The great thing about where we live now is the easy accessibility to many places of interest including Annecy.
I had never been to Annecy before and had heard great things. I know there is quite an expat community there and normally expats are drawn to touristy type places. Even my Mum (Grandma Piglet) knew about Annecy and had been hankering to visit it for the last couple of years, but when we were living in Lyon the long drive and battle with traffic to leave the city was off-putting for everyone.
My image of Annecy was mainly of the lake. I am drawn to lakes (water in general) so this had been my focus point, my reason to want to visit. The lake (Lac d’Annecy) is nearly 15 km’s long and 3.5 km’s wide. It is surrounded by mountains and is the second largest glacier lake in France, after nearby Lac de Bourget (near Aix les Bains).
The decision to go to Annecy was last minute. BabyPiglet had slept pretty much through the night and I had awoken that morning with plenty of energy, a rare occurrence. So I suggested to my parents and Mr Piglet that we make hay whilst the sun shines (this expression has a lot of truth in the countryside I have discovered) and head to Annecy.
Because of the last minute decision we didn’t get chance to research and we all piled into our little C4, BabyPiglet included. Thankfully we were only in the car for 45 mins before we arrived as we were squashed in like sardines!
Upon arrival in Annecy, our first thoughts were deception. Grandma Piglet began to wonder if she had imagined all the nice things she had read. The buildings were new, the architecture mediocre. As we sat in a traffic jam waiting to enter a car park we were all quite glum, no-one fancied walking around a commercial centre.
We parked easily and left the car park the opposite way to which we entered it and we were greated with Annecy’s fabulousness. It was like how I imagine Venice!
Arrival in Annecy - one of the first views we had
Medieval buildings rising out of the water, a canal like passage running through the street. All that were missing were the gondolas. The streets were buzzing with tourists and brocanteurs – an antiques fair was in full swing with ice cream eating tourists swarming around the stalls like bees around the honey pot.
Annecy - view from the lake edge
Annecy - walking along the water's edge
The outing was our first trip out with BabyPiglet so we were anxious to be comfortable and ensure she didn’t get hot, tired or hungry. Not easy for new parents with a small baby! Pretty much as soon as we arrived we stopped off at a small restaurant adjacent to the water and overlooking some really picturesque buildings. On the other side of the water canal was a hairdressers shop – we wondered how anyone could access it to have their cut.
After lunch we carried on walking around for a while, but I soon became achey and wanted to rest again. By this point we had arrived at the Lake and had spotted THE tourist trap – tour boats! Mr Piglet had passed his river and coastal boat license last year so that we never had to go on these boats again, but seeing the water, the boats and knowing that we could go on one there and then I was like a kid. A few quick checks with the company re-assured me that there was a shaded area and that we could get the pram onboard so off we set! Baby Piglet’s first boat trip!
The Tour Boat
The trip itself was a bit of a downer, the boat was packed and Baby Piglet became a tourist attraction herself. If I’d asked for a Euro for every time someone peeked over at her I would have probably have had enough to rent a private boat for a few hours. I was delighted though as she was totally unfazed about being on water as opposed to dry land and was quiet and relaxed throughout the tour.
Baby Piglet on the boat
Next time we'll rent one of these
If I win the Euromillions you may find me living around here
Afterwards, we decided it was time to head back to the car before she got tired and grumpy – the dreaded feeding marathon was approaching. Every evening from about 6pm she feeds non-stop stocking up for the night. It’s hard work but the reward is well worth it – uninterrupted night sleep for her and me!
On the walk back we couldn’t resist stopping off at one of the hundreds of ice cream parlors and each having an ice cream. There are ice cream parlors everywhere in Annecy, it was amazing. I had never seen anywhere in France with so many ice creams! Definitely not a place to go when you’re on a diet!
Once back at the car we were all tired and pleased to be on the road back to the house. Mr Piglet informed us that we’d only visited part of Annecy and that we still had the shopping area left to visit. It wasn’t possible to visit that area on the same day as we’d run out of time so we will have to plan another trip back next time my parents are over.
Thanks for the lovely photos – it’s been about 28 years since I was in Annecy on a school trip, I must go back again. When our son was a baby he too had a feeding frenzy from about 6pm then slept all night, so Baby Piglet is in good company.
Glad you liked the photos, I was snapping randomnly whenever I could. To be honest there were so many tourists it was hard to get any pics at all!
The feeding frenzy seems to have calmed down the last few days, instead she’s been waking during the night again :(
Gorgeous photos of a lovely trip. It definitely looks like my kind of place. :-) Our daughter was another evening frenzy feeder and I used to have to play read or play cards while feeding her, she took so long!
