An unforgettable journey to the FRENCH ALPS

Green pastures, snowy slopes and surmounting fear: luxury skiing at the Club Med Tignes Resort

- THOBEKA PHANYEKO

IT'S NIGHTTIME WHEN I RECEIVE AN INVITATION FROM Gabriella to attend the global opening of the Club Med Tignes Resort in the French Alps. I sleep on it, briefly discuss it with Glamour's Editor-in-chief, then RSVP. Gabbi says she needs to apply for my VISA, and requests a copy of my passport. The problem is I don't have one.

I muster the courage to tell her and assure her I'm working on it. She gives me a deadline that's just 10 days away. Applying for my passport involves queueing in the scorching summer heat for six hours outside Home Affairs, but as fate would have it, nine days later, I receive an email: it's ready for collection.

My journey begins

With my VISA application complete and my passport in hand, I start preparing for my trip. Gabbi asks if I'd like to ski, to which I respond, "I'm happy to observe." She later assures me that the Club Med ski resort offers beginner skiing lessons, and I think, why not? As my departure draws closer, I can't contain my excitement. Last-minute shopping at Cape Union Mart, trying on snow boots, I realise it's really happening, that in just a few hours, I'll be leaving South Africa for the first time in my life!

My flight departs at midnight, so I make my way to the airport just after 9pm and then head to international departures - and as it's uncharted territory, I capture the moment to share with our 95 000 Instagram followers. Soon, we're preparing for take off courtesy of Air France. We're greeted in French and English, which affirms that I'm going to Paris!

Bienvenue en France