The Mont Blanc experience:episode 2

A visit to Chamonix, the Alpine capital.




Starting from our lodge in Argentiere, a Chamonix village 8 km away from town. In order to go to Chamonix there are buses, which had a small screen showing not only the schedule but the weather report as well! I have never seen something like that. And there is the (for me) more attractive possibility of catching the train, almost acrosss the street from our lodge.

The train is also called the "Mont Blanc Expresss". It is a 15-min ride enjoying the sightseeing. Nice chalets and cottages along the way. And then we were in Chamonix! the lovely town right at the bottom of the Mont Blanc , with all the charm of an authentic mountain town, unlike modern winter sports resorts. Chamonix was the host of the first Winter Olympics in 1924.

This is the view to your left after walking straight from the train station, which is right in the middle of everything. I specially like the fact that the community has kept its original buildings. It certainly looks a lot nicer with blue skies and sunshine, but those days were selected for skiing, not walking! These pics were all taken around 6pm.

The above picture shows you the square Place Balmate, the traditional fountain which is right behind the lady in yellow and it marks the town center! Loved the building to the right, reminded me of the Gaudi buildings in Barcelona.


Now you are looking at the way we came from, right at the Place Balmatee.

And the pedestrian zone to the right of the prior picture , rue du Dr. Paccard : creperies, restaurants, all kinds of boutiques and a wide variety of small shops. Just my kind of street... Mr. Balmat and Dr. Paccard were the first ones to ever ascend the Mount Blanc in 1786. Now you know it! And I do too, after watching a film about the "Mont Blanc stars", pioneers who climbed the mountain way back then. And the ladies with proper long skirts! how uncomfortable but how brave to have done that. I myself don't have that adventurous spirit, I'd rather watch (and applaude) people who are like that.




And before we returned to the train station I was able to capture a pic of the carriage as it arrived . A few minutes later you couldn't even see the horse, it was surrounded by tourists! Yes, all those tourists! (lol). Kept hearing different languages, some of them absolutely a puzzle from me. And there were even French tourists among them! Many carrying their skis/snow boards returning home after a tirening but fun day, others like us that day just enjoying a late-afternoon walk in this precious town.



Next stop: the real Mont Blanc experience- the White Valley. This coming weekend. Be here!

other links:
here,
webcams, googlism,
Olympic Games 1924