Lazy Days

SSo today and yesterday were quite lazy days. Two weeks constantly on the go can be quite draining. Yesterday we had yet more issues with the public transportation trying to get into town...apparently even in season the buses aren't that great in Chamonix. We decided to do a picnic near one of the lakes. We were super French and had cheese, bread, wine, and french cookies. But as Americans we had to throw the Pringles in too. I felt so authentic carrying the baguette around town...it really is a thing here, not just a stereotype. I guess I really looked French as some Middle Eastern guys stopped us for directions. Hahaha....
The lake we wanted to eat by was gated off so we settled to eat and watch the parasailers landing which was kind of cool. We ended up staying there for a while and I laid there in the shade in complete relaxation. We headed back into town and there was a band playing so we sat and watched for a bit. They drew me in with their classic rock covers and for being so young they were really good! After sooo much bread and cheese the past week and a half I was craving some veggies.  We got dinner at a cafe near where the band was playing and I had a really yummy salad. Never did I think I would ever crave one. If we werent doing so much walking and dealing with a ton of hills and steps, we would be humongous from all the bread and cheese the feed us here.
We finally had a successful bus ride back to the chalet and it was time to enjoy one last evening watching the sunset on the mountains. This place has been so beautiful and i have fallen in love with the Alps and this town. I definitely plan on coming back both to go skiing in the winter and do more summer activities...all once my back decides to top being a nuisance.
This morning we woke up early and took the shuttle back to Geneva airport where we then flew back to Paris. Almost feels weird being back here. Such a huge contrast between the country and city and being in both in the same day is just an odd feeling. You've gotta get back into the groove of the city life. We checked into our new hostel which has got a different vibe than the other, more social for sure, but still nice. We went back to our favorite Thai restaurant for dinner. I got the chicken in a pineapple this time only with a kick. Gotta have some spice in your life. It was almost like a curry sauce but it was just chicken and pineapple pieces in half of a pineapple with the core carved out. We went souvenir shopping after and are now hanging out in the common area of our hostel. Theres some family that cooked a huge dinner and are now playing folk songs (if you want to call I that) on the guitar and recorder, and a super cute guy working the reception desk. Naturally Im sitting close to him and not the weird family. I will give it to the fam though, they sound like they are having fun. Tomorrow we are checking out a chateau close to Paris, ready to see my future house! Haha...

I'm On Top Of The World!

Taking full advantage of this porch at our chalet and gazing at the mountain peak that I went to the top of today. Yup you heard that, I stood 12,600 feet above where I am sitting now. To backtrack, we decided to do a pass that combined both the cable car up to the top of Aiguille du Midi, and to the Mer de Glace, a glacier that you could walk through. We started with Aiguille du Midi. It was 2 separate cable car trips to the very top. Between the crazy height, the extreme jerks of the car, and the very crowded car, I was experiencing everything that terrifies me all at once. There just needed to be clowns there and then it would have been perfect. Hahaha....anyway, im all about conquering my fears so here was a way to do it! We finally got to the top and the view was absolutely amazing to say the least. By far one of the coolest things I have ever done. We took a bunch of photos and then did this glass bottom box thing over one of the voids that was crazy. From the peak you could see the valley and the endless Alps all around. Switzerland, France, and Italy were all in our gaze. 12,600 feet up, thats pretty freaking high! We headed back down to head to the glacier because it closed pretty early. There was a train that took you up to the mountain.  From there we had to take another cable car down towards the glacier and then 400 stair steps down. At one point in time the glacier was all the way up where the train is and signs show where the glacier level was at certain points in time. Global warning isn't a problem?? My butt!! It's insane to see how quickly the glacier has receded and shrunk down, and of course its been faster in the more recent years. You could see the glacier melting and there was a definite stream of water rushing down the rocks. Definitely makes you think about it and shows you some real perspective to see global warming at work. We went inside and they lit it with a bunch of different colors which was really pretty. They even had ice sculptures of furniture in there which was interesting. It was relatively small so after a quick trip through the ice cave it was 400 steps back up. We took the train back down and headed back into town to wander before dinner. We wanted fondu and found a place that had a 3 course fondu meal for a good deal. We started with the best french onion soup I have ever had followed by cheese fondu with bread to dip and cheese potatoes with bacon. What we were thinking that we would be able eat all of that bread and cheese is beyond me. But of course we were able to eat the most yummy chocolate mousse. Be jealous ma, you would have looooved it. We took the bus back home but of course it was the wrong bus. A mile later I am now chilling on the back porch enjoying my view!