Saturday, February 11, 2012

Fancy in Annecy

Having lived in Europe before, I thought I knew what I was getting myself into coming overseas this volleyball season. I'd wander aimlessly through the streets of Florence, exploring every nook and cranny the city had to offer. I found the little trinket shops charming, the bakeries irresistible, and a walk along the Arno a quick fix for just about anything.

Fast forward to Lausanne. A bigger and bustling city than most I've visited and enjoyed in Europe (aside from Rome of course but there is, in fact, absolutely nothing that can be found wrong with that city). There is traffic, big name grocery stores on nearly every corner and some questionable extracurricular activities that aren't even given a second glance by most, even as people engage in them during daylight hours in the middle of the city.

We had a day off on Friday so I jumped at the chance to get the heck out for a few hours. Our destination: Annecy, a quaint little town on the northern tip of Lake Annecy and just a quick drive from Geneva.

I'd visited this wondrous little lake town in high school, on a visit to my sister who'd spent the summer studying in Lyon. Between angsty outbursts about missing my boyfriend and sweating so much that the makeup was melting off my face (seriously, sixteen-year-old Kate?), I didn't quite appreciate it as much as I should have. I wanted a McDonalds Big Mac more than I cared to indulge in the local delicacies. I was with my two best friends, my mom and my sister, flitting about one of the most beautiful places I'd ever had the pleasure of visiting.

And cue the February 2012 visit...

I'm not sure Evan could have been happier to see a Subway!

Safe to say visiting ten (?!) years later with my husband and two buddies, Kiley and Evan, in the dead of the windiest winter this area has seen (75 km/h gusts, might I add) in awhile, was a much different yet equally wonderful experience. We couldn't stay long, but enjoyed the time away while we could.

Thanks for the company, friends!

on to the next one...

1 comment:

  1. Kate, you look so much like Anne and Shelly in the last picture!I always think of you more as looking like Mick but this picture just screams Anne to me.

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