Chamonix 6/28/24

My first leg of the journey was a small bus. Unfortunately, I missed my first train by two minutes because the bus was late.  In all fairness, I only had a ten-minute window to catch the first of four trains.  It really wasn't that big a deal.  I just had to wait an hour.

I had a thirty-minute wait at the next station, and I quickly grabbed some lunch to take with me.  This pizza-like thing was MEH.

But this apricot dessert was really good - layers of crunchy pastry with an apricot filling.  

I was across the aisle from a nut case on my next train ride.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a nut magnate.  This woman started having a hissy fit, banging her head against the seat cushion, screaming, and stomping her feet.  The attendant managed to calm her down but she was scaring some of the passengers.

The Mont-Blanc Express had just four cars, and I have never been on a train with problems. We stopped for about 15 minutes, and the conductor announced that the train had some engine issues. I was expecting to be left to walk to the next station. Finally, he got it moving again. We went straight up and over the Alps.  I kept thinking of "The Little Engine That Could."

Scenes from the train.

I got into Chamonix at about 4:30 and then spent an hour looking for my hotel.

I had dinner included tonight. The following two nights, I am on my own. And what a fabulous French meal it was. I started with the sweetest cantaloupe imaginable, some prosciutto, and soft goat cheese.

This was the best Risotto I have ever had. Truthfully, I have been kind of burned out on Risotto, but this was melt-in-your-mouth, buttery, rich, luscious, and incredibly delicious. It had crab, lobster, shrimp, and—of all things—blueberries.  Surprisingly, those few blueberries gave just the right acidic balance. I think I am ruined forever because no Risotto will ever compare.

The photo of my dessert makes it look like a baked potato with sour cream.  Oh, no!  It was a dense chocolate cake, similar to a lava cake without the volcano. The ice cream was more exciting than just any ol' vanilla, but I can't quite wrap my tongue around why it was different.  Instead of whipped cream, they served me a swirl of chocolate mousse.

I am pretty pooped after a full day of travel, so I will say goodnight.  Don't expect to hear too much for the next two days because I won't start the second half of my hike until then.