French Alps The Travel Show

Time for The Travel Show.

This week on the Travel Show, were looking for love on the west

coast of Ireland.

Is there anybody out there?

Yes!

We're high in the Alps at a French resort that's trying

to turn its ski slopes green.

And in Peru, we're cooking a dish with chilli peppers and raw fish.

First this week, we're riding high in the French Alps.

Skiing is one of the world's most exhilarating sports,

but it's also one of the worst for the environment.

First this week, we're riding high in the French Alps.

Skiing is one of the world's most exhilarating sports,

but it's also one of the worst for the environment.

So many mountain resorts are looking for ways to make

winter sports greener.

Emma-Jane Kirby's on the trail in the legendary mountains above

Chamonix.

It's been a popular leisure activity here since the early 1900s.

These days, skiing is a mega-industry.

Some 18 million tourists visit the Alps every year,

generating about 50 billion euros for the local economy.

Chamonix, at the base of Europe's highest mountain,

the Mont Blanc, is never short of thrill seekers.

And when the snow gods smile favourably on this region,

the slopes here are heavenly.

I love skiing, but I have to admit, it's not the greenest of sports.

But resorts like Chamonix across the Alps can do things

to lessen my carbon footprint, and to lessen our impact

on this beautiful environment.

And Chamonix is really serious about turning its prized

white slopes green.

Leaving a lighter footprint on the environment is the key,

from changing its transport infrastructure to its use

of renewable energy.

Its reward...

Well, it's become one of just four Alpine ski stations to be awarded

the prestigious and highly sought after label, 'Le Flocon Vert' -

The Green Snowflake.

A lot of people will say that, no, there is no such thing as green ski.

But everybody in the mountain is trying to adapt to global warming.

We already lost 40% of snow cover at 1300 metres,

compared to the '60s.

And what we have to know is that in 50 years from now,

only 55 resorts of the 300 we have in France will survive.

This man was pretty much born on skis.

Today, he earns his living teaching the sport.

But Stephan doesn't just show his clients how to bend

the knees and slide.

He also warns them that ignoring climate change could send the ski

industry, and his own livelihood, downhill fast.

Don't think too much speed.

Think all the time, skiing under control.

Let's go!

So he's created an eco-friendly ski school.

For every pole his clients plant on the mountain,

he plants a tree in the Peruvian Amazon.

It's all about instilling in visitors the same respect

for the mountains that's innate in him.

I grew up in Chamonix Mont Blanc Valley, and I saw the difference

between I was young, and then a little bit older.

I saw the difference, and the pollution take a lot

of importance, bad importance.

And I said, what can I do for my country?

The only way is to create my company, and try to be better.

I'm sure I didn't save the world, but I'm trying to be an example.

And to the eco-minded skier, anything that even partly offsets

a guilty conscience is a bonus.

The passion for it is a bit infectious.

You get into this recycled gear, recycled skis, electric cars

and all that stuff, and it really fires you up.

So the glacier here at Argentiere in Chamonix might be melting,

but the water isn't wasted.

It's all captured in big tunnels, and it's pumped up again

in the mountain to use in the snow cannons.

And we've been given exclusive access to those tunnels,

which are six kilometres long.

You need to go slowly, that's all.

But in this dark labyrinth of tunnels, Chamonix has

a secret eco-weapon.

Some of it is used by us to produce snow for the ski resort.

That's about 100,000 cubic metres.

But overall, this place generates 60 million cubic metres,

so we only use a tiny, tiny bit.

The rest of the water is sent back to France or Switzerland.

It generates electricity through hydro energy.

It's green.

It's green, absolutely.

And 70 metres under the glacier, the view and the quiet

is certainly breathtaking.

A major observatory means that Chamonix's ski slopes steer well

clear of any wildlife habitats.

The worst insult you can say to someone that lives

in Chamonix Valley is he's damaging his environment.

It's the worst thing you can say to him.

So it's deep inside us, we want to make sure that we keep it

as it is.

Our choices matter, too.

Almost 75% of an average ski resort's carbon footprint is created

by a visitor's mode of transport.

That's because most of us take a budget airline,

and then perhaps hire a car.

But Chamonix is determined to keep that mountain air pure.

