|
|
|
Summer Alps 1999 |
|
|
|
|
| Our 1999 summer vacation started in the French Alps on
August 2, after picking the kids up from their mother's on August 1. We left Paris after
breakfast and made it to McDonalds in Geneva for lunch. The drive was made infinitely more
civilized (for the kids) by the presence of the new Panasonic DVD palm-cinema. It plugs
into the lighter for power and the audio-out-cassette adapter which pumps the audio
through the car stereo system made for super quality video on the road for the kids with a
collection of 10 new kids DVD titles. We drove directly to Cluses to sign the papers at
the Notary's office for our place in La Plagne and then headed directly to the hotel in
Megeve. The hotel, Les Sapins, was perfect with a great room with a double bed and two
single beds that swung down from the wall for the kids. |
Kevin and Kate after signing
papers for the "ski chalet." (large)
|
|
|
The hotel had an excellent view of the mountains and a
swimming pool with beautiful flowers and a lovely garden. The water was quite chilly, but
not so chilly that Nick and Katie didn't get in long enough to demonstrate their new
swimming skills. Both are now swimming without floaters, and the coming three weeks would
provide lots of opportunities to improve their skills.
<-- Kate and kids in swimming pool
at Les Sapins in Megeve. (large)
|
|
|
<-- Postcard of Megeve
(large) |
Kate with kids petting horses
in Megeve. (large)
|
| The 3rd of August started with a hike up the mountain.
We hiked a couple hundred meters up to the telecabin which carried us up to 1,600 meters
from which we had a perfect view of Mont Blanc across the valley and an excellent lunch.
We then hiked up another 150 meters before beginning the hike all the way down to Megeve. The
hike was several hours, and though there was a little complaining going on as we
approached the town, especially with the steep trails, we all considered it a huge
success.
Heading up from Megeve toward the
telecabin. (large)
--> |
 |
Mont Blanc |
|
What good are words? (large)
|
|
Nick with Mont Blanc in
background (large)
|
Family shot with Mont Blanc
in background. (large)
|
|
|
<-- Kate and kids talk with cows. Nick and Katie and horses --> |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Further up the mountain, Nick and Katie take their own pictures of
other horses.
<-- Horses by Nick (large)
Horses by Katie (large)
-->
|
 |
|
The route down from the top began on the open mountain but soon
entered a forested area. <-- Kate and Nick
(large)
Daddy, Nick and Katie (large)
->
|
|
|
|
Exiting the forest into the mountain fields with cow paths and
trails.
<-- Kate, Nick, and Katie (large)
Katie on trail (large)-->
|
|
|
|
|
Stopping for a break on the long trek down the mountain. <-- Daddy and Nick (large)
Kate and Katie (large)
-->
|
|
Finally, as we approached the town, we
followed the trail to a waterfall. The trail down the gorge was a little trecherous but
very beautiful.
Kate, Nick and Katie at
waterfall. (large)
-->
|
|
|
|
|
The next day was more relaxing, with a trip back up
the mountain to the mountain lake, stocked with trout, for some fishing. We were the only
people on the lake who managed to catch absolutely nothing, though those tricky trout did
eat lots of bait off our hooks, including the grasshoppers Daddy caught and skewered to
attract the fish.
<-- Daddy fishing with kids in the
rain. (large)
|
|
|
<-- Nick fishing in the
rain. (large)
Fishing scene (large)
-->
|
|
| We finally went for a ride in one of the horse drawn
carriages. Nick and Katie were not to be denied, having been teased by these lovely things
everytime we walked into the super cute pedestrian center of town. (Click photo to
enlarge.) |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
French
Alps | Italy | Metsovo
| Volos | Athens
|
