Chamonix

We just got back from a great trip to the French Alps. Visited Chamonix and took a cog train up the mountain to visit a famous glacier near Mount Blanc - The Sea of Ice. Very beautiful. More like a puddle of ice now though. They built a hotel at the top of the train track around 100 years ago right next to the glacier so that people could walk out on the ice. At least 40 years ago the glacier had shrank to the point where they needed to build a gondola down to it so that people could walk out on the ice. Since then, they have added 600 steps down, beyond the gondola, to reach what is left. Pretty cool to be able to go inside it, and see the bubbles of air that were formed 250 years ago,  but sad that it will likely all be gone soon.

We also left a good chunk of change at the first Patagonia store in Europe and enjoyed walking around the iconic ski town. Got lucky with some beautiful weather! The girls enjoyed their day in Chamonix, but probably had more fun just playing with some sleds on the little patch if icy, dirty snow right outside our apartment. We found a beautiful spot up in the mountains. Five minutes of walking along the stream brought us from spring back into winter. 

A five minute drive from our apartment was a great little ski hill. For our family of four, including rentals, and afternoon of skiing only cost a grand total of 82 euros. And the views were incredible! Unfortunately Matt, Claire and I all got sick, but we managed to have a lot of fun together anyway. After celebrating Claire's birthday with a special breakfast and some Uno, they packed up the car and drove back to Switzerland. The next day we went back home too. Got lucky with traffic! Good to have a weekend to decompress before getting back into school. 

Just down the street from our apartment. 

Chamonix

Downtown Chamonix.

The 'Sea of Ice'

Taken from the hotel - the top of the glacier around a century ago.

Chamonix

Chamonix

The patch of icy snow by our apartment.

Hiking up the stream.

First Patagonia store in Europe.

The cog train up the mountain.

The ice caves.

The top of the glacier in 1985.

Least expensive day of skiing ever!

Birthday Breakfast.

Ice heart.

Check out the size of those loaves on the left!