At one with nature, or against it, the speed of climate change means

resorts like Chamonix are being forced to find

a harmonising rhythm to counter it.

And with the industry trying to clean up its act,

it leaves us free to ski with a clearer and greener conscience.

Next on the Travel Show, we're off for lunch in Lima.

On the menu, one of Peru's classic dishes in this week's Global

Gourmet.

Today, I'm going to make a perfect ceviche.

And this is a perfect ceviche!

Still to come on the Travel Show: We're tempting fate here in Ireland.

Still to come on the Travel Show: We're tempting fate here in Ireland.

Still to come on the Travel Show: We're tempting fate here in Ireland.

If you touch the book with both hands, you're going to be in love

and married inside of six months.

If you touch it with just one hand, you're going to be in love.

You want to touch it as well?

No, I'm keeping well clear of that!

The Travel Show, your essential guide, wherever you're heading.

It's time now for Trending Travel, your monthly mash up

of the best travel-related stories, snaps and videos online.

First up, who hasn't dreamt of packing it all in

to explore the world?

Well, that's exactly what Marina Piro did

with her dog Odie, and a converted minivan.

She's turned the van into a home away from home,

blogging a step-by-step guide on her website.

I wanted to be an inspiration to people that maybe aren't happy

with their current way of living.

And having a dog, especially while travelling solo,

it's a great company.

You have to be very careful with vaccinations, and with papers

when you cross borders, but I wouldn't have

it any other way.

Hundreds of wannabe travellers responded to this unique job advert.

Derek and McKenzie Tillotson posted an appeal on Facebook for a nanny

to join them and their three children on an all expenses paid

trip around the world.

Overall, we're looking for someone who's willing

pitch in with cooking, cleaning, packing bags,

pushing strollers.

They hope to have chosen the lucky nanny by the end of the month.

We're up for an adventure, and we hope you are, too.

For those who want to chart new territory without crossing

continents, you can get involved in Missing Maps.

It's a project part-funded by Doctors Without Borders

and the Red Cross, designed to map remote regions of

the developing world.

At Mapathon events, volunteers are taught how

to read satellite imagery, and input the information

into the crowd source mapping tool OpenStreetMap.

It's hoped these detailed maps will save lives

in the event of disasters.

You can find out more on their website.

And finally, a new website is bringing to life

the Russian Revolution, which happened 100 years ago.

1917 Free History uses social media feeds to tell the story day by day,

building to the events of the October uprising.

For many younger people, social networks is their natural way

to learn the stories about those prominent historical

figures as if they were contemporary celebrities.

If visitors of our website would be inspired to visit Russia

to learn something more, probably we will be happy.

Thanks to everyone that sent us their pictures

using the hashtag #traveltuesday.

Here are some of my favourites.

Richard Bates snapped this in Manama, the capital of Bahrain.

And I like this picture that Matthew Wilson took

in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Very atmospheric.

Now let's look at the travel videos clocking up the views online.

With ski season well underway in Europe, we've selected some

of the best videos shot on the slopes.

See you at the lodge!

I think that my number one tip for people who want to make

their own ski videos would be to first and foremost

master your own skiing or boarding skills in order to keep up

with the guys you're shooting.

You don't want to be left behind.

You want to be there when they drop.

Group dynamics can be a big one to you.

-- big one, too.

You really want to have a group of people out there that

you can trust.

Storms, weather and conditions, anything can go wrong.

We're just always on the hunt for powder, and capturing moments.

So we'll see what we get, and see how it all comes together.

And you if you see anything you think we should know about,

don't forget to get in touch.

It's @BBCTravelShow.

Now let's go to the rolling farmlands of County Clare

in the West of Ireland.

# Oh, Lisdoonvarna # Lisdoon...Lisdoon...Lisdoon #

Lisdonvarna...#

It's a place that's quiet and peaceful for

47 weeks of the year.

# Lisdoon...Lisdoon...Lisdoon # Lisdonvarna #

But for five weekends

in the early autumn, this little town is inundated with

visitors from all over the world.

And they're all here looking for that special someone.

The Lisdonvarna Matchmaking Festival is Europe's largest singles event,

attracting up to 60,000 people each year.

