FlyNirvana BLOG

At 60Km from Bordeaux, in the South of the Arcachon Bay, it is the highest dune in Europe, the Great Dune of Pyla (or Pilat). The dune is 7km long, 107 meters high, and has a lovely view to the Atlantic Ocean, the Bay and pine forests. For some years now it has been a playground for paragliding pilots.The Dune was everything we had heard, seen (in numerous films) and imagined. We were extremely lucky to have 3 days of sunshine,  some full on strong wind kiting and awesome dune flying. Sunith was the designated photographer but sun, sand, and surf distracted him and after a few clicks he was out there on his own surfing the sand splashing the waves and having a total blast.We all had a blast here playing like children in a huge sandbox. Along with some great low flying and hardcore kiting sessions we also had an interesting camping experience being the only Indian family camping here at the Pyla Camping and possibly in all of France.During this leg of our trip we were completely on our own. The day was dominated by the action at the Dune – flying, paddling in the Atlantic, surfboarding down the sandy slopes. Later in the evening we would head out to the restaurant where people met up for some family entertainment. We christened the place the Bandra Gymkhana – why? Because it was like that only! – As our friend Philippe says – ‘same same but different’.On our way back to Paris we visited Arcachon a must see if it is not flyable. Dinner out could be a good idea too.Click on Nirvana Adventures at Dune de Pyla to see more pictures.Back to Paris and Mumbai Back in Paris we had Francois and Gwen’s flat to ourselves for a few days and although we missed them ( Shiva the cat included) we rambled all over Paris ( the metro is amazing). This time around it was museums, Montmartre, and Moulin Rouge crowned off by the Bastille Day concert and fireworks by the Eiffel Tower. Nirvana Adventures

When we reached Nieul le Dolent the sky was grey and it was windy and cold. We saw the big blue tent where the wedding reception was to be held from the distance and knew we were there at last. The wedding house was buzzing with activity and excitement. As of now it was the extended family here for dinner. The guests were to arrive over the next two days. We stayed at the pretty La Moriciere a gite or guesthouse run by Monique and PatriceThe next day Philippe drove us to Sables d’Olonnes a lovely sea port right out of a novel or a movie. We checked out the little fishing boats, the sea food market and the cafes and little shops along the street facing the wharf all morning breathing the ocean smells and enjoying the atmosphere. Ate loads of shellfish for lunch and then rushed back to Nieul le Dolent for the official wedding and then back to La Garenne the wedding house to celebrate.On the day of church wedding we had a lazy morning and then Philippe came to take me to dress the page boys and flower girls for the church wedding. It was a French wedding with an Indian slant – the flower girls and page boys wore saris and pyjama kurtas and the tables were decorated with Indian sari fabric that I had shopped for in Mumbai. I found the church ceremony and reception similar to the catholic weddings held at home (except for the hats).  We have to hand it to the French! Do they dress and party in style. It comes naturally to them. I was captivated by the haute hats and stylish clothes.The celebrations continued to the next day with a BBQ lunch after which we were headed for the Dune de Pyla  for some more fun flying.Click on Gwen & Francois’s wedding to view more pictures of the wedding and our time spent here. Nirvana Adventures

The drive to Annecy was a visual treat. It was great to sit back and watch the change in scenery. After many toll booths tunnels in the mountains and super highway roads we left the lavender fields and the wildflowers and rugged hillsides  behind an begun to see more gently undulating grassy hillsides and  healthy pink and white cows grazing in the fields.  Phillipe pointed many good flying areas en route. We made a quick stop at St Hilaire the site of the famous Coupe Icare festival to meet up with friends.  We watched the gliders fly and gawked at the famous ramp takeoff which we have seen in many a PG video.We reached Agnes’s place in Annecy in the evening. Her apartment was located in a wonderful old house and the view of the lake from the balcony was stunning. Drinking wine on Agnes’s balcony overlooking the famous lake at Annecy we watched a storm blow up from the mountains and dramatically make its way over the lake bringing us welcome relief from the summer’s heat.The next day we explored the lake shore and old Annecy with its picturesque canals, bridges and quaint buildings and had an interesting meal in little restaurant. That evening we met up with Sunil and gang got into Philippe’s VW van and made an 800 odd km journey across the breadth of France to Nieul le Dolent for Francois and Gwen’s wedding.We drove across the breadth of France from East to West passing through Mt Cleremont Ferrand > Riem > Aubuson > Gueret >  Bellac > Poiters > Fontenay le Compte until we reached  Nieul Le Dolent on the Atlantic coast.And once more noticed a distinct change in the landscape.  The middle country is known for its extinct volcanoes called puys and mineral water.  I kept flipping through my guide book to understand where we were and what it meant every now and then  my excitement. I found that that Vercingetorix the famed chief often mentioned in Astrix comics and the great battle of Gergovia was near Clermont FerrandClick on flynirvana in Annecy to see more pix Nirvana Adventures