I’m usually on Twitter on my mobile during lengthy feeds as I have one hand free :)
I lived right by the lake for one summer and it truly was a lovely experience. It’s the cleanest lake in Europe, with plenty of free beaches in amongst the posh ones you have to pay for (as an Aussie, I just can’t bring myself to *pay* to go to a lake beach). Access to that hairdressers is via the main road through the old town – a massive wooden door just big enough for those tiny vans to wedge themselves through, which leads to a lovely square.
For boat rides, the smaller wooden boats provide speed and a tour guide who points out the usual stuff like the Napolean’s Hat formation and where the Salomon family live.
It must have been fab! I learned that one of the nicest beaches there is due to become “a pay to go” beach from this summer, such a shame. I can’t stand paying to go on the beach either unless I want to go to an area with loungers (which most of the time I don’t). Such a shame.
You were so lucky to have experienced living there, am very jealous! Thanks for all the tips too :)
Beautiful city! Baby Piglet darling too! We need more photos of her. She is delicious!
Thanks :)
Fantastic ! I am so glad you are up and out and traveling around !
Little Piglet looks so big, I can’t believe she has grown so much ! And she is beautiful .. give her a big kiss from me.
You made me want to go to Annecy ! and I don’t know if I had even heard of it before lol.
mil besos ~
Thanks :) The traveling and visiting part wasn’t without pain and I needed a day or two to recoup after but I enjoyed it so much.
She is huge now compared to a month ago, I am constantly in awe of how nature works and that I am nourishing this little creature.
I love Annecy. D and I went a few years ago and, as luck would have it, were in time for the winter market. It’s a beautiful city. In fact, it reminds me of Strasbourg but in miniature. In the winter it is absolutely dreamy!
Thanks for letting me know about Annecy in the winter, we’ll be sure to visit this winter. Have never been to Strasbourg so that’ll go on the list too xxx
So glad you liked Annecy…it wasn’t so touristy when I used to visit, but that was a long time ago!
When i was a student and on a budget I used to keep a bit of money aside to take a rowing boat out on the lake and just sit there enjoying it all…utter peace.
I’ll take a pic of all the ice cream stands next time and you can tell me whether they have ruined it for you or added to the charm. I totally get what you mean about the rowing boat, how I would have loved to be sitting on my tod in the middle of the water. As it was I was itching to jump in for a swim!
Lovely photo of Baby Piglet, (when next you post one could you turn it upside down to save my neck?) and the Smooth Guide to Annecy. As it is so far East of France we have never made it to visit but remember it well from a Tour de France stage held around the lake. They were sorry not to get the Winter Olympics held there (2018?) but I can imagine that some were pleased to keep such a pretty place to themselves. So glad that you had a real family day out.
noted ref pic! Don’t know why it is that way up, probably because I forgot to save it after turning it.
Yes, such a shame Annecy lost. I had a friend on the commitee and they worked so hard. He was absolutely gutted as there was only one round of voting and they lost by quite a bit. Is a shame but maybe it’s “beauty” will be preserved.
Thanks for sharing your trip. I have not been to Europe, so when I see these photos I get very excited about all the places I have to see. It looks so small and quaint, but it looks quite crowded for such a little town. Your baby is beautiful!
Thank you! It was a lovely trip and had to be shared! Yes, it was very crowded in Annecy due to the tourists. I’m keen to visit again on a sunny autumn day to see how it compares and also in the winter. Expect more photos to follow :)
Wow what a lovely place and only 45 minutes!…lucky you. :-)
Ok-you’ve convinced. I am definitely taking a road trip here! Great photos and piglet looks like she had fun, too!
I’m a bit late chiming in on this post but as someone lucky enough to live in Annecy, I have to say I’m so happy you had such a successful day trip here avec bébé! It truly is a beautiful place, even if it’s completely over-run with tourists at this time of year. Last night, mon mari & I walked down to the vielle ville for ice-cream (as we do way too often) & there were six million tourists everywhere. I couldn’t help but grumble something to the tune of, “Can’t all these people just go home??!” In a way, I think it’s a good thing that Annecy lost the 2018 Olympic bid, since it is already so well-known by both French & international tourists. I just couldn’t imagine where all the zillions of Olympic visitors would sleep/eat/park etc, as it’s already sheer madness during the summer months. But I will admit that I was a bit disappointed, as my hometown of Vancouver hosted the 2010 Games & I was far away in France while all my family & friends told me how great the atmosphere was & how many fantastic events were going on in the city.
Anyway. Do plan to come back in the fall, as it’s much less crowded & just as gorgeous here. And do let me know so that we can meet up for tea & a stroll along the lake!
I LOVE Annecy! That’s where my boyfriend is from; his parents still live there. We are about and hour 45 away. Piglet is lucky to be visiting at such a young age! She is beautiful by the way!