It's been a local tradition for over 160 years.

The festival was originally designed to help find wives

for lonely farmers at the end of the harvest season.

For the past half-century, Willie Daly has been the town's

matchmaker in chief, using skills passed down

from his father and grandfather.

These days, the matching is less about dowries and property,

and more about finding true love.

Most of my matchmaking has been a little bit different

from my grandfather and father.

And I do enjoying it this way.

When I introduce people, I try to have a little

bit of magic there.

When the person is coming towards you, you think,

that's the man I want to spend the rest of my life with.

It's very much an Irish thing, maybe.

But certainly people from other parts of the world do join with me.

We have a lot of people from England, a certain

amount from Germany, quite a lot from America.

Willie says his secret is the book he carries with him,

where the details of potential matches have been

kept for generations.

This book looks like it's seen better days.

Oh, it has, yeah.

It's approximately about 150 or 160 years old, like.

You know, when you come to that, you can't be counting!

It's a lovely book, and it's a lucky book.

If you touch the book with both hands, you're going to be in love

and married inside of six months.

If you touch it with just one hand, you're going to be in love.

Willie claims his book has helped him spark 3000 marriages.

And with statistics like that, it's perhaps not surprisingly his

services draw hopefuls from far and wide.

Back in town, the crowds are rising.

-- Back in town, the crowds are arriving.

And a little after 11:00 in the morning, the alcohol's

already in full flow.

Events are held up and down the village, but the main centre

of matchmaking activity is here at the aptly

named Matchmaker Bar.

This is where Willie sets out his stall.

The process is this.

Would you like to have children if all goes well?

I think so, eventually.

Yeah.

Punters fill out their details, and tell Willie about themselves,

and what they'd like in a partner.

I have you down there now as good-looking and nice.

Oh, God!

Then once the 20 euros fee is paid, Willie will attempt

to find them a match.

Joel's a little farmer.

He has his own farm, you'll be able to see it.

OK.

But in the days when many people meet their future partner online,

why do people still put their faith in Willie and his traditional ways?

I had my doubts.

I might still have doubts.

But I thought I would give it a whirl.

Why not?

The festival may boost the number of locals finding partners,

but it's also a serious boost for the local economy, bringing

in 3 million euros each year.

This festival is the lifeblood of Lisdoonvarna.

It's like the one month of the year when all the businesses gear

towards towards this festival.

In September, it's like the whole place is just transformed.

So a lot of the B would be very, very quiet during the year.

There'd be nobody here.

They would make enough money in September to keep them

going for the whole year, so it has a massive effect,

and it's only getting bigger.

Not everyone attending the festival is single.

Many couples who met here in years past return to celebrate

and dance the night, and day, away.

But most of the folk here are looking for love.

We want to find the one.

So far we haven't found it.

But do you know what, it is such a good buzz around us,

a great atmosphere.

A fantastic community, it's brilliant.

So we would like to find someone with a bit of land,

a nice personality, not bad looking.

Not bad looking.

We're not fussy, but we will have to find the right man.

He's not bad.

Hey!

There is no shortage of options

for the ladies here.

Is there anybody out there?!

Yes!

Lisdoonvarna provides plenty of opportunity for some drunken fun.

But finding love is far from guaranteed.

And Willie's success isn't guaranteed.

After a few minutes, the first couple's eyes

have already wandered.

But here in the matchmaking capital, Lisdoonvarna, hope springs eternal.

So I'm hoping that by the time I leave here, he'll keep his word

and I'll meet someone.

Because that was the whole reason for me coming here.

Well, that's all we've got time for on this week's Travel Show.

Coming up next week...

Carmen's in Peru to find out about a 500-year-old tradition

called Scissor Dancing.

So do join us then if you can.

And in the meantime, don't forget you can catch up

with us while we are out on the road by signing up

to our social media feeds.

Details are on the screen now.

But for now, from me, Christa Larwood,

and the rest of the Travel Show team here on the Emerald Isle,

it's goodbye.

Hi there.

We have seen a few snow showers over the last few hours,

but it has been pretty dull and cloudy.

One place that saw some sunshine, some snow on the ground at Aberdeen

and some sun poking