Now you can click on these maps.

 Back to France 2006

(click on pictures)

Some Pics from Digne to Grenoble

Oct 13      Digne to Grenoble  

Chamonix is not an easy place to get to; at least not from Digne. I figure Grenoble is about half way although it is a little of course, but I wanted to see it.  I  changed buses once in Veynes. (There were no trains to Grenoble.) The ride was very smooth and both buses were almost empty. The drive from Veynes was through some spectacular scenery; along a valley with mountains and cliffs rising up thousands of  feet on both sides, making the little villages at the bottom of the cliffs look miniscule. When I got to Grenoble, I wasn't at all impressed. It seemed to me like just another big city. But after I checked into a hotel two blocks from the bus/train station, and wandered to old town, and saw all the very early 19th century buildings juxtaposed against the towering mountains, I had a different impression. The town is not nearly as busy as Paris, and I always felt safe walking the 8 or so blocks to old town, even at night. The meals are less expensive here than in Nice, and I treated myself to a movie at one of the local cines. I saw "Friends With Money." It cost about 9 American Dollars. At most of the theaters I've been to in France, English speaking movies are usually shown in 'version original.' They're shown with the original English language, but with French subtitles. The French are notorious movie buffs, and they like to see the movies they way they were meant to be shown. Watching an English movie with French subtitles is also a good way to learn a little French.

My hotel is quite nice, and the owners are especially nice. It's called Hotel Institut. I believe there's a university nearby. I would stay here another day but the weather forecast for Chamonix calls for cooler weather (in the 50s) beginning late Wednesday, so I'm going to take the 0739 train to Chamonix with a change of trains in Aix Les Bains and St Gervais. I told you it wasn't going to be easy. The distance is probably 80  miles, but the traveling time tomorrow will be over 6 hours. I don't mind. I've got two stops with an hour wait each. I'm sure it will be a good sightseeing trip. I should be entering the real Alps tomorrow. The ticket to Chamonix cost 30 euros, which is about 38 American dollars.

Before I left Digne, I walked through the town one last time, and a pair of reporters stopped me to interview me about the 50 kph speed limit in small towns. They felt it was too high.  I guess I looked like a French person. During their questioning, a man with a wheelchair wheeled by, and they stopped their unimportant interview with me to interview him. The audio of our conversation is on the right near the picture of the reporters talking to the man in the wheelchair. This is a good example of how friendly and helpful the people are. Leo is right behind Veronique. He's holding the camera. He's not the guy in the wheelchair.

I spent today, Friday the 13th, at the train station, and climbing up the Bastille fort that towers 1,000 feet over the city. Here's a link to it. www.bastille-grenoble.com. I noticed the English language button on it does not work so you will have to use your imagination on the translation. Sorry I'm not putting in more text, today, but perhaps you're just tuning in for the pictures anyway.  I do have a few things to say, but I've got to go get something to eat, then try and get some sleep for my 6 a.m. wake up tomorrow.

Paul Ogier

Email

Email me if you have any suggestions or requests

Link to Yoga

Link to Viv's English Flat

Grenoble: Climbing Up to the Bastille          

Bastille Over Grenoble	Bastille
About 900 ft	Above the City
The Bubbles	Closer Up
I Rode One Down	The Climb
Was Not Easy	The Bastille Again
Une Peejune