Annecy France

On Saturday morning we packed up the car and headed south and east on the

A-6 Autoroute leaving Versailles and Paris in our rear view mirror.

Our next destination was Annecy, France - located on the Swiss/French Border.

Known as the Venice of France, I was especially looking forward to our visit here.

Not only for the atmosphere, but I also love towns in the border areas as there

is often a mix of cultures and I was interested to see the mix here.

Bill - I know that you are especially interested in this post so I hope that I can give

you at least a small taste of the town.

Our route from Versailles to Annecy  (top left to right)

When we arrived in Annecy little did we know the surprise that was waiting....

We parked the car and met the owner at the flat.

Once settled in - we returned to the car (about a block away) to get our luggage.

We left the Doodles in the flat and as usual...  I did not lock the door.

When we returned - I opened the door and all of a sudden there was a shout:

SURPRISE!!

Our friends from Zurich had driven 3 1/2 hours, found our flat,  saw the doodles,

so they let themselves in and waited for us to return.

What a great surprise it was!

We could not have asked for a more perfect arrival to this great city.

They spent Sat - Monday with us and just left a few hours ago today (Tuesday)

Our Annecy Surprise

Annecy is a beautiful old town on the shore of Lac Annecy in the foothills of the Alps.

View of Annecy

The canals that run thru town give it that Venetian feeling.

The canals are all lined with cafes where you can linger over a meal, a drink, or a cuppa,
 and simply enjoy the  heartbeat of the village.

Literally just steps from our flat...

Lake Annecy feeds the canals of Annecy

On Saturday when we arrived the village was packed with weekenders but on Sunday

the crowds thinned out dramatically and by Monday we shared the village with but a few.

Also just steps away from our flat is a large park "The Gardens of Europe"

In the park is the bridge at Pont des Amours

Called 'The Lovers Bridge"...  the legend says that if two lovers kiss

in the middle of the bridge, that they will be united for life.

Since this was our 30th anniversary to the day of meeting each other,

we decided to take out an insurance policy.

We all paused for a photo on the bridge too.

View of the canal leading from the lake into town behind me.

View of the Park - Gardens of Europe in Annecy

Like everywhere we've been so far - the town is pedestrian and dog friendly.
The dogs have come everywhere with us - including to lunch!

Dog friendly cafes

Dogs welcome here too!

Kate also made a friend at lunch one day.

She had been admiring our waitresses necklace and when we started to leave she came over

and insisted that Kate take the necklace as a gift!

So.... the next day Kate brought her a necklace so that they would have one from each other!

Kate make another friend

Those of you who know Kate well will know that this is so typically Kate.

She just brings out the best in people!

One of the really special things about this neck of the woods are the village markets.

I guess the closest thing to it in the US would be a farmers market, but these markets are really like

a farmers market on steroids!

The merchants travel from town to town on a schedule.  Each village has a market

on certain days - usually from about 7am till noon.

Unlike a farmers market in the US....

these markets are where many do most of their weekly food shopping.

On market day you see the locals heading home - their bags stuffed with the fresh foods,

some warm baguettes under their arm....

Some with a bite or two already taken off of the end.  :-)

The variety of fresh foods at the market is amazing.

Vegetables, Fruits, Cheeses, Breads, Olives, nuts, Deserts, Charcuterie...

Rotisserie cooked meats...

The chickens are enormous!

Kate and I have gotten all of our needs at the markets since Versailles.

I now find myself excited to see the market in our next town.

A massive selection of Olives etc from Provence

Citrus, Berries, deserts...

the bounty offered at the market is endless. 

Just a sampling of the fruit at the Annecy Market

Cheese anyone?

The vendors all offer samples of the cheeses.

Each one more delicious than the last.

The just cut a hunk off of a giant wheel, wrap it up... and off you go. 

Endless variety of cheeses

Dinner at home for all of us one night.

Fresh Tomatoes Basil, Mozzarella with cheese and charcuterie

Our family at dinner in Annecy

Thanks to Maxine's sons - last Christmas I learned how to use the iPhone timer so I was able
to catch the above dinner shot hands free.

Last night the girls slept over, and since Tuesday was another market day here in town,

I headed out early and like any good hunter...  I came home with breakfast!

Greg comes back from the Annecy market with breakfast

I returned with some Parma Ham, Dried Sausage, a hunk of fresh Brie, a couple of Baguettes,

and some Gruyere cheese.

Voila!

Even Doodles like breakfast

A nice local Rose' wine would have been a nice breakfast touch but
I have not become that French yet!

So that is our tour of Annecy.

We are here for one more day, then we head south to

the village of Loumarin in Provence where we have a nice flat

rented on the town square.

Tomorrow I might take a trip up into the mountains for a touch of Alpine

scenery before we head south.

If so - we'll catch up on that next time.