DIARY OF A STUDENT IN ANNECY, FRANCE

To write about a trip that probably marks the best time of my life is a difficult task to undertake. There’s a lot to say. Alas (insert dramatic pause here). I have a word limit to be mindful of. So to cut a long story short, my student exchange trip to Annecy France was a dream. My parents would call it an ‘’expensive’’ dream, but then all good things come at a price. In this case, at a slightly higher price!

Where, How, When, Why

France. The French food, the accent, the people (uh.. just the French boys) and the whole idea of going on a 10 day trip with your school friends without adult supervision (one teacher doesn’t really count, does it). Need I say more?

It was in the summer of 2012 and the school had organized their very first student exchange program to France. While we all had our hearts set on Paris, we discovered that we were bound for Annecy le Vieux, a commune in the Rhône-Alps region, in the south-east of France.

Few Ways To Get There

Student Tip: Train passes are quite expensive from a pocket money point of view. So if going out of Annecy le Vieux, take the bus. The tickets are inexpensive and the roads are beautiful; the best part being - no potholes!

Visiting À Annecy Le Vieux

Being on an exchange program, we were staying at our French counterparts’ homes, so our stay was different yet felt like home. However, as a tourist one can find many hotels in and around this small city such as Le Marina Bay, Hôtel le Flamboyant, Auberge d’Argonay and Hôtel de Bonlieu. The town is rich in history. Being colonized by Rome, Annecy has several towering Roman style villas lining the outskirts, remarkable churches and gorgeous art museums.

Places to Visit And Things To Do

• Lac D’Annecy: It’s the most famous lake in Annecy, surrounded by the Swiss Alps and natural greenery all around. While my friends and I went pedal boating (pedalo), there is a cruise you can take to explore the vicinity. Also, indulging in paragliding wouldn’t be a bad idea for all those yearning for a little adventure.

Student Tip: Brush up your swimming skills beforehand. You never know which one of your friends might push you into the lake!

• Chamonix-Mont Blanc: Drive up to Chamonix, another commune in this Rhone Alps region. Also, the site for the first winter Olympics. A skier’s delight, this place is picturesque with its snowcapped peaks. Indoor cafés provide those much needed cups of hot chocolate and crêpes, a kind of solace in that cold weather. Shopping nearby for souvenirs is easy with several stores around.

Student Tip: Carry an umbrella, unpredictable rainfall is a regular occurrence here. If you don’t like art and museums, the crystal museum tour here will not be interesting. Go shopping and eat at the lovely crêperies instead!

•Beach Annecy le Vieux: Facing Lac D’Annecy, this beach is perfect to relax, have a picnic, get a tan, play or just sit and eat some delicious French ice-cream!

•A Walk in the hills: Mount Rampon and Mount Veyrier are a few peaks there. We trekked and had lovely picnics up on the hills.

•Lyon: A four drive from Annecy, Lyon is a beautiful city. With those typical French narrow lanes and tiny cafes, it wins you over almost instantly. Although I could spend only one day there, I feel you need a minimum of two days to do justice to Lyon. Visit the many museums and churches, Basilica of Notre Dame De Fouvrière being the most well-known. The famous Théâtre de Guignol is a famous puppet show en Français and if you’re lucky you can get clicked with the puppets!

•Geneva: Half an hour away, you can explore the rich and elegant city of Geneva. The Geneva Lake and the UN building is a great place to visit and pick up souvenirs.

•Games and fun: Bowling, ice skating, tree top climbing and mini golf at the ‘’Lake Annecy Station Roller’’ - we had much to do!

Shopping

Something that truly gives meaning to a girl’s life.

While H&M, Zara, Bershka and New look are brands available in Annecy and the Lyon malls, there are smaller stores in the Annecy town such as Pimkies, Why Not, Jennyfer and La chaise longue that are a pleasant surprise!

Student Tip: Head to the smaller stores; especially Pimkies and Why not. The clothes and shoes are definitely worth buying and not as expensive as the high street brands. I have shopping bags to prove it!

Bon appétit

Restaurants are plenty; you may even find a few Indian ones as well. While L’escargots and hors d’oeuvres are the clichéd fancy French dishes, head to the small eateries instead. The street side cafés serve delicious food. While you have your usual McDonalds and Subway, there’s also another fast food joint called Quick that has the best burgers in town!

Student Tip: The street side cafés are again, a pleasant surprise and not as expensive. The must try’s would definitely be the crêpes (yum) and the surprise package of Doner kebabs from Istanbul Doner in the main town market. Of course, French cheese with freshly baked French baguette cannot be ignored. Camembert, Brie, La Fromage Bleu - you have to try it all! 

While I left France with a heavy heart (and a not so heavy wallet), I smiled at the great experience I had had in this lovely town called Annecy le Vieux. I was leaving with tons of pictures and memories permanently etched in my mind.

I now sign off with certainty that you’re logging onto MakeMyTrip to book the next flight there...

P.S: Carry your camera! It’s a beautiful town that needs to be clicked!

P.P.S: Brush up some basic French. Even if you can’t communicate much, you still feel cool saying it.

BON VOYAGE!