Annecy is quite different than anywhere else we've been in France (admittedly not much of a claim). As I said to Ulys, "Wow, feels like we're in a different country!" Sardonic reply: "We are."
It feels Swiss -- the mountains, the architecture, the organization. Can't speak about the toilets -- I've given up on those. (Yeah, I'm pretty uncomfortable.) Of course, Geneva is only 20 miles away and the registered population of this particular state (Haute-Savoir) is over 10% of the population. And yet, it remains French. (Chill attitude about many things, a particular Gallic strangeness about others.*) The town is just gorgeous! Temperature better than sweltering Provence and it is very sporty -- but not annoyingly so (i.e. Colorado). Loads and loads of dedicated bike paths (which skateboarders, rollerbladers and people with dogs are free to use), dedicated running paths (flat but no asphalt) along the side, skateboard parks, parks, water skiing jumps, boats of all sort to rent . . . The Old Town is the best of Bruges and Amsterdam (though suffering for the lack of Roman advantages of Arles according to Tai). Plenty for those of us whose principal athletic endeavor is the turning of pages.
Oh, and it's safe, safe, safe! (Ulys and I need a very long break from dangerous places -- person and property.)
We all want to come back -- rent a house, some bikes and a car. Summer. Well, winter would be great too -- but not for me ever since my knees made me give up skiing. (Aging sucks. A lot. Engaging in it reflects an alarming lack of judgment and a criminal disregard for one's health.)
I recommend Annecy. To almost everyone I know. And to you, whoever you are, reading this.
I recommend it with the caveat that there is absolutely nothing I can do about the Euro and the exchange rate. It seems that even Portugal and Greece can not turn it to our dollar-based favor. Damn. Ulys thinks that our only hope is to move to and to work in Singapore. Problem = we absolutely don't want to.
Okay now for the mysterious asterisk from above:
French Strangeness:
The cops here are extremely and obviously well-armed and there are many many different types of cops. Yet, when we were waiting for the first cyclist to come down the road (Annecy Triathlon on Sunday), motorized and pedestrian traffic control seemed pretty casual to me. Later, after several competators had pedaled by, a few teenagers walked lacksidasically across the official and police-defined guarded path.
The well-armed policeman yelled at them: "Yeah, that's what you do, eh? Not look around? Not NOTICE that you are traversing a major sporting event? The most important? You do whatever, eh. Yeah nice. Really classic."
A few seconds later, a man followed them -- same route, same attitude.
The cop yelled something at him and he responded. Then the cop: "Yeah, I bet you are their father. No surprise there. You should be real proud. Real. Proud. Bah!"
And I was thinking, "What the . . .merde? SHOOT 'em!" (I am not very evolved.)
Love that cop!
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