Alpe d'Huez Apres Ski Report:3rd February 2011
More fun and games in Alpe d'Huez as the Après ski is more then making up for the lack of fresh snow. The sunny weather has brought people out onto the terraces and around town as they look for ways to enjoy their time here in the island in the sun, a search which the bars, restaurants and facilities here in resort are more then happy to cater for.
I'll pick up this week where I left off, which was the Monster Energy Drink Tour on Thursday evening. The guys from Monster were let loose on Smithy's Tavern first of all and then the Caves Nightclub to promote their drink with heavy rock music from The Black Flowers, who certainly turned the volume up to 11 as the ceiling threatened to fall in and the stunningly gorgeous Monster Girls, who's contradictory name does not do them any justice as they ran riot around the bar tattooing anything that moved, including the ogling bar staff. At 2pm when the Tavern shut, the party moved over the road to Les Caves, where DJ Mike Rock took control of the DJ booth and partied away into the very early hours.
Saturday was a huge day in resort as the Alpe d'Huez football league brought the grudge match of the season when the English team took on the ESF to see who would go top of the table. Equipe Anglais took an early 4-1 lead in the first half, only for the ESF to fight back to a 5-4 deficit in their favour. It came down to the wire as the clock ticked down but two late goals for team England brought victory with a final minute strike from top goal scorer Duncan Ross sealing the 3 points with an epic 6-5 score line.
As Sunday was my day off I thought it only right that I once again make my way around every bar in town to see old friends and experience the delights of Alpe d'Huez. As usual Sphere Bar was on the agenda as a solid starting point before heading down the road and onto “Dog Alley” to sample the delights of Captain Sandwich. Before popping my head into Irish bar O'Sharkey's and then heading to the bottom of town and into O-Bar for the football.
After such a good experience a few weeks ago, that evening a few friends and I had a meal in Rendez-Vous. Once again they delivered wonderful food and immaculate settings for us to have a really fantastic evening before I made the long journey back down to the bottom of town for Pacific's Open Mic Night. The bar was heaving and many drunken lullabies were played by a host of different volunteers. The evening then ended in textbook Alpe d'Huez style as we headed into the Underground Bar for some vodka slammers and to dance the night (and some of the morning) away to Gareth on the guitar.
Monday was a much more civilised affair as my wonderful employers thought it was about time that we all had a get together on the mountain and treated the staff of Lounge 21 and Smithy's Tavern to a slap up feast at the Chantebise restaurant at DMC 1. Tartiflette was dish of the day, which is somewhat of an alpine speciality of potato cooked in a creamy sauce with rebluchon cheese and lardons accompanied with a green salad and charcuterie. And after which we all headed into the Ice Bar for a quick drink and to admire the ice sculptures.
The ice bar is built every year, it's situated at DMC1 and from the outside looks little more then a huge pile of snow. The inside however tells a different story as loud music, great decoration and alcohol served from shot glasses made of ice gives bar an atmosphere you might find in a Russian nightclub. Its fascinating stuff and well worth a look.
Tuesday is very much a seasonnaire night in resort as many of them have the following day off, and is therefore a great excuse to put on your best fancy dress and find one of the seasonnaire parties happening in resort.
Pirates was the theme in Smithy's Tavern, and so before donning my eye-patch, wooden leg and parrot, I decided I might need to mentally prepare myself in new bar Le Pub (formerly the Caves restaurant) and then headed over the road to French favourite Zoo Bar.
Both Le Pub and Zoo Bar are places in resort that I don't manage to get into enough. Both have a brilliant atmosphere and friendly bar staff and offer an excellent getaway when I find myself in need of a change from the bigger bars in town.
Another brilliant week full of stories I can't remember as clearly as I should be able to. Parties in town this week as Dr. Bruce play at Smithy's Tavern tonight, Gareth will be entertaining the Underground and Tiger Café and the Igloo nightclub have Sexy Shows throughout the week, plus an abundance of entertainments too numerous to mention in this little report. Keep enjoying everything the resort has to offer.
Remember, we're not here for a long time; we're here for a good time!
Pete
For a full list of this week's events, check out our What's On Calendar. You can also find full Bar and Restaurant listings in the Dining and Going Out section of the site.
