Day Seven and Eight - To the Alps!
Aiguille Du Midi - Are we really going up THERE??? Yikes!
As you travel from Burgundy from Chamonix, you might think that unknowingly you have ventured beyond France's borders into the small country of Switzerland - because it's influence is prevalent here. Arriving in Chamonix in the early afternoon afforded us the ability to do a little sight-seeing. We found a small sidewalk bar with a drop-dead view of the Aiguille du Midi as we sipped a glass of savoie region red wine - a refreshing, light red for a warm September day.
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Accommodations in Chamonix were at the alpine-feeling, Hôtel de l'Arve, where we had the good fortune of a room assignment that afforded a balcony-view of Mont Blanc. The hotel has a cozy lounge with comfortable seating. Chris gathered our group here the second night of our stay for a cocktail of choice.
Our group dinner in Chamonix was at Restaurant La Caleche - an eclectic establishment with a taste of Switzerland. Specialties tasted here included the traditional fondue savoyarde and raclette - which basically was melted cheese which you poured over potatoes, pickles, sausages, and bread! In other words - you do all the cooking. Layer if you go here - it gets really warm around that raclette grill! Try the local "Biere Mont Blanc" - it will cool you down. |
A visit to Chamonix would not be complete without a gondola ride to the Aiguille du Midi. The ride is a claustrophobe's nightmare but if you're lucky you will be squeezed against a window where you can visualize the trip up the steep rocky face of the mountain. Put your fear of heights, tight spaces, or flawed cable aside, though, as you will miss a view of a lifetime if you forgo the trip. We were blessed with clear, blue sky and a spectacular view of Mont Blanc - the highest peak in continental Europe. Take your time up here and look closely at the ant-like climbers working their way up the peak. Would recommend that you go first thing in the morning, because the view was obscured with clouds by early afternoon.
There are a number of ways to get down, but we chose to hike down. To do this, take the gondola back to the Plan De L'Aiguille. Commandeer a picnic table here and get a sandwich and something warm to drink before you start down. This is Hike #1 in Rick's France 2012 book - Plan de l'Aiguille to Montenvers-Mer de Glace. It is described as 2.5 hour hike of "moderate difficulty" with "some stretches steep and strenuous." This might be stretching it a bit, as our little group which ranged in age from the mid-40's to nearly 70 - took 3.5 hours to make the trip. It was well worth the next day aches and pains though. If you read the "rave reviews" from this tour on Rick's web site, you will see that this is frequently mentioned as the "wow" moment of the tour. Bring water - one member of our group did experience altitude sickness, as this hike is at about 6,000 foot altitude!
There are a number of ways to get down, but we chose to hike down. To do this, take the gondola back to the Plan De L'Aiguille. Commandeer a picnic table here and get a sandwich and something warm to drink before you start down. This is Hike #1 in Rick's France 2012 book - Plan de l'Aiguille to Montenvers-Mer de Glace. It is described as 2.5 hour hike of "moderate difficulty" with "some stretches steep and strenuous." This might be stretching it a bit, as our little group which ranged in age from the mid-40's to nearly 70 - took 3.5 hours to make the trip. It was well worth the next day aches and pains though. If you read the "rave reviews" from this tour on Rick's web site, you will see that this is frequently mentioned as the "wow" moment of the tour. Bring water - one member of our group did experience altitude sickness, as this hike is at about 6,000 foot altitude!
And now, about "le vin"...
Vin de Savoie can be found here. It originates from the Savoy region of France - at the foothills of the Alps. The wines from that region are mostly white, although there are some light reds, one of which we sampled. This stop on the tour is really not about the wine though...it is all about the mountain.
Traveler's Tip:
This one is more for the ladies. We were furnished with Rick's Civita Day Pack for this tour. I used this as my day pack, but have to admit that it was not ideal. Next year I am traveling with a small handbag. There are a variety of them available from travel stores, but keep it small. I would recommend a bag no larger than 8"X9," with a good shoulder strap. You can buy bags with straps and body that are slash-proof so that you never have to worry about losing your precious possessions to a "drive by" thief. What I like to carry in my bag is a small camera, glasses, a small notebook and pen so that I can write down things we see or do during the day, chapstick, small bottle of sunscreen, and a section of the Rick Steves travel book pertinent to the area we are visiting. Before you leave, be brave and rip apart the travel book you get as part of the tour. Lighten the load by leaving the information about the places you aren't visiting at home! Then you can carry just that portion pertaining to the sights you are seeing with you during the day. I've noticed that a "Guidebook Page Binder" is now available from the Rick Steves Travel Store which you can use to protect those pages. You also might want to take along a water bottle. One of the tour members on our last trip had a "Vapur" brand water bottle which was really convenient, as you can fold it up and put it in your handbag when it's empty, rather than lugging around an empty bottle the rest of the day.