Grenoble, Annecy
This was a great day! We got cheap tickets for a bus trip to Annecy online. We left early in the morning, arriving at noon. A small group of UM students decided that we’d like to eat lunch before going to the beach. We stopped at a small Italian restaurant near the river. I ordered the lasagna and it was delicious. For dessert I got a raspberry tart.
From lunch we walked along the river to the beach. It had to be the clearest water I’ve seen in my life. Swans and ducks swam in small protected areas. We arrived at the beach and it was like a scene out of a movie. The water was crystal clear, mountains rose up in the background, and puffy white clouds floated overheard. Stepping into the water was like the first breath of fresh air I’ve had since I was in Michigan. It was the perfect temperature. So refreshing! Even though the beach was crowded there was plenty of room to swim out and around wherever you wanted. I thought the beach was a little strange. Older men walked around in speedos and every woman wore a bikini. We did see some topless women on the nearby private beach. (Strongly do not recommend the bathrooms. There are no toilet seat or toilet paper. Best of luck!) C’est la vie??
After the most refreshing swim of my life, we headed back into town to try some ice cream. The TripAdvisor certified 9th best ice cream shop in France was around the block, so we made sure to stop by. It was amazing! Buy two scoops get one baby one free. I got raspberry, strawberry, and coffee. I love the sizes here, I can actually finish a cone and not feel sick.
After ice cream the group split up. Some went shopping around town, but I stopped with a few others to grab a quick drink before our 2 hour bus ride back to Grenoble. I got a hard cider at a café overlooking a small river island.
When I arrived home Gilbert had a plate waiting for me. It was absolutely delicious. There was rice, sausage, cheese, bread, and sauce. So filling, so refreshing after a long day.
Mary-Est-En-France 