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Published: October 8th 2015
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"Let's go to Geneva !!" announced Wendy the Navigator, early one morning. She chose early as your correspondent is usually rather discombobulated at that time and Cusco the Chief Spaniel is still fast asleep - or at least pretending to be to avoid making decisions. All in all, we were soon packed into our little car, passports in hand as officially we were leaving the EU. We must look a very trusting trio, as the Swiss immigration just waved us through. Parking in where we hoped was close to the centre,we ambled down to the lakeside, passing very, very, very expensive looking shops and dragging Wendy away from them. The lake was indeed full of water, as well as the famous water fountain/spout which the more alert will know what I mean, if I say The Champions. Quickly though a storm brewed up and Wendy told us to get back to the car quickly and head for the airport.
"The airport, the airport " I pondered, as something started to force itself to be remembered. The drive there was reasonably harrowing as the satnav took us through the small winding streets of Geneva in the middle of a small monsoon
- and, although I have often criticised the machine, it excelled itself this time. Wendy had programmed co-ordinates for the airport and the machine did it's best to take us on to runway 1. I jest not. I needed a beer. "Why the airport ? " I kept thinking to myself, although I was close to working it out. Cusco was quite happy as dogs were allowed in the terminal , so he and I wandered around, had the prerequisite beer until we saw Wendy with the purpose of the trip - it was Ann !!! Her mum had flown out to spend the week with us and Cusco gave her the warmest welcome of all.
In the previous blog, I mentioned that Claude was parked beside a small chalet and it was for this particular reason. Ann was to stay in here and after seeing inside, your correspondent was slight jealous as it was quite stunning. There was no doubt this was going to be a happy Welshwoman for the next few days. Wendy had emptied the local shops of baguettes, quiches and cakes, so the first evening's meal had been sorted. Your correspondent went forth to buy
a pizza as no cooking was possible in Claude as there had been a minor oven malfunction. Well, when I say minor, I mean reasonably bad, well, when I say reasonably bad, I mean major. Somehow or other we had managed to twist the door of the oven in such a way that it had bent the wrought iron that held it together and had no option but to wrench the whole door off. This I managed amid swearing and smashing the strengthened glass front which scattered all over the floor. The result of which meant we can now only grill. Ann staying in the chalet at least meant cooking for a week.
We took her around most of the sites we had been to, including Le Champel, where she was astounded by the beauty as much as we had been. In fact, most of the time, she could be found wandering around the campsite taking photographs of the mountains at different times of the day. Chamonix was visited a couple of times. The first to have a walk around, see what was there and an exciting ride on the mini land train around the town. We have used
these before as they are a great way of seeing areas you wouldn't usually visit. Sadly Chamonix is not a big town, so we found ourselves being driven down the same streets a few times. The second visit was much more of an adventure as Wendy and Ann took to the top of the mountains by way of the Brevent cable car. Although your correspondent and Cusco were left at the bottom, they reported a fantastic time with beautiful views, a beer, a cup of tea and some sandwiches.
Throw in trips to churches in the mountains, local markets, eating a huge cheese fondue (local delicacy), swimming in glass sided pools and relaxing in her little chalet, all in all, we felt that Ann had loved her time in The Alps, but there was one more surprise for her. We decided that she should have the whole Claude experience before she flew home. This involved the excitement of being seat belted next to Cusco and driven to Annecy where we had booked in to a campsite . Wandering round the exquisite side streets there, then spending the night in Claude. This gave her a brief insight in to how
we live our lives nowadays and I think she approves.
The next day she and Wendy took a train to Geneva and were soon leaving on a jet plane, with your correspondent and Cusco left behind in Annecy for a whole week. What could possibly go wrong............
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Sandra
non-member comment
Looks wonderful Wendy and Gordon. Wendy's Mum looked as if she was having a lovely time. X