Is-sur-Tille Hôtel de Ville

Is-sur-Tille Town Square

Church Spire in Is-sur-Tille

Lightshade

I spotted this rather interesting street lampshade while wondering down one of the side streets.

Secret Walled Garden (1)

Found this little "Secret" garden up on a raised walled section. The gate was locked so I couldn't enter, but it didn't stop me reaching over to take this picture.

Claire in Is-sur-Tille

Secret Walled Garden (2)

That's where the secret garden is

Locks in Is-sur-Tille (1)

Whilst wondering Is-sur-Tille we found list little lock system along a row of houses.

Locks in Is-sur-Tille (2)

Locks in Is-sur-Tille (3)

Our Pitch for 8 Nights

This was our pitch at Camping International - Lac d'Annecy. Sadly it was a bit of a case of "There's your spot and you can park your car opposite". We had to do a bit or precarious positioning of the tent to get a bit of privacy, but also so we didn't infringe on the people behind. That said, it suited us perfectly with the only complaint being that it didn't get any sun until about 3pm each day, which means a slightly damp tent for quite some hours.

Duingt From the Cycle Path

Lac D'Annecy has a long cycle path along it's western shore. I suspect it used to be an old rail route.

Le château de Duingt from the Cycle Path

Cycle Path Tunnel (1)

The existence of this tunnel is what made me believe this cycle path used to be a rail route. France is as a whole a lot more cycle-friendly than most other countries, but even they wouldn't build a tunnel just for a cycle path.

Cycle Path at Duingt

Climbers

The climbers prefer to go over the ridge rather than through the tunnel.

Cycle Path Tunnel (2)

Lac D'Annecy (1)

The water in Lac D'Annecy is genuinely this bright torquiose colour. The last place I saw water this clear and this colour was in the Caribbean.

Lac D'Annecy (2)

Claire Waiting

Claire guarding the bikes as I run off for another photo opp.

Port at Bout-du-Lac (1)

The view from the port at Bout-du-Lac (the end of the lake).

Port at Bout-du-Lac (2)

Resting Tired Legs

Two Paragliders

Windsurfer

Port at Bout-du-Lac (3)

Vibrams at at the port at Bout-du-Lac

You'll see these chappies a couple more times.

Port at Bout-du-Lac (4)

Beach at Bout-du-Lac

The general concensus around the lake seems to be, if you can get in, and they don't say you can't swim, it's a bathing area. That said, there are dedicated and thus lifeguarded bathing areas like this one at Bout-du-Lac.

Lac D'Annecy (3)

Lac D'Annecy (4)

Lac D'Annecy (5)

Cycle Path Hill

This is probably the biggest hill on the entire cycle path. It's not a very steep of tough hill and thankfully most of the route is nearly flat, so it's a very easy cycle.

Lac D'Annecy (6)

Lac D'Annecy (7)

Cycling Claire Taking in the View

Lac D'Annecy (8)

Lac D'Annecy (9)

Check how clean and clear the water is. It's unbelievable. What's even more unbelievable is this was once so polluted it didn't look anything like this.

Cycle Path and Mountains (1)

Cycle Path and Mountains (2)

The Alps Around Lac D'Annecy (1)

Cycle Path and Mountains (3)

The Alps Around Lac D'Annecy (2)

The view of the mountains from the campsite we stayed at. Lit up just before sunset.

Campsite Pool

The campsite pool. This will be the last summer it looks like this as apparently it'll all be dug up and replaced with a fancier pool with slippy slides and fountains.

Campsite Office

Campsite Entrance

Campsite Restaurant/Bar

The Alps Around Lac D'Annecy (3)

Lit up just before sunset.

Lac D'Annecy Promenade

Peddle Horse-drawn Carts (1)

These are the cutest little kids rides I've ever seen. They're little peddle horse-drawn carts. The kids were racing them up and down a section of the promenade, with the occassional "casualty" as pedestrians wandered onto the badly marked course.

