STAR ANNECY

The occupants of the five vans that arrived just before midnight are all up early and gathered talking loudly in the car park this morning.  We service the vans and head for Annecy, stopping for fuel on the way.  Traffic is busy and aggressive but we find the large open car park in front of the Basilique.  NW goes on the motorbike while Ali Nick and Grete head down the steep roads to the old town.  We are amazed by the number of flower borders still in bloom as we make our way to the edge of Lake Annecy and meet Nick W.
Crossing the road brings us to the first of numerous little bridges that span the canal, all decorated with iron railings and flowers.  Pastel coloured buildings with shutters and bright awnings and tables and chairs line the pedestrianised area of the town as the restaurants prepare for service.  We find a table at a restaurant opposite the island and enjoy various salads and a bottle of rosé, which N+G insist is their treat.  Nearby the market is finishing and one by one white panel vans squeeze under an archway to load their stalls.
The old town is so picturesque; archways, narrow passages, crystal clear water in the canal, iron balconies and heavy stone construction around doorways.  Walls are plastered in ochres and pale greens and windows are geometrically and uniformly spaced.  Arcades shelter ice cream shops and souvenir shops.  After wandering around together for a bit, N+G  go their separate way and we agree to meet later.
It’s late season and nowhere is crowded or bustled like it must be in high summer.
We’ve wanted to visit Annecy for a long time and it’s one of those places that exceeds it picture postcard image.
Later we climb the steep hill to the imposing white stone chateau but the cobbled courtyard deters us from buying tickets to go in so we teeter our way back down the hill and go out to the lakeside.
As before, postcards don’t do it justice.  A range of high jagged mountains - white stone and green coverage - provides a backdrop to the turquoise lake.  Boats of every description flit across its surface, adding colour and movement, while others are tied alongside the promenade waiting for sightseers to board them.  None appear accessible.
The park is shaded by mature trees and most of the flowerbeds are finished but scores of people lounge on the benches and grass.  We meet N+G in the park and head back to town for ice creams, enormous and delicious!
By late afternoon the terraces are busy with people eating, drinking or having ice cream.  Ali and Grete visit a patisserie for some bread and nibbles for this evening, before we wend our way up the hills to the Basilique.
An English couple from Salisbury have parked beside us and we chat and exchange travel info.