We thought we
wouldn’t have a lot to share today, since we had a 4-1/2 hour drive from the
Riviera to the French Alps. But by day’s end, we found a new favorite town, had
a new favorite meal, and even drove a boat!
After scarfing
down breakfast at the corner patisserie, we headed for Cannes, which we kind of
neglected in our hurry to get to our hotel a few days back. We strolled the beach (above), visited the
theater where they hold the Cannes Film Festival, and walked along their walk of
stars (weak in comparison to ours).
We especially loved the
public bathrooms (below)! For half a Euro, you can go in, go potty, and then the ENTIRE
inside gets sprayed down and disinfected when you leave. I don’t know what it
is about France and bathrooms, but we never fail to be entertained or delighted
by them in some way.
France also has also made us realize the US has a shortage of carousels. Every
single town we have visited has a carousel in the town square. Here is the one
in Cannes:
They bring music, laughter and color to every park! Tres jolie!
Speaking of Jolie…
Cannes kind of
reminds me of New Orleans, if New Orleans were situated on a large sandy beach.
The architecture is of the same era and it has that same artsy, eclectic feel.
I could live here!
We walked along
the old harbor and then finally decided we better hit the car and head for the
hills. On our way out of town, France gave us the peace sign, to tell us it had
forgiven us from a few days back, when it gave us the finger.
On the way, we
drove through Valensole, where the bulk of sunflower and lavender fields line
the highway. They were stunning!
But the best
was yet to come, because tonight we are sleeping in Annecy. It is a town in the
Alps, close to Switzerland – and has tons of wooden chalets with geraniums to
prove it. If there is a heaven, it looks like Annecy.
There are charming
canals everywhere. We stopped to watch a German shepherd jump into the canal,
swim all the way down to the only staircase to get out, then jump back in and
do it all over again. He looked so happy!
The town sits
on a sparkly lake, with the Alps in the background. The lake is full of
ducklings, swans and rainbows. We headed rented a paddleboat, headed out onto
the lake, and got a good leg workout while exploring the beauty all around us.
(M was paddling during this pic!)
Rainbow!
When we left
the lake to walk to dinner, this was happening in the park:
We have no
idea what was going on, but the people were having so much fun! We walked along
the canals and settled into a Swiss restaurant, with wooden menus, where we had
fondue. (When in Rome, er, the Alps!)
On the way
back to Splendid Hotel (not even joking - that is its name!), we saw baby swans. I thought swans
were supposed to be ugly ducklings as babies! But not in Annecy, the world’s
prettiest village, where even the baby swans are precious.
Seriously, put Annecy on your bucket list!! It is our new
favorite.
Tomorrow: The
reason I decided to come to France in the first place: Colmar
