Grandson #1 is a proficient skier).

 When we visit for shorter periods, usually in transit to Italy/Croatia (via the Fréjus tunnel), the South of France or Spain, we use Camping Le Versoyen in Bourg St Maurice. http://www.leversoyen.com  High season at le Versoyen is in winter, and again in that mad 6 weeks in July and August when all of France goes on holiday! It can get pretty cold in winter (<20C by night) and hot in summer (>30), so come prepared.

 The site has two enclosed Blocs Sanitaires with full facilities including drying rooms and ski storage. In winter there is a free bus to take skiers to the funiculaire up to Les Arcs. It’s a popular area for rafting, canoeing, hill walking and cycling as well. It’s also next door to the town swimming pool which has an open air pool in summer. Across the road there are Super-U and Intermarché supermarkets. There are plenty of shops and restaurants in Bourg, and a market on Saturday mornings.

 It’s about 650 miles from Calais to Macot (Bourg another 10). We will probably make three overnight stops on the way home, but we have done it with two. We alter the route in winter to use all-year campsites.

 Finally, thanks ‘brue’ for your nice comments on my previous ‘postcards’. We hope everyone finds this one of interest.

 PS the snow photo was taken in January 2010, the rest taken this week