Chateaus of the Chablais

So having a car is one thing - knowing where to go is another; there is such a great expanse of open countryside and choice of terrain to explore. This makes it difficult for those who don't know the region that well to find somewhere to spend a sunny spring morning or afternoon. However, thanks to a guidebook on the Geneva region with fifty 2-3 hour walks on all terrains, knowing where to go is no longer a problem.

So today we decided to test drive the new acquisitions (car an guide book) and took in a really pleasant walk in open countryside in the 'Chablais', taking in on its way some Chateaux and some typical French villages. The Chablais is the region of French territory between the lake and the Alps, as well as name for a nearby mountain range where you will find well known resorts such as Morzine and Avoriaz, as well as Abondance, known for its excellent cheese.



After a stop to buy some bread in the quaint town of Bons-en-Chablais, we started out at the Chateau D'Avully, near the village of Brenthonnes. The Chateau is used for grand receptions (weddings etc) however like everything else on a Sunday, was closed. We then walked into open countryside and into our first village stop of the day in Dugny, which was the highest point of the walk at 580m above sea level (where's the sea), and gave some nice views of the Voirons, our nearest range of mountains.



We then walked through some orchards and down to Fessy, typified by its Church tower and maybe not the most typical French village buildings, but quiet and quaint nonetheless. here we found an Atelier or workshop, where it was clear from what was on display outside that the speciality was metalwork.



After Fessy it was on through some more open countryside and past more cows to Lully, where Vero was not the only one having some rest and enjoying the views.



Then we descended further and reached the second Chateau on this walk, Chateau de Buffavens. This one was definitely private however I think it was split into several residences judging by the number of doorbells on the gate and the wheely bin outside. In the grounds there were some deer, with some stags rutting which was quite neat.



After that the route took us along the mainline between Evian and Annemasse, however we only saw one train, a TGV with about two passengers going quite slowly. The last village stop was in Puard before we returned to Brenthonnes where Vero decided to sit on a bench and make me walk up and get the car at the Chateau...

This was our second excursion into the Chablais, the first being an afternoon ride to the medievel lakeside village of Yvoire (no photos as we'll go back when its in full bloom). It's unknown territory however given the number and variety of destinations, we cannot wait to discover it some more.....

Europe's Biggest Car Showroom

The 78th Salon International de L'Auto rolled into town between the 6th and 16th March. It is Europe's biggest and most prestigious car show held at Geneva's Palexpo exhibition centre near the airport (a bit like the NEC in Birmingham). So Vero and I gave up the opportunity of freezing our butts off trying to ski with the crowds in la Clusaz and decided to squeeze through the crowds at the motor show instead. We had just ordered our new car and it was due to be delivered the following week, so it was a bit like going shopping with full cupboards. However it was a great day out and we saw some really nice models (not just metal ones), as well as plenty of bizarre designs too.

And I cannot go without mentioning the bizarre ritual and what seemed the main reason for so many people being there - to try and get as many different manufacturer branded paper shopping bags as possible. Vero was no exception to the rule and managed a haul in double figures. Me, I just sat back and soaked it all in through the camera lens... Enjoy

Worst Blogger Ever

Ok so the whole point of a blog is to keep it up to date...so not having put anything on in 2008 will not win me the blogger of the year award or best original screenblog at this years blogscars.

Any so whats new or 'quoi de neuf' as the locals say. OK so the main reason for not blogging is our free time has been kind of limited. During the week after commuting to and from work (its a 42 hour week here) and then cooking dinner and winding down we cannot usually be bothered to work on the computer - however tonight I am making a bit of an effort so be grateful... Mainly because thanks to a combination of some creative planning, working on the train, a short cut through a back alley, a short sprint and the number 9 bus I can now get up half an hour later and get home before 7pm when I work in Lausanne and therefore I am not so tired...whoopeee

Weekends have been pretty 'routine' in that we tend to do the same thing each weekend - shopping for things for the flat, looking at cars (well not yet but soon) and generally putting things right in our new home. We have little opportunity to get out and about. We did take a nice trip on the train last month - to Ikea....more shopping (groan). We did not even buy anything because we went to a Swiss Ikea near Morges. The 1 franc hot dogs and Swedish meatballs were nice nonetheless

Anyway the flat is making good progress. The kitchen was fitted in the 4th week of January and looks very nice too. Unfortunately the washing machine and oven arrived damaged and we are still waiting on replacements (vive la France).



The electrician also managed to muff up the lighting too and still has not come back either. Anyway this Thursday an Ikea delivery should arrive including most of our new furniture - sofa and dinner table being the highlights. Don't worry we have a power screwdriver!

The next thing is to find a car to fill our double garage - new or used is the question on our minds right now. We are favouring new then its a case of which model. To be honest we cannot wait to be mobile again - just in time for Spring so we can start to explore some of the amazing mountains. They are really nice to admire from afar (as we have on many occasions) but we would like to get up close and personal fairly soon.



