LOndon to Annecy July 5

Day 8 London – Annecy July 5

Another early start to catch the 6.30am Eurostar to Paris. Ripped off by dodgy London Mini Cab driver who was late picking up, then instead of the agreed fare on GBP10.00 decided we needed to pay GBP15.00 because we had luggage.

The Eurostar is one hell of a train. Very quiet inside, and so smooth that you hardly know that you are moving. We travelled at 160km per hour through the English countryside and under the Channel, and then it zips along at 300kph once you get into France. The windows are made elongated so when you look out them you do not feel sick.

We were in Paris in no time, and queued for an hour to get a taxi from Gard du Nord to the rental car place.

The Eurodrive people had our Renault Scenic waiting, and after a few instructions on how to drive it and operate the GPS we were off. Very scary driving through Paris on what seemed like the wrong side of the road. I was sure that Brian was going to hit everything that was on our right, including the barriers on the side of the road, but he didn’t and after a couple of wrong turns until we were on the correct freeway and heading for the Alps. Speed limit: 130kmph.

Close to the Alps we entered a tunnel and when we came out the other side we all gasped at once. The scenery was spectacular, and the road is on stilts attached to the side of the mountains, high above the valley floor. Our destination was a little village outside the town of Annecy, where our friends were waiting for us with a cold beer, and several wines. We are staying on the first floor of a converted barn that was built in 1854. For dinner they had prepared a traditional local dish for us called Tartiflette, which is potatoes, local cured ham and cheese, which is eaten with a green salad. This was followed by a massive cheese platter. Oh la la!

No steps today – but I think I am going to need to do a lot, if tonight’s meal was any indication of what is to come.