Angels Everywhere @ Paris!

My trip to Switzerland was a lovely spin to hang out with a family in Geneva, Martigny, and Valais followed by a week-long stay at a 4-star luxury hotel in a Left Bank neighborhood in Paris to celebrate my 63rd birthday.

GENEVA & MARTIGNY, VALAIS (5-DAY)

Hanging out together with a 3-generation Swiss family (Jenelle, Loney, and Stanislas) was so relaxing…thermal hot spring soaks, bike riding, attending cow fighting contests, and just plain old catching up!

Cow Fighting Contests?!  The centuries-old tradition: Combat de Reines (Battle of the Queens) take place regionally and nationally throughout the Valais each spring, where the female Hérens (a small, horned alpine breed of cattle weighing up to a whopping 1300lbs!) fight each other for supremacy.  The territorial cows mostly lock horns and push each other with their foreheads, until one of them turns around and walk away, accepting defeat -no physical harm here.  These queens take part in competitions leading to the Final that we attended in Aproz near Sion (capital of the canton of Valais).

Massive shining black beasts snort, paw the ground, daring challengers to approach, until a pair locks horns. Hand tooled decorative collars dangle a large traditional bell… jangling frantically as they engage. The crowned Queen of the queens will achieve fame in the canton but also across the nation.  Fueled by local wine and raclette, the locals sure know how to have a great time!

JENELLE PETTING ONE OF MANY QUEENS

PARIS (7-DAY)

Alas, on the day of my 63rd birthday, a 3hr TGV high-speed train ride, from Geneva to Paris, was unexpectedly canceled due to a French rail strike.  Alternatively, a nine-hour bus ride delivered me exhausted to the Artus Hôtel…just before midnight.  The ride was surprisingly comfortable and relaxing with wonderful views along rolling French villages and some picturesque rest stops along the way.

The Artus Hôtel is in in the heart of St Germain, the 6th arrondissement of Paris. It was a delightful centralized area filled with bohemian cafes, excellent restaurants and out-of-this-world delectable bakeries – all within enchanting walking distance to murals, statues, and many other artistic installations among many historic landmarks and world-class museums.

A LONG WALK ON ONE STREET – Arc de Triomphe, Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, and Grande Arche de la Defense

MY FAVORITE GALS OF THE DAY

Hiking View of Aguille du Grépon (12600ft) in Chamonix, France

After marvelous Seville, wonderful Madrid, and the uplifting 200 mile Primitivo Santiago de Compestela hike, I was ready to finish off Spain with a stay in Barcelona followed by hopefully a mellow shoulder season in France: Montipellier, Grenoble, and Chamonix.

BARCELONA (3-DAYS)

In the midst of amazing drifts of fresh hot food smells, easy mass transportation, and great neighborhood walkability, I joined the tourist hordes and walked well beyond what my still blistered toes needed…

GAUDI’S LA SAGRADA FAMILIAGAUDI’S CASA BATLLO

BARRIO GOTICO- A Gothic Quarter neighborhood dates back to Roman and medieval times.

MAGIC FOUNTAIN OF MONTJUÏC – First sprouted, 1929; a spectacular display of color, light and dancing water acrobatics to musical accompaniment.

MONTPELLIER (4-DAYS)

My toes got a break with a deep bath tub and Montpellier was slower and quieter with way fewer tourists. Lots of nice places to relax and get off my feet!

Montipellier folks have a lot of pride in their Gothic Cathedrale Sainte-Pierre, distinguished by conical towers, dating to 1364, and their SIX major academic institutions.  One of the oldest Universities in the world, the University of Montpellier was founded in 1160.  In 1289, when the last Crusader States and the Crusades were defeated, the oldest medical university was founded and is still in operation.

Warm and friendly locals and wonderful meals within the Spanish, Moroccan, Algerian, and Italian communities of Montpellier provided a healing respite for my tired body.

UNIVERSITY OF MONTPELLIER – Ancient surgical instruments with instruction 

GRENOBLE (3-DAYS)

At the foot of the French Alps where two major rivers (the Drac & Isere) merge, there were few tourists allowing me to embrace locals and their favorite local bars and restaurants…and especially appreciated after trail jogging with a few up in the Alps!

CHAMONIX (4-DAYS)

Even fewer tourists were evident here allowing me to hike several times to the Alps and glaciers. Unfortunately, the trolley to Mont Blanc was closed due to the weather on that mountain so I missed a great hiking opportunity. What a sweet ending to languish in a hot tub at the base of the mountains…as the weather lowered AFTER my hike!