Just back from... Lake Annecy, France
It was a quiet week on Lake Annecy, my happy place, out on the edge of the French Alps.* Sophia and her college roommates met me there for a week of sunshine and fresh air. They’re Tisch students, so they stayed up all night watching films, slept till 1pm and then spent all day shooting their own short films. Oh! And they got tattoos. All of them. All the girls got all the tattoos. So many tattoos.
The only less-than-ideal thing that happened all week was that Sophia found a spider in her room that was the size of a small dog and “meaty.” She wanted me to kill it but seriously? No Freaking Way. I wouldn’t leave my bedroom until it was taken care of. Once you see something like that you can’t un-see it. And here’s the thing. I was 19 when I started killing my own spiders, so I told her this was a growth opportunity and wished her Godspeed. So she and her friend went back into the room with a can of Raid and after several minutes of blood-curdling screams and loud banging noises, they came out red-faced and wild-eyed like they’d seen actual combat. Adulting is hard! To make up for it, we did a wee bit of shopping.
*It’s been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, my hometown, out on the edge of the prairie. If you know, you know.
Murmur. Nice gift shop with locally made jewellery, decor, journals and more.
Monop’ (It’s like a French target!)
Try the little shops along Rue Sainte-Claire… Yes, they are touristy and hit-or-miss, but sometimes I get lucky. I found a gorgeous block print dress that I plan to live in all spring. And the hat store is always popular with our guests.
Skip the Centre Commercial and instead walk to Galleries Lafayette. There are several boutiques and pop-ups that circle the department store - plus a few good casual eating spots - and a climbing gym!
Haven: An excellent Ausie brunch place.
Auberge du Lyonnais: Make reservations - good for a nice night out.
La Bastille: See above photo - overlooks the canal and the old prison. Serves all the Savoyard specialities + pizza. Something for everyone!
Chez Ingalls: A traditional French restaurant bizarrely inspired by Little House on the Prairie. It sounds weird but it’s surprisingly elegant and the food is good!
L’Atlas: Best for sitting outside and enjoying lunch on a sunny day. Order the salad chèvre chaud and a glass of rosé.
For next time you see a spider in France at night just say: “araignée du soir, espoir”. The meaning is a spider that walks quietly at dusk is relaxed and brings hope! NB: Doesn’t apply to spiders in other countries apparently. Will save these tips for our next trip there! Sending light from a bullet train to Tokyo.