Grenoble and Le Glacier Des Bossons

Because my father's last text message said "Love you. Don't forget about your blog," here is round two.

For the past two days, I have been in Grenoble, a town in the French Alps famous for La Bastille and for having two universities renown for science and research. When we got there yesterday, Lila and I were quite tired so we spent a good hour just sitting in a park people watching, which has become one of our favorite things to do in French cities. The people are usually very attractive and well-dressed so obviously interesting. While it inspires, it also makes us reconsider all past fashion choices and strive to be more French in our dressing. How can one pull off skinny jeans and Nike hi-tops without looking at all like a douche bag? Go to France and so many women who will show you how.

There is lots of graffiti all around the city. There was this random sheep that was everywhere, like we saw it everywhere, but I don't know what it means or represents but it's pretty cool I suppose. The architecture is also really cool there; very French and such with the apartments above the shops with the big windows that open like in Paris. I liked Grenoble in general and felt less judged than in Paris but everyone was still you know French so therefore intimidating by birth.

We also went to La Bastille which is a fort that protected France from invasion back in the day (I feel like there is a relation to Bastille Day but that is not confirmed). To get there, you have to take cable cars and in Grenoble, they are these cute little pods that travel all together instead of being more like a ski lift. The view from the top is awesome. 

 

Two days before going to Grenoble, Lila and I went on a hike to Le Glacier des Bossons. We took a lift up so the hike was around an hour and a half. It wasn't that hard but many French hikers seem to have a penchant for jogging down the mountain so we passed many-a-jogger on our way up. I don't understand this hobby.

The view from the glacier was quite incredible. This picture is obviously Instagram-ed (it was quite a popular Insta if i do say so myself) but still shows how awesome it was. At the top there was a café with incredibly overpriced water (3 euros for a cup of Perrier) and no Diet Coke (or Coca Light) but none of that matters anyway. The view was amazing nonetheless.

France

Before Scotland, my friend Lila and I are staying in France for a couple weeks near Chamonix in the Alps. Chamonix is known for its skiing and having the highest mountain in the Alps, Mont Blanc (or "White Mountain" clearly the French didn't get very creative when naming their highest mountains) which Lila and I can see when we walk out our front door. There is snow on Mont Blanc and many of the higher mountains but its actually quite warm where we are in Les Houches, which is about 15 minutes from Chamonix. Here is the view from the front door:

It's alright. Obviously there is no skiing because there isn't snow but there is lots of hiking and climbing and super outdoorsy things. Think Colorado with classy French people who have more refined taste and aren't vegans (sorry Colorado). Two days ago we went on a two-ish hour hike to the top of the mountain that the chalet is on (so like up the hill (mountain?) behind the grassy field in the picture). We went to the part that would have been the summit had we been skiing and there was a cafe and such up there. My gluts still hurt but it was worth it. Pic:

It is basically the same view as before but higher up and on a prettier day. I don't seem to have a photo on my phone from the top because I'm not smart but I have some on my camera so stay tuned. Today we went on a hike through Les Gorges de Diosaz which is kind of like a park started by this guy, Diosaz, in 1865ish who really liked rocks and mountains (geology I suppose) and wanted everyone to enjoy it so he started a park. We went on a hike through "les gorges" which followed a stream with lots of waterfalls in the valley of two mountains. The water was glacial so we decided not to jump in even though it was oh-so-tempting. 

The waterfall looks small and I guess it kind of was but the rocks were huge. This was taken from a bridge with the waterfall pretty far under us so I don't know how to put it in scale but it was cool. 

We are in France for about another week and then we are trying to go to Amsterdam so hopefully that works out. Check my Instagram (@nancopeland. Father- instagram.com because I know you don't have one) for a more current feed and visual window (pun intended if you look at my last picture) into my travels/life.