Becca showed up with the van and the driver, Victor. We gathered our umbrellas and jackets and boarded the van. Today was going to be a good day even with the cooler temperature and rain.
On the 2 hour drive to Annecy, Becca talked about the area where we were going. It was nice driving through the various villages. People were walking in the rain and running from shop to shop.
Let me tell you about Annecy. It is an alpine town in southeastern France, where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. It's known for its cobbled streets, winding canals and pastel-colored houses. The population of this quaint town is around 130,000.
Why should you visit Annecy? It sits at the tip of the picturesque Lake Annecy(which is one of the largest lakes in France) and overlooks snow-capped mountains. In the summer, there are plenty of sandy or grassy beaches. You can paddleboard, scuba dive and also enjoy sailing on a catamaran. It takes about an hour to walk around the lake.
It poured all the way to Annecy. As we got closer, we could see a little bit of sunshine coming from that direction. The closer we got, we were in awe of the beauty of the alps and the lake. Victor headed to the marina where we would get on a cruise boat to have lunch and to cruise around Lake Annecy as we ate.
As we got to the boat, there were other tourists waiting to board. Our group had its own table reserved on the inside of the boat. For lunch, we enjoyed "Tartiflette". This is a baked dish made up of sliced potatoes, cream, lardons and onions topped with heart stopping amounts of cheese and baked in the oven. It was served with salad and a baguette to mop up what is left on the plate. Doesn't it sound delicious? With the meal, let's not forget the wine and macaroons. I am on a virtual tour, so I don't have to worry about the calories.
Panoramic view of the mountains were breathtaking. It is hard to imagine that the lake was formed by the melting of the Alpine glaciers, more than 18,000 years ago. On the cruise, we passed by the Pont des Amours(the love bridge). There is a myth that says that if two lovers kiss on the bridge, they will stay together forever.
The flowers were spectacular. Annecy has earned the "Golden Flower" award in 2015 for being one of the nine most-flowered cities in France.
After about 2 hours on the lake, we docked and unloaded. Some went shopping, some wanted to sit on the beach and look at the mountains and the others decided to go tour some museums.
Around 5 pm, we loaded back up and drove back to Lyon in the rain.
Tonight, we needed to pack so that we could take the high speed train back to Paris in the morning. We will be flying out in 2 more days. It is hard to believe that our trip is almost over. We have been planning this trip for months and now we are at the end of it. Life is all about planning! If you never plan, you never do anything.
Bonne nuit!(good night)
1 comment:
Awwesome post
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