Peddle Horse-drawn Carts (2)

Boats on the Canal du Vassé (1)

Canal du Vassé

Taken from the Pont des Amours.

Lac D'Annecy (10)

Beautiful Wooden Boat on the Canal du Vassé

Another Beautiful Wooden Boat on the Canal du Vassé

Annecy (1)

In front of the town hall

Annecy (2)

Eglise St Maurice

Reflective Eglise St Maurice

Getting all fancy using the fountain opposite the townhall.

Canal du Thiou (1)

This is the crystal clear canal that runs through the middle of the old town part of Annecy.

Canal du Thiou (2)

le Palais de l'Isle (1)

The most photographed section of Annecy.

Canal du Thiou (3)

Flowers: check. Bicycle: check. Something in the background: check. A typical "French" shot.

Canal du Thiou (4)

le Palais de l'Isle (2)

le Palais de l'Isle (3)

I can almost guarentee you've seen an almost identical shot to this elsewhere.

Canal du Thiou (5)

Canal du Thiou (6)

Canal du Thiou (7)

Canal du Thiou (8)

I managed to capture quite a good shot here with the swan racing across the surface of the water.

Canal du Thiou (9)

La Tour de l'Horloge

Annecy (3)

Canal du Thiou (10)

Canal du Thiou (11)

Le Lilas Rose

We had a fantastic lunch in this canal side restaurant. We couldn't get a waterside table (reservations only), but managed to get a table which we could see right out the window. The setting was lovely and the food good and generous too.

Canal du Thiou (12)

Sainte Claire

A little out of focus, but that's what happens when you try to take photos of Saints.

Annecy (4)

Annecy (5)

Annecy (6)

Canal du Thiou (13)

Canal du Thiou (14)

Annecy (7)

A hidden little residential bit in the old town.

Château d'Annecy Courtyard

We didn't go into the Château d'Annecy - we didn't think the €4.80 pp was worth it.

Old House

Canal du Thiou (15)

Big Fish

Check the size of these monsters swimming around in the canal.

Spraypaint Artist (1)

This chap was sitting beside the canal creating masterpieces using nothing more than cans of spraypaint and pieces of newspaper.

Spraypaint Artist (2)

Behind Eglise St Maurice

Cathédrale Saint-Pierre d'Annecy

Eglise Notre Dame de Liesse (1)

Eglise Notre Dame de Liesse (2)

Notre Dame

"Notre Dame" on top of the Eglise Notre Dame de Liesse

Eglise Notre Dame de Liesse (3)

On The Backs of Turtles

Inside Eglise Notre Dame de Liesse (1)

Inside Eglise Notre Dame de Liesse (2)

Big Emmental

Hows this for a huge emmental cheese.

Cheeses

Hmmmm, cheese. I bet the crusty brown ones are very very tasty. Sadly, the shop was closed when we went past, so no tasting for me.

Swan Underwater

Ever wanted to know what swans do when they drop their heads under the water? Well, now you know.

Lac D'Annecy (11)

Lac D'Annecy (12)

Moon Rising

High ISO and my fancy new vibration reducing lens allowed me to take this picture without the need for a tripod.

The Alps Around Lac D'Annecy (4)

The Alps Around Lac D'Annecy (5)

This is just how I pictured Switzerland to look. I was just waiting to hear someone start yodling.

View From Col de la Forclaz (1)

This is the view over Lac D'Annecy from Col de la Forclaz at an altitude of 1157m.

The Launch Ramp (1)

The hangglider's launch ramp at Col de la Forclaz. There's no way you'll ever see me jumping off this with a bit of taught tarp on a light metal frame.

Vibrams on The Ramp

My funky shoes at the top edge of the hangglider's launch ramp.

Hanging on the Ramp

This is as close I'm prepared to go to using this ramp.

Claire Overlooking Lac D'Annecy

This is as close to the edge as Claire was happy to go.

The Launch Ramp (2)

Paraglider (1)

There are loads of paragliders wafting around in the air above Lac D'Annecy on clear days.

