▶️PARTIR NUES en plein HIVER ! (Épisode 2) / Dune du Pyla jusqu'à BORDEAUX !

Concept / premise

Two sisters (Anne and Sophie) set out on a 3-day challenge: traveling without money and, initially, without clothes, with the declared dream of eating a Savoyard fondue on top of the Dune du Pilat — and eventually sharing a fondue with Santa Claus in Bordeaux.

The trip was improvised, dependent entirely on local generosity, and built around encounters, storytelling, and small acts of kindness.

What happened — high level

• The challenge began in a pine forest in Gironde in winter. After finding a tarpaulin, the sisters met kind strangers who provided clothes and shelter.
• Early on they met Aurélie (a mobility advisor) who offered clothes, a warm place, and shared a shamanic drum; she became a key early helper.
• Food was collected by asking locals: a cheesemonger (Benjamin) contributed and helped melt cheese; a bakery supplied baguettes; others donated leftovers or small supplies.
• They climbed the Dune du Pilat and ate a Savoyard fondue there, prepared with cheeses gathered from shops and finished with help from the cheesemonger.
• The journey continued to Bordeaux to find Santa Claus. They explored the Christmas market and chased rooftop ideas (Grand Théâtre, Cité du Vin, a local fire station). Some venues refused access, but contacts and ideas were exchanged.
• They found Philippe, a longtime local who plays Santa at the Christmas market. He invited them to sleep at his place and agreed to join their fondue plan.
• The final improvised setting was on Pont de Pierre (the stone bridge) in Bordeaux. They even found an old sofa to sit on; the cheese was reheated with restaurant help and they shared a nocturnal fondue with Santa.
• Along the way there were vehicle troubles, long walks and hitchhiking, heartfelt conversations about grief and belief, and many acts of generosity.

Practical tips — travel & lifestyle takeaways

• Be open and ask: direct, polite requests often yielded clothes, food, or shelter.
• Travel light and improvise: a tarp or one extra layer can be invaluable; accept help and adapt to what you find.
• Offer reciprocity: offering help, chores, or small services made people more willing to assist.
• Plan less, be present: spontaneity created unexpected opportunities and memorable encounters.
• Practice basic safety and common sense: follow others’ footsteps on dunes or steep terrain, be cautious while hitchhiking, and have backup plans for vehicle problems.
• Gratitude matters: thank-yous, storytelling, and visible appreciation amplified kindness.

Recipe / food notes — organizing a Savoyard fondue on the road

• Use several cheeses: a traditional Savoyard mix (multiple cheese types) gives better flavor.
• Ask a cheesemonger to pre-melt or partially melt the cheese if you can’t fully prepare it on site.
• Bring or collect baguettes (stale bread works well) for dipping.
• Consider typical accompaniments: potatoes, onions, ham, etc.
• Reheat gently at a restaurant or with a small heat source to finish melting on location; stir and serve immediately for best texture.

Notable locations, products and people

Locations

• Dune du Pilat (Pilat dune)
• La Teste
• Bordeaux: Christmas market, Pont de Pierre (stone bridge)
• Attempted/mentioned sites: Grand Théâtre, Cité du Vin, local fire station

Food / products

• Savoyard fondue (mixed cheeses)
• Baguettes
• Shortbread with caramel/chocolate ganache (local shop specialty)
• Tarpaulin (useful improvised gear)

People

• Aurélie — mobility advisor (Weove); gifted clothes, hosted briefly, carries a shamanic drum.
• Benjamin — cheesemonger who prepped/melted cheese and helped create the fondue.
• Clément — director/cameraman traveling with them; featured in emotional conversations about family.
• Philippe — local who plays Santa at the Bordeaux Christmas market; invited the sisters to stay and joined the fondue.
• Various performers and market entertainers — contributed to atmosphere and helped locate Santa.

Tone and takeaway

The story is a spontaneous, community-powered adventure emphasizing the value of asking for help, trusting people, improvisation, and celebrating small acts of human kindness — culminating in a magical, improvised fondue on the Dune du Pilat and later with Santa on Bordeaux’s Pont de Pierre.