Philippe, Lucie and Caroline picked us up at the apartment at 10.30 on the dot. Abba was blasting in the car, we all laughed remembering singing Abba songs on the way to the country a few weeks ago. I sang loud and proud.
The city gave way to green pasture, to hills, and before long soaring Alps, magestic and beautiful. Their snowy peaks wore hats of soft cloud. Alex and I were agog at the sight.
Philippe had made a midday lunch booking at his friends restaurant, L Auberge de L Etang in a little village called Montagny les Lanches, Haute Savoie, a breath away from Switzerland, influencing the cuisine and the architecture with houses capped with snow friendly, steeply pitched roofs.
The Auberge's dining terrace sits on a small lake which is back dropped with green pasture dotted with cows. Thier bells jangle to the beat of their walk, the sound rings out through the still country air. Behind the cow paddocks are a row of alps with white strips heading down to the base, skiing pistes we are told.
We ate so well sitting outside in the sun, life couldn't be more perfect with the exception of John not beeing here, he would love it so much. Life is terribly hard here in France, the champagne is terrible, there is too much food and the scenery hurts your eyes it is so beautiful - woe is me.
My choices for lunch were La ballottine Oceane et crevettes demie mayonnaise (a ballottine of salmon and prawn), L'emince de canard aux poivres verts (duck with green peppercorn), Fromage blanc (white fresh cheese), and Tarte au Fraise (strawberry tarte), all were delightful and full of flavour. Alex chose the Plateau de Fromages, he was impressed with the selection and enjoyed the best brie he had ever tasted, a reblochon from Haute Savoie and a Bouju from here as well.
We didn't leave the restaurant until after 4pm, another long French lunch. We drove into the city of Annecy, the Venice of France with a canal running through it. It is pretty as a picture and overrun with tourists - yes JR, a thriving metropolis, no empty streets and no nuclear bomb! We walked up hill to the Chateaux and viewed the Alps from the chateaux's high terrace.
Walking along Annecy's massive lake is pure joy. The Alps behind lurch right to the sky, they make me feel tiny and insignificant. There is still quite a bit of snow capping some of them and as the afternoon passes the late sun illuminates the tops. John would say it is 'magic hour' when the light softens and the shaddows are long. Alex put on rollerblades to join the throng along the lake. He is not quite ready for any proximity to water but after a while he found his balance and had a great time. I walked along with him and steadied him when he needed it. Every time he lost his balance he would throw his arms around me - I haven't had so many cuddles in ages. We laughed and laughed. I love sharing belly laughs, especially with Alex.
Where were your roller blades Kaz! Looks like you had a great day. luv Kath xx
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