All along the way from Barcelonnette to Moustiers we drove through the stunning countryside of Provence with its legendary lavender fields that came into bloom almost coinciding with the day we arrived (On the first sighting of these trippy purple fields I started to squeal and Bastion spontaneously stopped the car, jumped into a field to pluck some lavender for me. Approaching the village of Moustiers Ste Marie from the distance, the views of clusters of little houses on the hillside flanked by steep chalky cliffs looked simply magical.We had 5 days here and had made sketchy plans to visit Marseilles and Aix en Provence, but once we got to Moustiers and its surrounds (the Pays du Verdon) we were captivated. There was so much to see, do and experience right here. The flying was really good and put a big smile on your face. We soon slipped into easy flow holiday mood.5 days of spectacular flying, exploring the stunning Gorges of Verdon, doing some radical rock climbing and retreating each night to the comfort of Philippe and Karen’s captivating home a medieval Provencal farmhouse home 4 km from the nearest village surrounded by mountains covered with pine forests and grassy meadows. Sitting there under Vincent’s stars listening to the cicadas and the occasional barking deer, eating a fabulous meal cooked by Karine and enjoying compatible company was simply fabulous.Paragliding in Moustiers Ste Marie The main home site here is Courchon and the flying is mainly late afternoon. The takeoff is located on the cliffs above the village of Moustier (900 meters)  from where the steep calciferous cliff faces give way to gentler sloping hillsides covered with low scrub vegetation about 300 meters below. The landing is at 450 meters altitude and about couple of kilometers ahead as the crow flies. The take off is fairly clean but there are bushes ahead so in a low wind you have to keep running.  In summer the area is known to have a strong west wind but we had equitable conditions which made me very happy. One gains height by thermalling out over the lower hills when you gain decent height you can hop across over the gorge to the left or fly out over the village to the right– a very pretty picture.As you go out and loose  altitude over the landing you can smell the lavender in the lifting air as you fly over the fields and then as one descends further you ride over the wafts of intoxicating fragrance of the sweet smelling bright yellow bushes of Spanish Broom until you descend to earth. Pack up in the soft golden evening sunshine and make your way back up the hillside to Moustiers to meet up for some honey beer ( the famous lavender honey beer of Moustier Ste Marie) and mingle until its time to head back through the stunning gorges back home for the night.Moustiers has a sizeable population of local pilots who turn up here on a good day – quite the Shelar super Sunday atmosphere. I was totally fascinated by an ancient roman trail here that Philippe pointed out to us. Flying here I kept imagining the roman legions marching by a la Asterix and Obelix was another trip.Pavilion Takeoff: One day we did an early morning flight from another takeoff above Moustiers called the pavilion takeoff which is located at 1600 meters altitude. A nice walk over undulating hills and many sheep later we reached the top of this mountain to encounter stunning views of the gorges hills and plains below.We took off facing due north turned west down the slope and headed out through the hills over a gorge and out towards the top of the Courchon takeoff (900m ) and further ahead to the same landing at (450m) this left us free to  wander through the village and the lake or take a boat and head out through the gorge on the Verdon to find a shady place to do a spot of rock climbing and hunt for fossils  until it was time to fly again in the afternoon.Aiguines – the takeoff is called ‘Crete des Vermis’ at an altitude of 980 located above the village of Aiguines that is nestled above the lake. From here too the cliffs give way to gentler sloped scrub covered hills going  down in terraces to meet the lake and a sandy beach where the pilots land.The take off is very limited in terms of space,  the slope is steep and one takes off in a thermic gust, uses little thermals to gain lift on the slopes and over the gorges or head out to fly above the lake and the landing is out ahead on the sandy beach. I did an awesome tandem flight with Philippe from here. A thrilling takeoff gaining height by scratching really close to the hillside and then crossing over the back of the mountain and over the gorge with the river snaking and glinting way below. We maintained a height of about 1700 meters, enjoyed the most breathtaking sights and flew along the entire back face to land at Moustiers—————————————————————————————————————————-After 5 days of sun, scents, high imagination and adventure and high emotion we said goodbye to Karine Bastion Sam and headed out with Philippe in his van to Annecy approximately 4 hours away.Click Nirvana in Moustiers Ste Marie to see more pictures of our experience here.We lost our camera at on the last day in Moustiers. Luckily Sunith had a little camera so we do have some pictures.Click here to see some fascinating pictures of Moustiers ste Marie ———– Nirvana Adventures

Bastion met us at the Aix en Provence station and drove us Barcelonnette about 400 km away. Instead of heading out to Philippe’s place directly we decided to first meet up with Mathieu de Quillacqand get the load down on his wonder dinky helicopter as he was off for a competition later that week.Barcelonnette, a small mountain village situated in the heart of the Ubaye valley,  near the border with the Hautes Alpes ( a region in Provence )  and Italy. This drive was our first experience of the Provence countryside and we were overawed by its beauty. Barcelonette is lovely village – snow capped mountains all around –  great for skiing,  flying( glider planes too), white water rafting, cycling etc. etc. The area is part of a national park. It was clear to see why Mathieu was based here.We explored the area in the afternoon and then retreated to Mathieu’s impressive house - he has restored a 17the century old village school entirely with his own hands. After a super night with  Mathieu & Verla  we drove off with Bastion once towards Moustiers Ste Marie to to catch up with Philippe and Karine.Click on flynirvana in Barcelonnette to view more pix ———- Nirvana Adventures