Fireworks!

I'm surrounded by fireworks! Today is La Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) in France, and all our surrounding towns have fireworks going on!

There's a video here

On top of that, I got to see the 4th of July fireworks in California! Also from a convenient window 🤣🤣🤣

The Absurd Situation

The absurd situation...

I have an air ticket from France (where I live) to the US (where my family is). I tried to upload my travel documents several weeks ago, but the website didn't accept my US passport. It is valid, but expires in 3 months, so I assume that is why it wasn't taken. So, since I also have a French passport, I used that - everything looked fine, except that I had to add a US contact (ok, I have that). And there was a note stating that I might need an ESTA (waiver for visa-free travel to the US); this would be automatically checked when I check in for the flight. But of course, a US citizen doesn't get an ESTA. And I can't check in until the day before my flight. It's recommended to use their website to confirm that I will be able to check in. I do this, uploading my US passport, and it states that travel is allowed. But there's no way to connect that determination with my booking number. I remain suspicious.

Fast forward to this week. My flight is on Tuesday, so Monday morning, I try to check in. Nope, not allowed, since I don't have an ESTA. A while later, I get an email from the airline, with a link to upload more travel documents. Great! I do that (upload my US passport, and comment that it expires in 3 months), and I get to check in. I print my boarding pass, and I go to sleep, comfortable with my ability to fly the next morning.

4 AM the next morning... I have a message saying that my flight is cancelled, and they're trying to rebook me. I'll skip all that detail, and just say that it wouldn't work. I start a chat (yay!) with the airline, and I get rebooked for 2 days later. My booking number remains the same (that's important, trust me). That's not ideal, but the best option. I confirmed that I would still be able to check in without reloading my document. "Yes" is the answer (but not really).

The next day (the day before my new flight), I try to check in online. (Drum roll)

Here's where it gets absurd.

It fails (of course). I get the same type of email as before (saying I need to upload more travel documents), I follow the link, uploaded the document again, then it days I'm all set, able to check in. But I still can't! OK, I try to re-confirm via the same link, but it won't let me edit (I'm thinking I'd add a comment), and it still says I'm all set! Apparently, the site "thinks" they've cleared my booking number for check-in, and so doesn't need to again. But the check-in site needs a new ok for the new check-in (new flight, but same booking number). Sigh.

So I try the chat route as before - no answer.

I try a different app to chat, and get the auto-guy, who's no help; he just says to check in at the airport. At this point, I just want to leave feedback... Hah!

Now, I'm really just hoping my flight tomorrow isn't cancelled, that my parking reservation isn't cancelled, and that I can finally check in at the airline counter and get to California.

Summer in Sète

It's Summer! We left a few weeks ago for the Alps, and when we returned, it was Summer! First on the ToDo list was to get the Air Conditioner (A/C) set up 🙂.

I wanted something a bit more stable this time; last year, I tried pool noodles. This time:

I kept a bit of mangled pool noodle to block the light (along with some weatherstripping (bourrelet). I originally went to the bricolage (like a Home Depot) with a list, knowing what I had done last time, and what I wanted different. Well. They no longer had what I expected. OMG. And I hadn't planned on having to figure out "something else"... After some quite time with my calculator, I took the risk, and asked for a cut (non-refundable, of course). Here's what I ended up with - excellent, by the way!

One 80x60x10 mm board cut in 4ths. I used three pieces. One end fit perfectly in the shutter groove - it blocks the shutter from coming all the way down, and closes out the morning light 

The next section bolts (flexibly) to the center section 

Then we get a bit kludgey... I used a bolt to force the shutter-stop outward, and a rubber band to pull it in enough 

Then, a *whole* lot of velcro and duct tape to seal the exhaust and sunlight 

I had an old board from before, and turned it 90°, so had a hole to plug - cardboard bolted in did a great job!

Then, I moved the light-blocking boards from last year into place

Next - a hose for draining the water...

Update! After I don't know how many false starts, I finally got a hose connected! How many false starts, you ask? 

1) tried electrical conduit (too small, returned it)

2) got a converter to screw into the A/C outlet. The other end is supposed to fit a 1/2 inch diameter garden hose. I confirmed that it fit the A/C... (OK, so this isn't technically a false start).

3) bought a "1/2 inch diameter" A/C hose. Unable to fit it to the nozzle end.

4) bought a "1/2 inch diameter" garden hose (note that here, the don't usually come with nozzles). Tried to fit it on - no!

What finally worked: I used my clothes dryer rack to hold the end of the hose, ran a hair-dryer over the end to heat it up, then worked the end onto the nozzle. I had a clamp already threaded onto the hose (yay me!); after several runs, the hose was "far enough" on, so I tightened the clamp. Then I had to screw it onto the A/C outlet 🙄.

