Alpine Love

Hello there one and all!!! I hope that everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!! I really missed being able to see the kiddos in their costumes and watching their faces light up as my dad loaded their pillow cases or little pumpkins with WAY too much candy for their own good!! Here, Halloween is starting to catch on a bit but simply in the party aspect—there is certainly no trick-or-treating or hype about candy like we have in the US!!

I spent Halloween traveling on the train to Chamonix, my weekend destination in the Alps. It was an AMAZING weekend!! We stayed at the most charming little chalet just outside of the town where Phil (the owner) made us fresh pain au chocolat every morning!! It was literally nestled right into the Alps and the view from my room was Alps, Alps, and more Alps!! We walked about half an hour into Chamonix and I loved it from the second that I entered it!! It is a little ski-town with cute shops and WONDERFUL restaurants. It wasn’t crowded at all since it is the low-season right now. On Saturday, we took the cable car up 3842 meters to the top of one mountain and spent the morning marveling at all of the mountains surrounding us! After a great lunch at a sandwich place where I had my FIRST variation of “un sandwich americain” (bread, meat, fries, ketchup, lettuce, and tomato ALL on a sandwich!!!), we headed off to see this huge glacier that is rapidly making its way toward Chamonix!! Some afternoon shopping and crepe-eating was followed by dinner at this cozy little restaurant where I tried the specialty of the region—FONDUE!! It was the first time that I have ever tried it and I must say that I am now officially addicted!!

The next day, our paragliding adventure was unfortunately cancelled due to a strong southerly wind. We didn’t let that get us down but instead headed into town on Phil’s bikes to go to some of the museums and do a little shopping!! Then, before we knew it, it was time to catch our bus to Lyon and then the train back to Montpellier!! It was an absolutely wonderful, beautiful weekend and I hope that you all enjoy the pictures that I selected here!! I tried to choose the highlights of the trip and also included a couple from last weekend in Toulouse. Happy Elections today!!!!!

PS-- Dad, the picture labelled "Dent du geant" is for you--it translates to "Tooth of the Giant"!!!



CHAMONIX

Our Chalet!!/Ellen and I at the top of the Aiguille du Midi


Me with the Alps of Switzerland in the background/Magical blue overcast


Dent du geant!!/La Mer de Glace (the glacier)


Cute little nestled church/Alps lingering in the background


We went up 3842 meters!!/My first fondue experience


TOULOUSE

The city of rose/One of the many little gardens


One of the 5 churches we visited/The capitol building