Hi all. Here's a piece which might appear in the next few weeks in the Rapids Tribune's Sunday travel section. Enjoy.

Touring Someplace Warmer Than Here!

This winter weather in Adams County is starting to seem pretty cold and bleak, so how about coming along with Ruthie and me for a very quick peek at where it was anything but?

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Nestled at the foot of the French Alps, Annecy (On-see) is a mix of medieval and modern day buildings on a deep, blue lake flanked by the foothills of spectacular snow-capped peaks. We could see from our hotel’s doorstep the wide sweep of Lake Annecy stretching out of sight around a distant bend. Kayakers were putting out from a marina at this end and a ferry boat was heading across.

Ruthie excitedly pointed at it. “Dear, taking that would get us to the hiking trails in those foothills! Then we could…!” Looking higher, she saw the peaks being hidden by lowering rain clouds. “Oops, but not today I guess.”

But it was sunny enough down here to explore the medieval heart of town instead and we wound up smack in the middle of Annecy’s open market day. Vender stalls lining the cobblestone streets displayed all varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables, locally made cheeses, sausages, and wines, plus, every arts and craft imaginable. The riot of sights, sounds, and fragrances had most of us-tourists, locals, and peddlers alike-in something of a party mood.

Practically drooling before a stall stacked with cheese bricks of all kinds, I started, “Sweetie, while hiking these would…”

She was already pointing for the vendor. “We’d like this…and a bit of that! Oh, and that too!”

After a tasty brasserie (café) lunch of-what else?-three-cheese fondue, we followed the lakefront trail to admire the quaint centuries-old cottages. Most especially, the elegant chateaus we saw spoke volumes about an older time of nobility and grace.

The next day’s rainy weather higher up allowed us but a few tantalizing glimpses of one of the massive peaks. Plus, this morning it was drizzling down here too. Unfazed and ever the optimist, Ruthie said, “Dear, we’ve got our rain jackets and besides, it’s mild. Let’s do the town some more!”

Throughout, the man-made channels regulating the inflow and outflow of the lake have Annecy known as the French version of Venice. Particularly notable was an ancient prison built of stone, the front of which was shaped like the bow of a ship cleaving the channel in two.

Snapping one shot after another, my photographer spouse declared, “So help me, dear, one of these goes up on our wall!”

 

After trudging up a steep cobblestoned street, we explored the Château d' Annecy. A castle restored and transformed into the Museum of Alpine Popular Art, it displayed regional sculptures and paintings, and furniture dating from the 15th century. The walls are over 13 feet thick, making it hard to peer down past it from the openings in the turrets. But my Photo Queen did her best with capturing the view below of the old town’s narrow streets and decorated roofs. “More for our wall!” she said.

         Our final evening had us treating ourselves to one of Annecy’s fanciest restaurants, L’ Etage. Once seated at a warmly candle-lit table, we felt its ambience alone lived up to this, the wooden beams supporting a 16-foot ceiling and tall double windows overlooking the street. And so did the food, we complimenting the chef-“Tre’s bon, monsieur!”-for Ruthie’s superb roast duck and my perfectly medium-rare filet mignon. Afterward savoring the delicious chocolate mousse, we saw that outside it had cleared. As the French Alps were showing themselves at long last, we agreed; Annecy was another of those places we’d come back to.