Day 12
Woke up and was on the road by 8:30. Drove through the eerie early morning light (sunrise lasts till noon, then sunset starts) and hit the autoroute north. Took some photos.
We started to run into the Southern Alps in about 2 hours – it got much more scenic once we reached northern Provence.
Just drove and admired the scenery through Grenoble. Stopped in Albertville, home of the 1992 Olympics, and had lunch in a sidewalk café – Jill pizza and Dave an “Assiette de Pays”- an assortment of cheese and sausage from the region.
After Albertville, the scenery began to get really spectacular, climaxing with numerous views of Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak at 15,000 feet, as we approached Chamonix.
Chamonix was a little larger and more crowded than we expected. It was impossible to park. We stopped at one Gault Millau-recommended pace, but the room which had a great view of Mont Blanc was a little too weather-beaten for $115. Finally found a room at La Sapiniere Hotel for about $150 half pension (dinner and breakfast). The chef has been here 27 years; I hope he’s not too tired to cook us a good meal.
Walked into town and got info at the TI (Tourist Information) place for our hike tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, though the TI person said rain is expected. All afternoon it was clear with white clouds surrounding Mont Blanc, but now it’s starting to cloud up around the mountain, with blue skies elsewhere.
We took a walk along the valley, next to a raging snowmelt river. Although it’s hot in town (80+), walking next to the river felt like air conditioning, since the water feels like about 45 degrees.
Came back into town, had a beer at a café, and watched the world go by.
Will cross our fingers and hope for the best for tomorrow – if it’s great, we go up the Mont Blanc side for the view from the top (or near it), if it’s ok we go up the other side and hike, and if it’s raining, we’re outta here. Let’s hope for the best.
As I finish writing, I’m on the balcony of our hotel watching the clouds on the mountain turn pink. Sun set in town over an hour ago due to the steep mountains surrounding us – but it’s still very light and pleasant.
Day 13 >>>
We started to run into the Southern Alps in about 2 hours – it got much more scenic once we reached northern Provence.
Just drove and admired the scenery through Grenoble. Stopped in Albertville, home of the 1992 Olympics, and had lunch in a sidewalk café – Jill pizza and Dave an “Assiette de Pays”- an assortment of cheese and sausage from the region.
After Albertville, the scenery began to get really spectacular, climaxing with numerous views of Mont Blanc, Europe’s highest peak at 15,000 feet, as we approached Chamonix.
Chamonix was a little larger and more crowded than we expected. It was impossible to park. We stopped at one Gault Millau-recommended pace, but the room which had a great view of Mont Blanc was a little too weather-beaten for $115. Finally found a room at La Sapiniere Hotel for about $150 half pension (dinner and breakfast). The chef has been here 27 years; I hope he’s not too tired to cook us a good meal.
Walked into town and got info at the TI (Tourist Information) place for our hike tomorrow. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, though the TI person said rain is expected. All afternoon it was clear with white clouds surrounding Mont Blanc, but now it’s starting to cloud up around the mountain, with blue skies elsewhere.
We took a walk along the valley, next to a raging snowmelt river. Although it’s hot in town (80+), walking next to the river felt like air conditioning, since the water feels like about 45 degrees.
Came back into town, had a beer at a café, and watched the world go by.
Will cross our fingers and hope for the best for tomorrow – if it’s great, we go up the Mont Blanc side for the view from the top (or near it), if it’s ok we go up the other side and hike, and if it’s raining, we’re outta here. Let’s hope for the best.
As I finish writing, I’m on the balcony of our hotel watching the clouds on the mountain turn pink. Sun set in town over an hour ago due to the steep mountains surrounding us – but it’s still very light and pleasant.
Day 13 >>>
