One of the coolest things about Annecy is that even though it is in France, it is only about an hour from Italy and an hour from Switzerland.  So be prepared for an enchanting mixture of French, Italian, and Swiss architecture and food…think the fabulous combination of crepes, gelato, and fondue!

We had a great apartment that was only a 5 minute walk from the gorgeous old town!  Once we settled in to our apartment we set out to explore and familiarize ourselves with the old town in search of some dinner and dessert before heading back to do some much needed laundry ;).

The next morning we set out for our day of adventure!  After enjoying a delicious crepe for breakfast, we explored the old town and took a long stroll around Lake Annecy…aka the incredibly bright blue lake in any picture you see of Annecy!  Be sure to check out the twisting streets and canals, fully loaded with shops selling locally made clothing, beauty products, baked goods, gelato, and glazed pottery!

Honestly after our insanely packed schedule in Ireland it was great to simply walk around such a peaceful and warm little town.  I would be lying if I said we didn’t eat copious amounts of gelato whilst exploring :).  I have to make a recommendation for dinner…a little fondue restaurant called Restaurant L’Etage…oh.my.word…this place was amazing!!! We ordered truffle fondue which came in wheel form accompanied by an official “melter”.  I think that when I die and go to heaven, this is the food that will be provided!

On our last morning after grabbing a quick cappuccino and pastry, we caught the late morning train to Paris which took about 4 hours.  In all of our European travels, we have found that making the effort to spend a day or 2 in a place that caters to slowing down is essential.  With packed schedules, culture overload, and travel hiccups, slowing down is an absolute must for good attitudes and an enjoyable trip.  After all that relaxation under our belts, we were ready to take on Paris!