Up through the canals and into the castle: Annecy

After class, and if there isn't a cultural activity, I take my bike and go down to the old part of town. It takes me about 20 minutes to make it there as I am living in Annecy -Le Vieux, an adjoining town to Annecy.
In my last visit I ended up in the castle and went through a little visit. Admission is 5 euros, but as a student. you pay half. To my surprise, the castle is used as a cultural exhibit and also performances.In spite of this you were still able to imaging the place without the modern art and other historical exhibits. At the top, where the entrance to the castle lays, there is a very quaint bed and breakfast hotel that overlooks the town and the castle. For those of you interested in visiting Annecy, found out that you can spend the night for only 80 euros, which is inexpensive when you see the location.
Through the streets and canals I later
ended up at the jail, which is of a triangular shape and surrounded by water on two sides.
Cafes, ice-cream shops, bakeries galore and all kinds of restaurants can be found throughout the city. Truly it is a town to walk and enjoy.

It's market day in Annecy!!

Every Saturday an outdoor market is set up in downtown Annecy. Like many other towns throughout Europe, the weekend is the time where you can find fresh produce and homemade goods, at very economical prices.
Annecy is located in the Rhone Alps and High Savoy. It's one of the more beautiful areas of France with its scenic views of the Alps, lakes and meadows filled with lavender. Because of its pastures and good soil a wide variety of cheese and sausages are produced in this area along with a good selection of fruits and vegetables.
I found that all kinds of berries grow here and are used very much so in their desserts and bakery. You will find bakeries filled with pastries made with blueberries ( Myrtilles) also currants (groseilles) are a favorite. I took a stroll one Saturday and took some photos of some produce that I found interesting and beautiful! Enjoy!!!!

A French picnic ( A pique nique )

The school had an activity where we were exposed to a French picnic out in the park, by Lake Annecy. We had baguettes filled with different kinds of cheese and different kinds of cured hams from this region. It was accompanied by tomatoes, apricots, radishes and lots of French yogurt and a wide selection of juice and wine.
After the picnic, the teachers had prepared an activity in which we had to approach different persons at the park in French and asked them to tell us about different "argot" words we had been given as a homework. It was a fun and practical experience!
Here some French expressions about food.

La Gastronomie: quelques expressions

Avoir l'estomac dans les talons. To be very hungry.
Boire comme un trou. To drink much.

Se taper la cloche. To eat well at a restaurant.

A cheese farm at the French Alps

The school of Cilfa took the student body last week to a cheese farm up in the mountains of this region, very close to the Plateau of Glieres. After enjoying a typical meal of this area, we walked to the farm of a couple who owns 45 hectares of land. For those of you who are not use to talking about this measurement, I did a little research and found that back in 1795, the French Revolutionary government established the metric system. One hectare is 10,000 square meters or 1 hectare is equivalent to 2.47 acres. In Europe this measurement is used normally when people talk about land they have purchased.
The cheese farm has 50 cows, with three different cows in other to make the cheese. The three types of cows are: Tarine, Abondance, and Monbeliande.
The owners produce two different kinds of cheese: Tombe of Bauges (one and
half month to be ready to
consume) Reblochon of Savoie ( three weeks only to be ready).
The couple alone take care of everything. It is a 365 days of work, which they amusingly referred to as, two heads, four hands, twenty fingers, (deux têtes, quatre mains, et vingt
) all done by husband and wife.
They explained to us that of the 50 cows, 36 are milked at a time as a cow need two months to rest, so they alternate to allow this time. Each day one cow will produce an average of 21 liters of milk, the high amount being 34 liters. They use an automated machine to milk them which takes four minutes to milk each cow. Not bad, I think!!!!
In total, the farm produces 27 tones of cheese a year, all sold to local companies that later end up in the different supermarkets of France.
I have stated both types of cheese and have to say that the Rebochon is a very mild, creamy but yet with the aroma of fresh tasting milk. Very good to eat as is with some fresh bread or also to melt. The Tome is a little more solid and mature but yet it is still mild in flavor. I would say that you can really taste the freshness of the milk in both cheese. As I have visited the local supermarkets and saw the vast quantity of cheese you can find, I am astonished to see that cheese. Is extremely economical here and a must to taste the different kinds if you visit this area.
Finally, the farm has four months of residing in the high plateau, May to end of September, in which the cows have the chance to savor the pasture in the high altitudes. In the end of September, they are taken down to the valley to spend the cold months in the other farm that this French couple have. Truly, I must say that if you like solitude, nature and yes cows and milk this is the life!!!

Thanks to Fund for Teachers

Here in Annecy, in front of my residence, studying and learning the French culture and language. Every morning, I study at Cilfa for 4 hours of French language and culture. Each week we have one or two activities with the whole school where we are able to become familiar with French culture and life.