Annecy, I Think I Love You..

Let’s face it, after Albania, an overnight train ride from Rome to Paris where we bribed a train official to get a room for two of us that was acceptable instead of share the same size room with 4 strangers, and then more trains to get there, anywhere where I could actually lay down was going to be awesome. Then came Tours, France, and I felt totally at home. The Country Western  Festival was a blast, rife with Confederate flags, boots, Dusters and honest to goodness Bull Riding.  The place was incredible, super well organized, and we ate ad drank for the first time without worrying about repercussions.

The next day we headed back through Paris to Annecy, which is the home away from home for the band, as their French manager’s family has a flat there. I cannot honestly describe how beautiful the city is. On the edge of the Alps, with a huge blue lake, and an old city with canals reminiscent of Venice.

This morning, I needed to send some things back to the US, and so I hiked about 2 ½ miles to a Mailboxes, Etc. which was pretty much the only game in town. After hearing the price to send said stuff home, fainting, and coming to terms with it, the man who worked there offered me a cup of coffee, which he made with a press, and brought out.

Where in the US would that EVER happen? Then, my new French friend found out that I had walked there and offered to give me 2 Euros for the bus back. Again, can you imagine this in NYC?

On my walk back I stopped off to buy a bottle of wine and an apple at a local market. And as I was paying, my extremely limited understanding of French managed to figure out that the shop owner was offering to wash the apple for me. Okay. WHAT is going on? Is this Crazy Nice Land? Are there hidden cameras?  What do they think, they’re Canadian?  Add the sweetness of the people to the clean clear water, the gorgeous old town, cobblestone streets, pastries that I am still drooling thinking about, and then top it off with the fact that it is not in any way near or related to Albania, and Annecy, France is now one of my top 5 favorite places. I will be back there later in the trip, and I plan to do the 3 day woo and marry to any waitress that will have me. NYC, Au Revoir. Til Next time, may all of your days be blogalicious.