Summer visit to the French Alps

And here we are in the French Alps. A long summer weekend in Annecy, France and we loved the market, boat rides, mountain drives and views. We visited the Haute-Savoie region with my parents, and enjoyed lovely weather. Annecy is located about an hour away from Geneva, and is a picturesque setting. The lake scenery wasn't that much different from the Finger Lakes (NY) that are familiar to me. But within a hour drive, you are in the shadow of Mont Blanc, twisting and curving on roads that are a cyclist's dream.

Nougat in cheese rounds

The Friday morning market in Annecy was one of the best fresh and local markets that I've seen -- with narrow alleys crowded with sellers of salami, olives, cheese, fruit, and handing out plenty of free samples. We stopped at several stalls to buy some food and had a mouth-watering picnic in the nearby park along the water. I loved the soft nougat that we tried; so different than the chewy variety I've had elsewhere. And I can't forget to mention the classic breakfast that we had the following morning (Petit Dejeuner Complet).  A morning meal outside consisting of fresh croissants, jam, coffee, bread and OJ. Simple and fresh.

The time near the water was perfect with an old-fashioned boat ride and a visit to a beach. Then, a drive through the alps for a visit to Megève.  The ride took us through Col des Aravis, a popular mountain pass for the Tour de France (it's been in the race 39 times). We traveled to Megève for lunch, and caught views of Mont Blanc in the clouds.  Megève is the French answer to the Swiss ski-resort of St. Moritz and the town had an apres-ski feeling even in summer, nestled in the mountains. 

The visit with my parents also included a stop in Geneva, a day in the mountains above Lucerne for the Swiss National Day, and they enjoyed time with the kids at their favorite park and the zoo. It was a really fun visit, and a great way to celebrate summer! We miss having them here!

Salut!