to Chamonix

On this first morning and only night in Switzerland, sleep is still elusive. And wouldn't you know it -- by the time I'm finally psyched for dozing off, Snowdrop, who shares a room and a large bed with me, is up with that typical first night in Europe wakefulness. After a few feeble attempts to get her back to sleep I decide it's better to talk a little, read some and then try again later. We discuss life's most perplexing issues, she gratefully takes the book I brought for her and eventually, by maybe 6 am she is out again and I finally zonk out as well. For an hour or two. We have to get up and get going: we're meeting my daughter for breakfast at 9:15. Ha! We get there first! The little girl is hungry and she just adores the Swiss meal of breads, bacon, dried beef, fruits and yogurt. And hot milky chocolate!

Good morning!

Our ride to Chamonix will pick ups up at 11:30 and so we have time to take a short walk. To the lake! (Where these two are amused by the poster ad for walruses...

It's hazy and chilly outside, but the Geneva fountain is spectacular! It shoots water up 140 meters but they do shut it down when the weather dips below freezing. We're just at that cut off point!

We do have one errand: one of us needs a bag, since a current one is so tightly zipped that I doubt it'll last the journey back. In this shop, Snowdrop is being sold on a bag of her own. I tell her I have one of these and it has lasted for decades of travel.

Lookin' good!

And now we finally turn our attention to Chamonix. The drive there is quick enough -- one hour. And as the car climbs in elevation, the clouds recede and the mountains are suddenly right before us.

Chamonix today is having the kind of weather it was once known for -- January cold, with snow showers expected every few days. Of course, their January cold never came close to Wisconsin's legendary Arctic blasts (Chamonix deep freeze this Monday night will hit 11F/-11.5C. Madison's deep freeze that same day will tumble down to -11F/-24C).

As we approach the town, we see that lovely lace of white ice crystals on the trees.  The day in the Chamonix valley could not be more beautiful!

Finally, we're at our hotel -- same one as last year's: the Mont Blanc. With the outdoor swimming pool that is open for business year-round. Snowdrop is delighted by it!

The rooms aren't ready yet and in any case, we need a lunch. I opt for the boisterous Pont du Rose. (It's that very pink building in the photo below.) I actually haven't eaten there at all, because it seemed too impersonal and crowded for a solo dinner, but with the two of them here now, it seems really perfect for a solid lunch. (I have an egg on brioche with cheese sauce and mushrooms, my daughter has cheesey gnocchi, and my grandgirl wants her good old pasta with Parmesan. Italy is just on the other side of these mountains, so you could forgive her for wanting Parmesan over, say a Savoie Reblechon or Tomme de Savoie.)

It is not possible for me to even imagine travel to this mountainous region of France without at least throwing a glance at and putting up a photo of a wild blueberry tart.

I show restraint: we walk over to the Chalet 8412 Pastry shop/cafe and I order the small version of the above.

We poke around the Chamonix main drag -- an activity very much enjoyed by Snowdrop as she wants to get good souvenirs for those back home. And eventually we make our way back to the hotel. Our rooms are ready for check-in!

(I did not book the room with the view toward Mont Blanc for Snowdrop and me. I felt the one with the views toward the Aiguille du Midi peaks (less expensive!) would suffice and too, they have more space for play.

But we don't linger in the rooms. We don't even unpack. The two younger ones want to go swimming.

... followed by a soak in the tub. All outside, in below freezing weather.

Shower, rest, unpack, talk to those back home and the afternoon flies! Would you believe it -- it's time to walk down to town for dinner. 

 (Our room is on the American 6th floor, but we always use the stairs. At least on the exit!)

I prebooked all our evening meals and it's a good thing, because all these places fill up every day in the winter season. Today's choice is La Caleche. It's one of the more Alpine-styled eating choices and I figured it would be a good jump off point into French Savoie foods.

In the end, to appease all palates, we order fondue again, this time made with Savoie regional cheeses and accompanied by a Savoyard charcuterie tray. And we add to it a plate of scallops with mushrooms. Where's the ocean, you ask. Well, a "few" kilometers away. But the mushrooms are local and we are all happy to share our foods so that everyone gets a little of this and a lot of that.

In the dining room, on one side, we have a couple from France, on the other -- well, a table of Russian women. Sigh... What can I say...

So ends our first day in Chamonix. Fabulous weather, wonderful arrival. We will plunge into our adventures full steam tomorrow. In the meantime, here's to a night of good sleep!

with love...