Monday, September 30, 2019

Mont Blanc (Part III)

Once I made it to Geneva airport it was off to downtown Geneva.  One of the biggest issues I have with public transportation of buses, trains and such is actually getting out of the terminal!  I think this is due to the fact that this gal who has lived almost all of her life away from large urban areas doesn't have the acquired city skills.  Now stick me in the mountains I am all set to go!  I made it through customs and got my luggage which was a miracle considering I was on different flights and missed a flight and well . . . a miracle would be the right word.

Before I exited the luggage area one could grab a free ticket which I thought was just for buses but it was for a free train ride to the heart of Geneva.  Of course, I had to find the train and figure this all out after traveling forever and in French!  This is where living overseas for 12 years was really handy.  I am not afraid to talk to anyone!  have a fairly decent sense of who to talk to and not to talk to plus good common sense.  I see these two gals in their 20s and ask if they speak English well of course they do!  They were so nice and helpful!  They told me, "Your ticket is for a free train ride as well and to take the train you will be in Geneva in minutes!"  They asked where I was going and got on their phones look it up. I took a photo of their phone map.  The gals got me on the train as they were riding it as well and off I went.  I was there in minutes and then off the train . . . once again I had to figure out to get out of the station and out the right door! 

Flying into Geneva.


Technology to the rescue!  A big thank you to the two gals who were nice enough to help me out!

We woke up to a sunny puffy cloudy morning in Geneva!  A breakfast of wonderful chocolate croissants, and good coffee, followed by a walk around the downtown area.  Lots of people buzzing off to work on bikes and e-bikes.
In the early afternoon, we were on the bus heading to France and Les Houches.  leaving behind the city to more hills, wider empty spaces, and into the clouds.



Glaciers spilling down mountainsides.

Then quaint Les Houches!

Smaller hamlets, more agricultural land and steep mountains.  This photo was taken from the deck of our hotel.  Right before I found my camera a shepherd was bring in his sheep or goats below on a road.  It was hard to see the animals due to the dense forset but you could hear their smaller bells.

A wonderful salad!  One thing the impressed me about food the whole trip was the care and pride in presentation of any food that was being served, and the quality of the food!  I would say it was all about slowing down, enjoying the food, and relaxing! 

A pizza shop and let me say all things were cute, tidy, organized!

The start of our trip Part IV!

Friday, September 27, 2019

Mont Blanc (Part II)

The I am spoiled rotten part of the trip was flying First Class most of my way to Geneva!  What a treat this was and yummy too!

Top of the photo is Iceland Air lunch!  Chocolates were on the flight from Munich to Geneva!

Real coffee cup with wonderful rich coffee!

Organic snacks!

I always get a kick out of funny signs . . . like would you be sucked out down into the abyss of crap here if you were to be sitting on the Loo!

In Edmonton airport where I spent a long-long-long time as the plane had a mechanical, then I missed my connection in Reykjavik.  Iceland Air sent me to Munich which is a HUGE airport, then I flew back to Geneva.  I felt like I was on Missin Impossible as I had all these endless challenges to complete to get to the hotel in geneva. 

Iceland which looks a lot like my home on the tundra!

Iceland

Iceland


Thursday, September 26, 2019

Mont Blanc Trek, Traveling, & Home (Part I)

(I will be writing/posting in PARTS to make this easier for me and my readers.)

Where does one begin when you head off on a trip and return home  . . . thinking did all of this really happen  . . . well yes it did!  What a grand adventure!

Late August I flew out of the village and into Anchorage (ANC).  I left a day early so not to be caught/stuck in UNK (village) due to weather.  This gave me a day in the city as I waited for my flight out just after midnight.  I had a great lunch at a new-ish place that has opened on Spennard called "The Writers Block".  I can highly recommend their lunches and a look around the shop.

I love the outside look of the building as it nicely ties in with books on a shelf.

Cute, clean, with nice spaces for eating, sipping your favorite drink, and visiting.

A great tomato basil soup---dang tasty!

Mr. Moose in ANC airport as I head south to Seattle.