Christmas in France

Pages From Jan's Travel Journal: Thursday, Dec. 20 2018

Craig and I had been looking forward to this for quite some time - Christmas in France with our son! It had been sixteen months since we had all been together. We arrived at the train station in Orléans to find Desmond waiting for us on the platform with his friend Will, and in no time at all we were checking in to our little AirBnB. We had chosen it mainly for its close proximity to Desmond’s apartment and it turned out to be so charming and cozy that we immediately felt comfortable. 

Nothing says welcome like a heart-shaped lock.

Craig and I were able to use self-check in with the door codes provided by our host. The apartment was in an old building with such thick walls that we rarely heard any outside noise. The little bedroom had lots of storage and a very comfy king-sized bed. 

Beautiful old beams in the bedroom

A little round window for a cozy vibe

A charming weather vane
overlooking the courtyard

The kitchen had everything we required, in spite of its minuscule size. The living/dining area had plenty of room for our needs. Our host had placed a little golden Christmas tree on the fireplace mantel, which was a welcoming touch. The bathroom, though small, was as sparkling clean as the rest of the apartment. 

Ready for Christmas

Desmond and Will had left us to unpack and rest for a bit. We brewed a small pot of coffee, put our feet up, and sent a few messages home to let our family know we had arrived safely. It had been about twenty hours since Craig and I left our house in Kansas but we didn’t feel tired or jet-lagged. We were ready to meet up with Des and Will. 

Within minutes, the four of us were walking across the bridge toward the Orléans Christmas market. Everywhere we looked, there were beautiful decorations. Store windows were filled with clever holiday displays that beckoned shoppers to step inside. Lampposts and flower urns were bedecked with swags of garland and twinkling lights.  We continued our stroll and could see the huge Ferris wheel up ahead, towering over the festive marketplace.

Old and new at the Christmas market

There were lots of interesting items for sale.

Wooden booths had been constructed and set up on the square, with garlands of greenery and lights strung overhead. Each booth sold products that were handmade or manufactured in France. Many of the little huts offered enticing food items such as sausages, cheese, chocolates, and other local specialties. 

We couldn’t resist for long! The aroma of rich, creamy tartiflette drew us to a booth where we made our selections. We found a place to sit and chat while we savored every delicious bite. A few feet away was another booth from which we purchased salted caramel crepes for dessert. Oh my, but they were tasty! 

The tartiflette was irresistible!

Waffles or crepes for dessert?

It was fun to wander among the cute wooden huts. I had spotted several items which I planned to purchase for Craig and Des later. I also gazed longingly at a few things which I hoped might show up beneath the Christmas tree for me! By the time we turned for home, Craig and I were beginning to feel the effects of our long flight and were ready to settle into our cozy apartment. 

Annecy!

Pages from Jan's Travel Journal: April 21, 2014

Our vacation within a vacation began early, with a train ride to Paris where we boarded the TGV for Annecy. I had been longing to visit this picturesque town in France. It lies near the Swiss border, just on the edge of the French Alps, in the Haute-Savoie region. I had seen many enticing photos of Annecy, also known as "the Venice of the Alps", and was thrilled that we were to spend a few days there. 

The smooth, quiet TGV high-speed train was anything but quiet this time. Seated directly behind us was a young couple with a screaming baby. The little guy appeared to be about a year old, and his harried parents tried their best to calm him. He was having none of that. Except for a brief nap, the baby cried for most of the four-hour trip to Annecy. We all felt very sorry for the toddler and the young couple.

I distracted myself with the incredible views flashing by outside the train windows. We traveled through an astonishing countryside of rolling hills punctuated by forests, castles, streams, rocky canyons, quaint rustic farms, and field after field of bright yellow flowering colza. We were at times completely surrounded by vast expanses of the cheery yellow plants. 

Upon arriving in Annecy, we took a moment to get our bearings and then began walking the two hundred yards to our lodgings, the Hotel Alexandra. It was situated on a somewhat plain-looking commercial avenue, surrounded by banks and clothing stores. I could see that Craig and Des were not impressed with my choice of location. Yet. Our cozy triple room was clean and nicely decorated and even had a charming fireplace and a desk which was situated near a tall window. It didn't take long for us to stow our luggage and head out the door to explore. 

We may not have had the greatest view, 

but I really liked our cozy hotel.

As soon as we turned the corner toward the old part of town, we all stopped in our tracks, smiling. The rustic cobblestone street was lined with pastel painted buildings which housed apartments, bakeries, gift shops and cafes. The more we walked, the broader our smiles became. We followed the music of a saxophone to a lovely square surrounded by tall trees. There were flowers everywhere - in window boxes, pots, tubs and gardens. 

A street in Annecy, France

Perfect weather and beautiful flowers in Annecy.

As we continued on, we were entranced by the views of the canals and the attractive buildings which surround them. Some of the architecture had a definite Swiss chalet style. 

There were beautiful views around every corner.

We stopped at a cafe alongside one of the canals to enjoy a refreshing beverage and exclaim over the view. Craig admitted to me that he had not done any pre-vacation exploring of Annecy online. He had wanted to be surprised. And he certainly was! Desmond had known some of what awaited us in Annecy. He had previously traveled to Strausborg and had loved the beauty of that town, which sits near the German border. 

Soon, we continued our stroll and discovered the ancient Palais de L'isle. This structure, built in the 12th century, had been at times a royal residence, a mint, and a prison. It is now a museum which we made plans to visit within a day or two. 

The Palais de L'isle, one of the most-photographed sights in Annecy.

We ambled on toward Lake Annecy, a glittering turquoise lake that is said to be one of the purest in Europe. It's the third largest lake in France. There are many activities centered around the water, such as paddle boating, bicycling, beaches, boat tours, and fishing. 

Just look at that water!

Lake Annecy, in the French Alps.

Several hours passed as we wandered the delightful streets, stopping for shorts rests on park benches, admiring the stunning views. As twilight began to fall, the three of us found a restaurant which served local specialties. We all ordered the tartiflette, a delicious dish of ham and potatoes cooked in cream and white wine and topped with a thick layer of bubbly cheese. Fresh salad and crusty bread completed the meal. Though it was still a bit early, we sauntered slowly back to the hotel, more than ready to rest our tired, achy feet.

Tartiflette, salad, and crusty bread at a cafe in Annecy.