Bonjour! We have made it to France! Land of pastries and turtlenecks (if you’ve seen The Book of Mormon you may recognize that wonderful line)! We flew from Dublin to Geneva, Switzerland, and then drove the hour south down to Chamonix. I knew instantly that Chamonix was something special. Solidified how much I just want to travel through cute towns in the Alps for an entire month. If you are a nature enthusiast or love spending time hiking/skiing/etc then this is the town for you. It’s one of the most charming destinations I’ve ever been to. Not only is it naturally beautiful, but the town is also incredibly welcoming and has streets filled with cute shops, restaurants, and some incredible patisseries. Plus fondue and raclette galore.
Another reason I fell in love with this town is I got to celebrate my 26th birthday there. Who doesn’t want to celebrate their birthday in France? One of the main things to do in Chamonix is to take one of the many Gondolas throughout the city and take in the views. We took the tram up to the top of the Aiguille du Midi and we were able to walk through the mountain and see views of Mont Blanc. From the tram, you can either take the tram back down or hike/ski down depending on the season. You also can take a Gondola over to Italy if you desire. Just jump from country to country. Another great half-day activity is taking a train from the city center to the Mer de Glace glacier and walking through the glacier. It is about four flights of stairs down so definitely a heads up about that or you may find yourself being overtaken by a children’s field trip (not speaking from personal experience at all).
From Chamonix, we headed back to Geneva (need to get back there immediately) and took a train to Paris. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a city hosting the Olympics and it was an experience for both good and bad. It was so fun seeing the different arenas throughout the city but man does it cause an issue getting around. And the Olympics weren’t even happening for another month! Lots of the main tourist attractions were closed off or had limited access to. Talked with a native Parisian and he said that come next month most of the locals would be leaving the city to avoid the crowds. Very fair. Though it would be super cool to watch an event happen right under the Eiffel Tower.
Paris is a very walkable city in my opinion. We stayed in the 6th Arrondissement and I would definitely recommend this neighborhood. It doesn’t feel super touristy especially as there are multiple embassies located around the neighborhood. It was about a 25-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower and 40 from the Louvre and Notre Dame. The Rue Cler, on your way to the Eiffel Tower, has some incredible restaurants, and would highly recommend making way over for some delicious food. I would also highly recommend getting over to the Montmartre neighborhood. It has a stunning basilica that you can sit through a mass if you desire (or if your 80-year-old grandmother desires and you are just making her happy). Good vibes all around.
Too soon we were finding ourselves packing up and getting ready for a nine-hour flight home. It was a definite whirlwind of a trip. Feels like Killarney was weeks ago. Already looking forward to my next trip across the pond. Where to next?
Jusqu’à la Prochaine Fois,
The Library Abroad
Hotels:
https://morgane-hotel-chamonix.com/en/?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=gmb-main
https://www.hoteldevarenne.com/
Food Recommendations:
Le Fournil Chamoniard (Bakery in Chamonix)
https://www.cafecentralruecler.com/
https://www.davoli.fr/content/14-nos-specialites-du-caffe-ristorante
The Library Abroad 
I’m glad to see The Library Abroad back
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