Today we will drive through the Alps on our way to Turin, Italy. We are excited to finally leave France and see something new. We also decide to drive an extra hour to visit Geneva for lunch. The Alps don’t let us down; they’re everything we ever expected.

Getting out of Lyon is a mess because they have several major streets closed. I suppose they do these things while residents are vacationing.
Crossing into Switzerland, someone directs us to pull over. I assume they want to check the car or something. Instead, the man asks for 40 Euros and puts a sticker on our car. Okay. We drive to a fondue place we read about in NYT’s 36 Hours. It’s next door to the church we want to visit also.

Our GPS directs us up a hill that has numerous signs, all seeming to say don’t drive here. But we can’t seem to find another way up, so when I see another car go up there, I urge Stefan to just go for it. After driving on streets that seem like walking streets, we find a place to park. Awesome.
The fondue place has a nice patio, and we immediately order some fondue. First round we get it with wild mushrooms and bacon. My parents show up right as it’s delivered to the table. So so good. Next round we get it with mushrooms. The kids aren’t interested, which really surprises me. Oh well, more for us! I’d recommend this place for fondue, but I have to warn that their bottles of water are 14 Euros each! And when we asked for lemonade, a treat the kids had enjoyed in France, they brought Sprite. So yes to the food, but no to the drinks. Settle for only tap water to avoid the ridiculous prices.

After lunch we walk a block to the church, passing some old canons the kids treat like a playground. The church is very pretty.

Then we pay to go in the museum underneath the church. Basically, this church was built on another church that was built on another church and so on. The archaeological finds are really cool, but the audio guide and/or signs could be better to understand everything. We see old baptisms and a mosaic tiled floor. Then Lillian has to pee.

It’s raining slightly, so we aren’t sure how much time we’ll spend walking around the city. We pass by the cars to pay again (90 min limits) and head down to the lake. We pass a lot of shops on the way. Even the McDonald’s looks fancy.

From the lake, we get a great view of the jet d’eau (a super high fountain) and then head back toward the car as the rain picks up.
Of course we have to stop and purchase some Swiss chocolate. I checked all my Switzerland boxes: lake, fondue and chocolate. Done. But wow this place is expensive. Let’s get out of here.

//Stefan Note: Not the most fun city and everything cost to much money.  I had to by a 40 EUR sticker to drive in the city for 2 hours.

//Stefan Note: Keeping her together with glue and tape and hope and fear

Now we are driving through the Alps. We go through a system of tunnels, and in between we get incredible views.

After an hour and a half, we stop in Chamonix, a place my dad skied in high school. It’s crazy busy! I can’t believe how many people there are! We find a parking spot and walk around town. There’s a cute waffle stand, and we have to stop! The views from here are amazing. There are glaciers on the mountains, and just the look of the suspended gondolas makes me shudder.

Grandpa notes> Seeing Mont Blanc up close and stopping in Chamonix were a high point for me, even with the clouds and drizzle. I went to Swiss boarding school in the early 70’s and am always excited to get back. The majesty of the Alps cannot be exaggerated.

//Stefan Note and Pic: Sitting in traffic at 1500M about to enter the most expensive tunnel ever to get to italia, passstaa FFFAAZZULLL!!

//Grandpa notes: Almost a 45 minute delay to get into the tunnel for no apparent reason.

//Grandpa notes:  I often let my feet air out one at a time.  If I had both shoes off they might have made me leave the room,

When we drive into Turin, we are a bit suspicious of our time here. The neighborhoods don’t look very nice, and there are even many bus/train stations that look shuttered. It’s sad. Then we turn a corner, and we’re in the old town. The streets are narrow and filled with people meandering between cafes. It’s lovely. But what a transition.

We park the car outside our apartment and unload, then our host shows the guys where to park the cars. Our Airbnb is huge. The living space is very big, and the modern kitchen seems well-equipped. There are three large bedrooms and bathrooms. It feels good to stretch out into this much space. The little balcony off the kitchen has a beautiful view of the surrounding rooftops. We all immediately love this place.

I quickly make some pasta so we can get the kids fed and to bed as quickly as possible. It’s not the most enticing meal for our first one in Italy, but it has to be done.

It’s hot. Really hot. There’s not air conditioning (not a surprise for Europe), but we can’t find any fans either. We must sleep with the windows open, and the noise from the train and people outside is enormous. I don’t think anyone sleeps well. For me, it’s my worst night of sleep yet on this trip. Yuck.

//Grandpa notes: The place is amazing.  If only there was not a train running through our bedroom.