Then I threaded the hose out the window, hoping for an automatic drain.

We knew it wouldn't work (window is too high), but had to try...

At least now the bucket is easier to get to - we have to dump it before bed, but then it doesn't overflow in the middle of the night!

Another Update! Waaay too soon, the rubber band snapped 🙄, so I replaced it with twine - this time, I just wrapped it around the bolt head and tied it (much easier)!

And then moved the wood back into the window slot

Annecy 2025

Annecy - Wow! Just Wow! It's a town full of views - lake, mountains, forest, and more mountains! We've lately been looking for places to visit that leave you with a sense of magnificence - the nature of Annecy did this. 

We spent just over a week here, in the Pre-Alps, at France's third largest lake. Our apartment was right at the edge of Old-Town; we could drive to the apartment parking garage, and walk* to any spot on our list.

Since the drive from Lyon didn't take long (1.5 hrs), we went directly to a beach to wait a bit before check-in time.

It was beautiful, but we weren't properly prepared for no seating 🙄. So, on to a grocery store to stock up, then to meet our host at the apartment - ahhh. It was one of the best apartments we've stayed in - it was like someone who loved life was living there, then decided to share it with others. 

The next day, we picked up the wheelchair, then rolled all around! Check the Annecy 2025 posts for all our big days. We had a few "easy" days too. We went to the Chateau d'Annecy (the outside; the inside is a museum)

And the Basilica (early 20th century)

Later that evening, I was surprised by a chanting crowd - I ran to the window to see. It was the championship soccer game, and France won!

Eventually, it was time to leave 😔 - our last full day included lunch out, with a short detour along the Quai des Clarisses. 

Then we returned the wheelchair and started packing...

~~~

There are a few more photos in the Annecy 2025 album.

What we left for another time:

Drive Col de la Forclaz 

Point de Vue Château de Menthon-Saint-Bernard 

Jardin de l'Europe (longer visit)

Drive around the lake

Tour Bus ride

Annecy-le-Vieux 

Train to Geneva 

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*Prefer to Walk and Roll? Wheelchair rental from Bastide, ~16€

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Our trip, including Lyon:

May 12 (Monday) - June 3 (3 weeks)

1040 km

37 mpg

6.3 l/100km

Annecy 2025 Alps Viewpoint

The Plateau du Semnoz gives a fabulous view of the Alps! It's only a half-hour drive from our apartment, *and* it was a fantastic, super-sunny day! Of course we went!

I had checked ahead (tourist office, and Google street view), so I was prepared for some winding, forest-lined driving - it wasn't too bad!

I walked to the peak (pretty steep) for the 360° views - I reversed my usual order of photo-then-info, and took a photo of the Orientation Table, then the corresponding view. (See the Annecy 2025 Alps Viewpoint album for these)

Massif des Bornes

Massif de Mont-Blanc and Massif du Beaufortain 

Massif de la Vanoise and Massif des Bauges

Then I took some close-ups!

Here's Mont-Blanc (left side), at 4810 meters (15780 feet), the highest point in Europe outside the Caucasus mountains

Pointe Percée, the sharp peak in the center

Aiguilles d'Arvres, the sharp double peak in the distance 

Well, then I had to get a shot of the ski lift 😊

On the way back, we stopped at a viewpoint of the lake 

 

We could just make out the Château de Duingt on a peninsula in Lake Annecy

We were back in time to catch the end of the marché ; we got rôtisserie for lunch! 😋😋😋

Annecy 2025 Gorges du Fier

The Gorges du Fier is a natural wonder, just a short drive from Annecy. The Fier river (fier translates to proud) carved a gorge through the pre-Alps (foothills of the Alps), and Man added a footbridge. You (and a hundred of your best friends) can walk along, 25 meters (82 feet) above the water, but still well below the top of the gorge. The path goes for 1.2 km (3/4 mile) in the shade, with the sound of rushing water to keep it cool.

On the left side wall, there's a scale showing different flood levels.

Here are a few shots along the way...

We finished with a quick look at the Chateau Montrottier

Take a look at the Annecy 2025 Gorges du Fier album - there a a few short videos where you can hear the water 😉

Annecy 2025 Lake Cruise

We took a cruise around the lake!

Pardon the reflection - this was too nice a view to not include...

Château de Duingt on a peninsula in Lake Annecy 

Some paragliders...

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We had planned to drive to the Alps Viewpoint, but the forecast was for partly cloudy, so we did this instead - smart move, if I do say so myself!

We got to the quay, had a short wait to buy tickets, then to the boarding line. It wasn't crowded (and most people headed to the upstairs (wheelchair, no go), so we had most of the center to ourselves 🙂

For more pictures, see the Annecy 2025 Lake Cruise album.

Here's where you can listen to the English audioguide