Saying that we (or Vero) found a really nice walk nearby through Ville la Grand to a plateau where you have vineyards and a 360 degree view of the Alps (including a front row seat for Mont Blanc) and the Jura - we have done it twice, the second time when we had Vero's parents and brother up for the day.



I did manage to lose my snow virginity last week with a company outing for a snowshoe walk in the Jura on the Plateau de la Givrine. It was a night thing so we were all equipped with frontal lamps and the snow was soft and about 50cm deep so it was quite an experience. Then we all ended up at the refuge afterwards for a nice fondue to cap the night off.



Since then the weather has been sunny and mild so the snow is disappearing from the lower slopes for now. The clear skies do make for some beautiful views though - especially from my office in Lausanne where I can see the Chablais, some of the Valaisian Alps and the Bernese pre-Alps. I must take the camera to work one day before it all melts again.

Anyway this weekend we are having a well-earned rest escaping back to good old Ruy for the first time since Christmas - whether I can prise myself away from the much-awaited new sofa this weekend remains to be seen. Can I take it with me??

Frosty, But No Snow, Man!

Christmas morning in Ruy and the surrounding countryside was glorious. The sun finally appeared from behind the grey freezing fog that had been hanging around for days and with the freezing temperatures, the frost really took a grip and it was a total white-out. We once again made our favourite walk up into the hills near the parents house to Etang Dardes and take some photos. Then it was back for fois gras and Christmas pudding for dinner - how more 'Franglais' would you like your Christmas!

Moving Times Again

So the big day arrived on 19 December as we signed away our lives once more and took possession of our new apartment. The day started with a trip to the bank to pick up a cheque book and we ended up being dragged into the managers office and sold this, that and whatever other financial products she could sign us up for...anyway at least I will finally have a bank account in Euros to go with the ones I already have in Sterling and Swiss Francs.

However we made it to the notaire's office on time which went very smoothly - all he does is read through the contract highlighting the key points and then make everyone involved sign every page. And then it was done - off we went to inspect the flat and we were very happy with the results (especially the parquet in the bedrooms). One or two minor teething faults but no issues of non-conformity so we took the keys.

After that is was a ride back to Geneva to pick up a rental car and bring nearly everything from the Geneva flat to Annemasse. Two trips were required (we only had a Renault Modus) before we finally scraped back to Geneva just in time to get ready for the first Christmas party that night, quite appropriately at the circus!

After yet another xmas party at a casino on the Thursday night, we woke very early Friday morning to take the final trip out of Geneva and complete our second emigration in a year. This time it was a short 10 minute train ride in darkness with only a suitcase each. Our belongings arrived from storage arrived at 9am and suddenly everything we have was back together in one place, in a home we owned and we could look forward to settling down for real at last!

So no kitchen, no TV, no phone and no furniture other than a table and chairs and a few bedroom cabinets which are standing in as kitchen cupboards and worktops. We have our George Foreman health grill and and electric ring to cook with, a balcony for a fridge and a creative positive attitude to catering - hey we even managed to do pork chops with flagolet beans for tea on Saturday, and cheese toasties made with french ham and raclette cheese go down very nicely too (especially with balcony chilled beer). We picked a new bed up on the Saturday so its nice to have at least one room looking semi normal where we can rest relax and watch DVDs on the laptop!

Christmas was spent away from the flat in Ruy so we could recharge and prepare for another busy couple of months filling up the flat with all the things its missing.

Swiss Time is Up

Greetings blog fans! Yes we are still here and I am taking probably the last spare evening I will have until we move (again!) to bring things up to date and set the scene for the next few weeks.

So our time as Swiss residents is nearly up - all being well we will close the door on our luxury company flat in the posh neighbourhood of Champel next Friday to move into our brand new apartment just over the border in France. We have all the official signing and hopefully the key handover on Wednesday.

We are excited, despite the fact the kitchen will not be installed until mid/end of January (the George Foreman grill will come to the rescue in the meantime!), we have no sofa, no TV, no car however as of today we should have a bed next Saturday. Although the concept of home delivery in France seems to be 'there's a van, take it home yourself. I'm too busy eating my baguette'. So look out on the streets of Ville la Grand next Saturday as I will try and navigate my way through French traffic to the flat in a bright yellow transit van.

We have not arranged a phone line yet so don't expect the blog updates to be any more frequent than they have been in the last few weeks. Hopefully we'll have a package sorted in the New Year - probably one of those with TV and internet thrown in.

We are not rushing into things as we are going to spend our first week in the new place not in the new place, but in Ruy to spend Christmas with Vero's family (and somehow try and get to Ikea). We'll need a rest as in between all this we both have to somehow fit working (including my commute to Lausanne on Monday and Tuesday) and two Christmas parties (one Wednesday and one Thursday) in between all the moving stuff.

So for the time being we wish you all a very happy festive season and we'll hopefully have some news and pictures of the new place in 2008.