Monday 4th March
Goodbye Switzerland, Hello France!
After some last minute cuddles and one final walk with Mango, we made the long walk from the house to the bus station, and hopped on our 5 euro bus for the relatively short journey to Annecy, France!
Annecy is such a cute town! After checking into our Air B&B which was in the ideal location, right near the bus stop, and only a few streets out of the centre of the old town, we wandered into the town to explore.
We must have arrived just at the time in the evening that is just too early for dinner (restaurants open very late in the evening here) and too late for the afternoon shops to be open (other things close quite early) as the town was quite empty! We enjoyed wandering around the main canal and down by the river. It was so cute, and absolutely beautiful with its cobbled streets, winding canals and pastel coloured houses.
Tuesday 5th March
Today was probably one of my favourite days. We spent the day exploring Annecy, wandering the cobbled streets.
We started off by walking through the main area of old town where there was a farmers market! If I were to describe my dream of what being in France would be like, this would be it exactly! The sun is shining, we're walking down cobbled streets, there's cute pastel coloured buildings all around us, everyone is speaking French, and a cute little market full of colourful fresh fruit and vegetables.
As we were making our way through the markets I also saw the most humungous cooked chooks! You honestly would not believe the size!
We then visited the main canal which was just beautiful. This town is also called "The Venice of the Alps" and it's not hard to see why. One of the most beautiful features on the main canal is the building standing in the middle of the canal. We later found out that is was The Palais de l'Isle, a 12th century castle on an island in the river.
From the main canal we continued down to the lake and leisurely strolled around part of it. The water was so clear, and it was just absolutely stunning!
We sat in the sun for a bit, enjoying the warmth and Sam played with his drone. From this side of Lake Annecy we had a great view of the old town.
After a while we made our way back round the lake and wandered along the boat lined canal just taking in all the beauty.
Part of travelling is all about trying the local foods, so for lunch, after a little trouble with understanding what we were ordering, we ended up with a French taco which we took down to the lake as a picnic. Don't ask me what it is, I have no idea, but it tasted pretty dang good! I think the best way to describe it is, a cross between a burger and a kebab, but as a burrito? I have no idea what was in it, but it tasted fine so I didn't question it any further!
After our impromptu picnic, we headed up the hill and out of the town a little. The whole town is just beautiful and so quaint. It is exactly how I imagined a small French town would be.
Up on the hill there were gorgeous views of the town and an old church. After wandering around for a little while we meandered our way back down towards the town. Along the way we stopped to get a crêpe, it is world pancake day after all!
I managed to order myself a nutella and banana crêpe with my limited French vocabulary!! I was quite chuffed with myself! It was one of those places where you can watch them make it in front of you which just added to my excitement of eating a crêpe in France.
One delicious crêpe in hand, we walked down to the canal taking in the beauty of where we were and enjoying the most delicious crêpe.
I am so HAPPY! This town is exactly what I had wanted from coming to France, just a cute small, quaint, old town, with people going about a simple life, and just being peaceful. This is what I have dreamt of when I've thought about France for the last how ever many years, and now it's my reality. I can't believe how lucky I am.
After the happiest crêpe of my life, we walked around the lake in the other direction for a while. Every where I turn it's unbelievably beautiful!
We then went and sat in the park for a bit while Sam flew his drone to get some shots of the town.
The rest of the evening was spent exploring the streets some more before the sun went down and it was time for bed.
Comments