Col de la Forclaz (1)

This is the view in the other direction, ie with Lac D'Annecy behind me.

Col de la Forclaz (2)

Mountain Cows

A heard of traditional mountain cows, with bells and all, grazing happily in the sunshine.

Resting Cow

Cowbell

Col de la Forclaz (3)

Ponnay Paraglider Launch Pad With Paraglider

At the very end of the Route de Ponnay lies this astroturf paraglider launch pad. It's quite interesting to stand there for a while and watch the paragliders arrive, unpack, strap in and launch themselves.

Empty Ponnay Paraglider Launch Pad

The view alone is well worth the visit up this winding road.

Le château de Duingt

Champagne Colin

Wow!!! I've even got a champange named after me. Sadly they were closed and they don't appear to sell via the shops, so I have no idea what it tastes like. Hopefully not as bland as their building.

Colin & Champagne Colin

It had to be done.

Champagne Colin Sign

I think the sign on the side of the road is more impressive than the one on the building.

Place du village d'Hautvillers

Hautvillers - the home of Dom Perignon's Abbey.

Sign (1)

Marie d'Hautvillers

Sun Dial

Champagne Grape Vines (1)

Moët & Chandon Vines

I wonder if any of these go into Dom Perignon

Saint-Sindulphe Abbey Church (1)

Saint-Sindulphe Abbey Church (2)

Stainglass Window in the Saint-Sindulphe Abbey Church

Dom Perignon's Grave

Dom Perignon's Grave, inside the abbey church.

Saint-Sindulphe Abbey Church Organ

How's that for a set of organs. Very impressive when you consider this church isn't very big.

Inside Saint-Sindulphe Abbey Church

Square Beaulieu Sign

View From Hautvillers (1)

Restaurant Sign

View From Hautvillers (2)

Champagne Grape Vines (2)

Place de la Republique

Avenue de Champagne Sign

Avenue de Champagne

This is the road to be on if you want to setup your HQ in Epernay.

Dom Perignon Statue

The statue that resides in front of the Moët & Chandon building on Avenue de Champange.

Hôtel de Moët & Chandon

Perrier-Jouet Courtyard

Pol Roger & Co Courtyard

Old House (1)

Old House (2)

College de Garcons

No, this is not a school for waiters. Garcon means boy, so it's a boy's school. It's also located on the Avenue de Champagne, so is probably quite posh.

B & B On Avenue de Champagne

I bet this place is expensive given it's prime location.

Unknown Courtyard

Old Mansion

Moët & Chandon HQ

These guys seem to own half the avenue of buildings.

Autumn Starting

Hotel de Ville d'Epernay (1)

This is one thing the French do well - mayor's offices and townhalls. This is the huge one in Epernay.

Bandstand

Hotel de Ville d'Epernay (2)

Hotel de Ville d'Epernay (3)

Hotel de Ville d'Epernay (4)

Théatre d'Epernay

Théatre d'Epernay Detail

Eglise Notre Dame (1)

La Table Kobus

Imagine seeing a South African name like Kobus in France, and notice where he is: the arse end of the church. Sadly, he was closed for the holidays, so we couldn't taste his cuisine.

Eglise Notre Dame (2)

Eglise Notre Dame (3)

Eglise Notre Dame (4)

Eglise Notre Dame (5)

Portail Saint-Martin

This is the oldest building in Epernay, and it's not even in it's original location. It was moved so a road could go through where it used to be.

Portail Saint-Martin Plaque

Lighthouse At the Wine Museum

Curvée Louise Pommery

Old Wine Press

Windmill

Champagne Grape Vines (3)

Champagne Grape Vines (4)

Champagne Grapes

Champagne Tomatoes

I wonder if champagne tomatoes are as expensive as champagne is.

Brown Bird

Spotted this little chap cowering in the doorway of the ablution block on the camp site in Epernay. Think he may have been a tad chilly.