Off to Chamonix

Last weekend before my dad left he decided to take a trip to Chamonix and Mont Blanc before heading back to New York. At this point I was sick of him and begging him to push his flight up. Needless to say, I gladly took the trip when he offered it, I could manage 2 more days.

It took us about 2 and a half hours to get there by bus and it was spectacular. All I could picture was Ice Angel (please somebody know what movie Im talking about) and how Chamonix could be the next bustling city/town for the winter Olympics.

In another spout of spontanaety, my dad decided to go paragliding. I think i peer pressured him into it in all honestly. How was I supposed to know he was half joking when he asked if Id want to do it and then take me up on it later? After all hes over 50 and not so fit if you catch my drift. Once we got to the take off point, he was huffing and puffing and made me a little nervous if hed survive running off the cliff to start gliding. He did. But he didnt really have much choice in the matter since the guide basically pushed him off. For me, I was too small to hold my own against the wind when taking off, got flung in the wrong direction and basically got pushed too (I think the way I write makes this a little more dramatic than it was in reality). It was a nice time, little chilly but a great view of the town and the mountain range. Fun fact, Mont Blanc is the tallest mountain in Europe and borders France and Italy.

When we got there, it hit me that I should have brought shoes other than a pair of keds with me. The next day we took the cable car/tram, whatever theyre called to the top of Mont Blanc. I think my ears popped 50 times and really felt the thin air when we got to the top. The view was incredible, I could see the clouds forming over the tops of the mountain. The hikers up that high are seriosuly hard core and again, I had a flashback to a movie called Alaska I used to wacth with my brothers (IMDB so you know what im talking about).

After the first tram, you could get off and walk around the not snowy part of the mountain. Im not too outdoorsy but I would have like to go walking for a little if I had better shoes and wasnt afraid of falling and not coming back.

Chamonix is definitely worth going to again, even in the summer to see how pretty it is. (The river water is glacial run off and looks green). And if I do, Ill be sure to bring a pair of real shoes.