Chamonix is Cool
Trip Start
Jun 20, 2010
1
14
16
Trip End
Jul 14, 2010
Where I stayed
Chamonix, Rhône-Alpes, France
Saturday, July 3, 2010
It was hot in Lyon, and interestingly enough the mall was not air conditioned. In fact, we have not been any place where there is air conditioning. It’s a shame the US is so dependent on it. The French attitude towards the weather is that you can’t control it, so don’t worry about it and deal with it. The U.S. should take a lesson from France and the rest of Europe on this issue. We could only stay and visit with Mattieu for a short while because check-in to the hotel in Chamonix was by 7:30pm, so we said our goodbyes and got back on the road. As we were getting onto the highway we realized that we hadn’t taken a picture of our visit with Mattieu. What a faux pas, sorry Mattieu!
We arrived in Chamonix a little after 7pm, and it looked like we had just missed a rain shower. The mountains create their own weather. Even if it is sunny ten miles away, clouds could emerge over the mountains and the weather could change quickly. The cooler temperature was a refreshing change from hot Burgundy. We checked into a really nice hotel just a couple minute walk from the center of town, the Auberge du Manoir. It is a small family run hotel that was recently renovated. The husband, wife and golden Labrador retriever, Orgeat, made us feel welcome when we arrived. Sofia instantly made a friend in Orgeat for the duration of the visit, and soon after discovered that a blind cat also lives at the hotel. We had two adjoining rooms on the top floor of the hotel that were connected with an outer door, so we could leave the inner doors open and easily go between the two rooms. Each room had a balcony with a couple chairs and a fold-up table that was perfect for relaxing and looking at the magnificent mountains that surrounded the valley.
Chamonix is the largest town in a narrow valley tucked between the mountains. There are a number of other smaller villages and towns in the valley, all connected by a train line that runs between each town. Mont Blanc and the French Alps attract people from all over the world. Strolling through Chamonix in the evening you could hear many different languages spoken--French, German, Italian, Spanish, English (both the American and British variety), Polish, Dutch, Japanese. Mountain climbers and hikers could be seen walking through the town on their way back from the mountains for the day. It seemed like every other person carries walking sticks. You can identify the mountaineers and outdoorsmen by their sunburned and weathered faces from their time out in the high altitude rays and wind. Chamonix has a laidback, easygoing vibe.
