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France - 2009Aix Les Bains – Autumn Outing Just a long weekend visit to the Aix Les Bains / Annecy area of S.E. France over the weekend first weekend in Oct ’09. Not a part of France Margaret and I had been to, but Andrew & Rebecca had spent some time in the region during their travels. We arrived in Geneva, from Edinburgh, 3 minutes after Andrew’s flight from Bristol (well done EasyJet), Hertz were good with the hire car – an upgrade – and we arrived in Aix Les Bains about one hour later; with the friendly staff at the Hotel Notre Dame Des Eaux allowing us to check into our ‘wing’ early. Rebecca had set off for Paris with her Mum (Sharon) the previous Tuesday and they arrived directly into Aix Les Bains via TGV on time late afternoon. 3 hours from Paris to Aix Les Bains – UK rail operators, eat your hearts out! A celebratory drink was required followed by a tour of the town centre, and a look at the old time dancers near the Kiosk a’ Music. A nice evening meal on the Rue De Genève; followed by a nightcap at our hotel. Saturday is market day in Aix Les Bains and what a nice experience. Everything you would expect from a French market. Cheese, meats and bread were bought for a picnic lunch. A Clik bag was spotted being used as a baguette carrier. How did it get there, who was the pretty girl carrying it?? A car trip to Le Mont Revard for a view over Aix Les Bains one way and to Mont Blanc the other way. A wee bit hazy for good photographs. A vintage car club had decided to have a day out and there were some superb vehicles on show. A good walk on the ridge was had before our picnic lunch. We were over 5,000ft up and in short sleeve shirts; in October! The area has quite a lot of facilities for skiing and boarding but one suspects it is probably used a lot by the locals. It would be a good place for learning to ski as the runs look beginner friendly. A visit to Lac Du Bourget, Aix Les Bains and both the Grand and Petit Ports. Very nice atmosphere, plenty of brassieres, etc. A tour of the casino – Rebecca lost her €5 pretty quickly, but it was an experience - pre dinner drinks on the Ave. Des Fluers and onto Brassiere De La Poste for a really nice meal. Sunday was a day trip to Annecy via some back roads and taking in some lovely scenery with Sharon picking up a supply of Chestnuts from the woods. Annecy is a very pretty town and the number of people there on a weekend lay testimony to this. However, if you want a quiet coffee just go one block back from the waterway! Annecy is a very walkable place and the parkland by the lake is ideal for a picnic. Back to Aix les Bains and the girls, plus Andrew, headed off to the Spa – Thermes Chevalley (Spas are one of the things Aix Les Bains is famous for) - and I headed for town to explore; and then to get a beer (or two!) and people watch in the Place Du Revard. Another nice meal, this time on the Rue Albert at L'Ecuelle, nice ambience and the cellar area in the back of the restaurant is ‘interesting’. Monday was an early breakfast (we walked down into Aix Les Bains every morning for a coffee and croissant ) and then an uneventful one hour drive to Geneva; but it was fortunate Andrew knew how to get us to a gas station (under the World Trade Centre building) and to the rental car drop off point. The signage for the latter at Geneva Airport was abysmal. The return flights, once again via EasyJet, were both on-time into Bristol/Edinburgh. Brownie points awarded again. A great weekend break with the weather holding out until we departed. One thing you notice about Aix Les Bains, Annecy, etc, is how clean the places are and residents take pride in how their town looks. Would we return – definitely, especially off season.
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