Annecy, France

Hurray, I think I have finally figured out how to get this blog up and running.  

Once again, childhood memories came to the forefront as Mark and I made our way from Salzburg through Switzerland to Annecy, France, a small town on Lake Annecy, about 30 miles south of Geneva.  My parents had brought me to Annecy when I was a child.  I remember swimming in the freezing cold lake.

Annecy is a beautiful town.  On the evening we arrived, we strolled to the old town by way of the canal and found many open-air restaurants a buzz with French chatter.  Annecy is a favorite vacation spot for the French.  I think Julia Child would be happy here.  The food was magnificent:  butter, cheese, more butter---rich, ever so rich.   After dinner we happened upon a large crowd enjoying a French band playing classic rock and roll songs.  We stayed and danced.

The next day we hiked up to Chateau Annecy, an old castle that has been converted into a museum but I fancied the old town more and we spent time leisurely exploring the old streets and the lakeshore. 

We also received another lesson:  when the train schedule says to make a reservation, just do it!  Instead of booking our train from Annecy to Genoa, Italy, when we arrived, we waited until the day before we wanted to leave and then had quite an adventure.  We were told that the trains from Annecy to Genoa that run via Milan and Torino were sold out.  Since we had already booked our hotel in Genoa that was not a satisfactory answer.  So we left the train station and went to a Thomas Cook Travel agency where we found Marilyn, a very helpful clerk.  We looked at a map and decided to see if we could travel through Lyons to Nice.  Happily that was all possible so we are now on the train.  Trying to explain all of that to the clerk at the train station certainly tested my French skills. 

If you ever make it to this part of the world, put Annecy on your trip list. 

Amy is scheduled to meet us on Sunday.  I look forward to her travel tales.  

What's not to like?  A chocolate crepe with nuts, coconut and whipped cream.

Annecy at night with fabulous rock and roll music inside the chateau.