Generally speaking, France on a Sunday is SO boring!
Few shops or businesses of any kind are authorised to be open and things slow down to a deadly pace. So, I was at a bit of a loss as to what to do with the German exchange student who we are hosting this week.
Valentine had told me that the girl doesn't like history, so that ruled out museum visits. And museums are kind of my go-to solution in times of trouble...

But I wanted to do something nice, as Sunday would be our only full day with Teresia. Afterwards, she'd be at school all day and then leave on Friday night. So, I proposed that we go up to Chamonix/Mont Blanc. I figured we could go up the cute little railway to the glacier and then go back down and visit the village.

My plan work out...for the most part.
I drove us to Chamonix (it took 45 minutes flat- my personal best!) and got us on the train. We were at Montenvers station within 20 minutes.

We got out and looked around.

took a few photos...

I tried to chat with our guest a bit about the Mer de Glace glacier, Mont Blanc, the Montenvers rack railway line, etc.
In fact, what I did was commit the error of forgetting that she doesn't like history.
And she doesn't much like geology either, apparently, because after approximately 8.5 minutes on the mountainside, she said "So, are we leaving now?"
Yes, we're leaving now.
Sigh.

What she likes is...shopping.
Luckily, Chamonix is one of the most touristy spots in all of France. And this means many shops are open on Sunday.
As I predicted, Teresia perked right up the moment we got her into a Benetton shop...
And we fed her pizza.
She mostly just likes pizza.

As for me?
At that point, I could have used a stiff gin and tonic....

Two weeks ago, we went here:

Chamonix is a cute little mountain village that has swollen to freakish proportions because it is at the base of Europe's highest peak. In winter, it's unbearable, full of ultra-wealthy ski-tourists jostling each other aside in order to spend more, more and even more money.

In summer, it's a bit more bearable. Lovely, even. From the village, you can take the adorable, tiny Montenvers train and go up to the Mer de Glace glacier- which is what we did.

The glacier is, of course, smaller in summer. Much of the surface is covered with dirt and rocks, as well- but you can still see the ice down the center.

(In the picture are my three girls, plus Z. She was our neighbor back in Ouaga and the twins have been missing her)

From the top train platform, we took a telecabin down to the surface of the glacier. From there, you can take stairs down to the entrance of the ice cave that they carve out every year into the side of the glacier. as it was kind of drippy and dark-ish, I didn't manage to get any good pictures. Sorry. All I have left is a picture of the kids cooling off after a long, hot walk around the town. Everybody looks pretty happy, except for little F. His parents didn't want him to have his own slushy drink and he had definite ideas to the contrary. It's hard to share when you're just two.

We had a picnic, everything went smoothly and it was a beautiful day.

Another BurkinaMom job well done.

I'll probably post again tomorrow. It will be my birthday, so I'll no doubt find something to say, even if it's just "OMG, I'm OLD!"