http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , France , Rh ne Alpes en-us Tue, 01 Dec 09 04:28:25 +0000 Tue, 01 Dec 09 04:28:25 +0000 Day 22 Friday September 18 2009The original plan for today was to travel from Lyon to Annecy and then spend the rest of the day exploring Annecy possibly taking a bike or boat ride to a neighboring village. We had reviewed the weather forecast the night before and today was to be the last day of sunshine for several days. This was very disappointing as it was tremendously important that we http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Chamonix/blog-454024.html This week was a very demanding week workwise...I worked a day and a half We had Armistice Day Veterans' Day for you Americans off on Wednesday but I normally have Wednesdays off so that was a bit of a letdown. I stayed home Thursday due to a nasty stomach bug that I can only assume came from my students and their grubby little hands. I had previously arranged to have Friday off I was able t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Grenoble/blog-453569.html Holidays Finally .After school on the Friday I went out with Hlne Matthieu and Emilie. We went to a local pub which was really fun. Got home around midnight and was up again at 6.30am to travel to the Ardche region in the south of France. It was a massive 10 hour drive to the middle of nowhere where I would spend the next week hiking. I was surrounded by water trees and rocks. Sort of coo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/blog-451673.html Okay so it's my turn to write again.Laura and I spent most of the last 2 weeks apart. She left me in Freiburg Germany to start her French lessons in Annecy France. I quickly made friends with a couple guys from Vancouver and spent the next few days biking around the city and exploring. It was kind of refreshing to hang out with Canadian boys again funny that I missed the dirty jokes and gross http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Annecy/blog-447842.html Welcome to the penultimate entry in my trek across Europe. This blog describes the route my friend Billy and I took through the Northern Alps from Lake Geneva or Lac Lman to Brianon in a little over two weeks a journey which almost certainly is the hardest but one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. If at times I descend into hyperbole or exaggeration then please forgive me for the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Mont-Blanc/blog-447056.html 9909Andrew rode his bike all the way around Lake Annecy this morning about 70 km while I took a hike through the forest. A great way to start the day inclusive of our fresh croissant and coffee. We wish we could stay longer in Annecy but since we canrsquot we are taking the long way out of town around the lake. A beautiful drive all the way around. There is only one section of the lake http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Mont-Blanc/blog-443361.html 9809We woke early today in beautiful Sarlet France to to get ready for a long day of driving to get to Annecy a lakeside town just southwest of Geneva Switzerland. We drove about 350 miles today so once we arrived in Annecy it was about 500pm and we were ready for a stretch. The only way we know about Annecy is that a stage of the Tour de France went through there this year. Andrew has he http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Annecy/blog-443149.html Friday September 11 2009Marseille France to ChamonixMont Blanc via Lyon and St. Gervais le BainsAfter class on Friday I packed a bag for the weekend and set out for the train station to get a ticket to ChamonixMont Blanc. This is a ski resort town in the winter months and a popular place in the summer for seeing the mountains and glaciers. My train reservation took me through the city o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Chamonix/blog-442265.html What a treat to wake up to a beautiful view of Lyon. We had breakfast on the concierge floor where they served eggs bacon sausage baked tomatoes sauteed mushrooms meats cheeses croissants breads jams and fruit. Since we have lunch reservations at 1230 today at Paul Bocuse we tried to eat light. We drove to Prouges a tiny town originally inhabited by craftsmen mdash mainly farmers a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Lyon/blog-434567.html http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Mont-Blanc/blog-434547.html Today we depart the Uniworld River Royale check out time is 8 am. We share a taxi with some other couples from the ship to the Gare train station and we are off to Lyon. I wasn't sure if we had to purchase a ticket or if we could just use our rail pass and the only girl working at the ticket booth didn't know the answer. We had a 913 am train to catch and we had to wait until 9 am for the s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Lyon/blog-434545.html Week one is down and things are rolling. It has been a beautiful week discovering new places people dishes and running routes. My host family continues to go above and beyond to borrow a very West Pointish phrase. I have officially found my favorite Lyonnais meal quenelles. My host mother made this dish for Fridayrsquos dinner. It was a splendid evening with lots of conversation wine chee http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Lyon/blog-434240.html Having just enjoyed a hugely successful season at La Rochelle France carrying out over 250 Airport Transfers EVERY ONE without a hitch we're packing up and moving all our vehicles and drivers to Lyon on 1st November 2009 to carry out Ski Transfers to ALL destinations in the RhoneAlpes.Don't bother spending hours on your PC trying to find the cheapest deals we do it EVERY 7 DAYS to GUARRANTEE http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/blog-433773.html Lots of movement in the last couple of weeks. Just to give everyone an immediate update I am safe and sound in my new home in Lyon. The family is great so I think this shall be a wonderful stay. During my first night out with the siblings of the family all ranging in the twentys we went to a small cinema and saw Woody Allenrsquos newest film ldquoWhatever Works.rdquo It was very funny bu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Lyon/blog-432332.html Our day began with French toast how perfect for beginning a day in the city known for French gastronomy I found it a bit sweet with a lot of brown sugar and honey but none the less it was still delicious. After breakfast we departed for a tour of Vieux Lyon. It was chilly this morning and overcast and we were really worried that we would have our first day of rain but luck was with us and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Lyon/blog-432102.html We arrived in Lyon after dinner. We had to go through three more locks. I said in my earlier blog that there were 9 locks to pass but I was wrong there are a total of 14. Dinner was delicious. We had a choice of pate or salad with frommage. Michael had both The soup was cream of vegetable and for our entrees we had a choice of chicken in a mushroom cream sauce or salmon with pesto. For http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Lyon/blog-431768.html Today is Thursday and the only reason I know that is from the daily program I continue to try the daily breakfast special today was crepe with berries and it was so good Of course I also had to have croissant and today I had 2 This morning we started with an onboard private lecture from the famous chocolate house Valrhona. We had a powerpoint presentation and learned all about how to choc http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Tournon-sur-Rh-ne/blog-431609.html Wow a great couple of days there in Grenoble. The city itself wasnrsquot all that special but the mountains surrounding the city are awesome. Yesterday I had the pleasure of hiking to the highest peak around the city and I think it was really the highlight of the trip for me so far. I love doing athletic things and I love being in Nature. I really should make an effort to go hiking or camping http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Grenoble/blog-424177.html After our dramatic change of plans we spent two days driving North towards the French Alps. This trip saw us stopping at the Verdon Gorges for a swim in the coldest water I have ever been in. It was almost glacial but felt fantastic after sitting in the van all morning. Even though it was a long drive as soon as we left the coast behind we also left the traffic and felt instantly more relaxed. http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Chamonix/blog-423888.html Dan Moss popping the question to his beloved girlfriend Rachel meant that a joyous occasion would soon be upon us.....another stag do Dan took the lead in organising this and as Rach says she wishes he put half as much effort into organising the actual wedding day and we're massively grateful as it turned out to be the best trip away yet A week of skiing and snowboarding in Chamonix all the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Rh-ne-Alpes/Chamonix/blog-422315.html