Spending a day up here, walking through fields of green over cowtrails, and meeting a farmer who makes the famous Plaisentif cheese, (only available after Sept 21, but we got it early), and having lunch in a mountain hut. It was a day of Alpine smells, tastes and views. Then […]
Before we left on the trip, I had heard about Eataly, one of our stops here in Torino. I was not prepared to love it as much as I did, since this place has more foodie cred than anywhere I’ve ever been. It’s a cavernous building, about the size of […]
We left France early and drove through the 11 km Mt Blanc tunnel, and it was sunny as we drove the winding road to Torino. This is a delightful city, about 900,000 inhabitants, settled 2000 years ago, and full of porticoes, students and wide open piazzas. Carol our guide pointed […]
This is much steeper than it looks! After watching these ice hikers, we went back down and ran to catch a train. It was the cog mountain railway that took us up a steep grade to the other side of the mountain, to the Mer de Glace. Chamonix, we learned […]
Today I was humbled by the towering edifices which nature has plunked down here in Northwestern France. We got up early and drove to the famous ski town of Chamonix. Our destination was that big ole mountain we saw from the air yesterday: Mount Blanc. In front of the cable […]
There was a telling moment as we were touring a chalet at La Ferme de Marie, an upscale hotel chain with outposts here in Megeve, Province, Lyon and other French cities. Our tour guide was showing us the upstairs bedroom of a beautiful large wooden beamed chalet that was available […]
After a hike in the clean Alpine air, strolling up through the mountains outside of Megeve, we all felt renewed and refreshed. We were relaxed and happy…so what else but to have another giant meal? No, this one wasn’t as spectacular, just the usual two courses and wine, and we […]
I awoke to a totally darkened room here in my luxury off-season room in Chalet Alice. What gives? Try as I might, I see no way to lift up these metal shades that have clamped down, blocking my Alpine view. Whoa, it’s like a very well-appointed prison, no way to […]
We visited the cellar at this Relais and Chateau property, Domain du Mont d’Arbois in Megev, and I asked if he had any Romanee Conte. “Oh yes,” said Francois, “more than a few cases.” This wine is the ultimate treasure for wine lovers. It’s so rare and is only made […]
This goes out to anyone who has ever been on a press trip. You know the suffering. The madness. The ‘it’s already time to eat? We just had lunch’ feeling you sometimes get when your hosts want you to sample their cuisine and pile it on. I’m sure I’ll get […]
I tried writing this post on my cute new iPhone. But it was useless, I really can’t write anything more than a few words with that absurdly small keyboard, even though the letters do conveniently jump up and enlarge themselves for you. One would have to have the slenderest of […]
