Our third day in France (Monday) and we were loving the countryside. The morning was sunny and gorgeous, and we enjoyed our freshly made coffee, fried eggs, delicious cheese, and gorgeous country views. Breakfast in France has got to be the best way to start the day.

Mike felt a bit under the vineyard after our wine extravaganza on Day Deux of our France adventure so stayed behind to sleep while Dusty, Holly and I headed out from the house onto a trail system within the Parc du Pilat.

The trail hooked up directly above the bed and breakfast, which was incredibly convenient.  Kieran and Kristie headed into Malleval, a thirteen hundred old French town they lived in in 2005, when working for Pierre Gaillard in his vineyard.

Our hike took us through the hills and valleys of the French countryside, into the town of Roisey where stone farm houses and windy trails carried us along. At times, the trail went pretty straight up the hills, and we definetely were able to work off some cheese and bread. We clocked 5.82 miles, a brisk but leisurely stroll where we really felt like we saw the country.

Trail markers were everywhere and only a few times did we get turned around. Not having internet while in Europe is really lovely, as you can truly shut off. Not having google maps however can get you in a pickle! Strava worked, so we used that as our guiding point.

Back at the house the gang showered and regrouped for some espresso and cake made by our hosts. Quite the afternoon pick me up. Kristy and Kieran were actually wrapping up their afternoon as well so came and scooped us up to take us to Malleval, the gorgeous town they lived in back in 2005.

The village took us all back to the 11th century, with winding, narrow cobblestone streets, gorgeous cottages with ornate wooden shutters, and a beautiful church at the top of the village.

We wandered down a grassy trail that followed a river and we all imagined out loud what it must have been like to live here. It was a glorious town!

Driving back, we stopped to buy some wine from Pierre had ‘just a taste’ then went home to cook a dinner in, as we would leave early in the morning for Chamonix!

The next morning, we awoke and all chatted about stopping in Vienne on the way out to explore. But first our last delicious breakfast in our enchanted Bed and Breakfast.  Our bags were packed, we loaded the new van and were off. First stop….chocolate croissants! OMG, the best I’ve ever had!

In Vienne, we sat and drank espresso, then wandered around teh town, hiking up to a cathedral that overlooked the whole of the town.

Below, they were doing work on the amphitheater, which apparently had large concerts. France’s own Red Rocks!

From the Cathedral, we strolled down to the Roman Ruins, through quaint side streets and picturesque cafes. Vienne was lovely, and the pizza spot we chose for lunch hit the spot. Wine & fromage!

Back in the van for tow hours, we all (except the driver!) took a nap, took a quick rest stop, then arrived in our glorious Chamonix! Our AirBnB house was down quite a narrow street, but the van nudged itself through and the location was perfect!

Unpacking, rooms selected, we were anxious to check out our new digs so headed out. The weather was beautiful and Mont Blanc could be seen clearly.

It was breathtaking in this valley, with steep mountains all around us. Absolutely stunning.

Our first beers were at an open-air bar, that looked like the hot spot for apres. We toasted to the next leg of the journey, the mountains hugging us in.

The next day we would ski Le Brevent and two more friends would join our France adventure, so we decided to shop at a local grocery to have dinner in. We ate, drank wine and glowed with the realization that we soon would be skiing the French Alps! Bon Vivant!