Escape to Annecy
A typical Alpine country house
While I’ve adored Paris for a very long time, I often remind myself that my first (French) love was the beautiful Alpine town of Annecy in the departement of Haute Savoie which I first visited in 1968, and to which I have just escaped for a few days.
The person I visited over 40 years ago, my friend Brigitte, is the same person I’m staying with now, and we initially became penfriends in 1965; I used to write to her in French, and she would write to me in English. Each would correct the mistakes in the other’s letter and send it back with the next one. This may have been my first encouragement to become a teacher. Brigitte, however, became a midwife.
We are both now quite a bit older than our parents were in 1968, and we find it very strange that we thought they were so old back then, while yet now we don’t think of ourselves as old at all!
I try to come to Annecy twice a year if possible, and it’s enchanting in both winter and summer. Here are a few of the things I love about it…
Our 'dinner party' in the snow--starring Isabelle Huppert and George Clooney!
Eating the local cuisine--all delicious variations on cheese--this one is raclette
The many specialty shops--this one sells sweets in all shapes imaginable, including little animals
Eating and talking with Brigitte and her family
Madame Hulotte's bicycle; as we both love Jacques Tati films and because we are rather clumsy, we call ourselves La Hulotte Francaise et La Hulotte Australienne
Come back in June and I’ll show you how different it is, while still ressembling something out of a fairytale.
1 comment
Hi Carolyne,
Found your blog via Malcolm’s blog…
I find your blog hard to read because it makes me pine for France.
I have family in Paris and Annecy, among many other places including Lyons, Rennes, Bordeaux, etc.
In the 70s when I was living in Germany, my family would take holidays in Annecy (Sevrier, to be precise), relaxing on the lake during the summer.
My other cousins in Paris grew up in Choisy-le-Roi, in a house that used to be owned by one of the servants of Marie Antoinette (something like that – I forget the exact story).
My favourite spot in Paris remains the top end of Avenue St Michel, near the river, sitting at a street cafe sipping a cafe au lait, and writing postcards to family back home
The Rive Gauche is just … I fail for words. I love it.
I will pass your blog onto my mother, who is French… she will love it.
Cheers,
-Alister
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