A Day in Annecy, France

Last Weekend we drove to Annecy, a little town in France with only around 50.000 habitants (which probably doubles during summer time). Even though we knew we were in France, we could feel a certain swiss-italian air around us - the lake, the Alps, the numerous restaurants and cafes, the unending ice cream offer... and most of all, the canals - I could have said we were in Venice!

Just as its italian version, Annecy is fully booked over summer - there were probably as many tourists (aside from us) as locals. Or maybe even more? However, this should not be considered as a problem, but just a harmless warning.

To start, the best thing to be done is to make yourself with a map of the city center. It's far simpler than Venice (where I got lost several times and, even with a map, ended in a complete different direction). I found this map on the internet - unfortunately a little too late to make use of it, but it seems to be quite practical to get a first overview. From then on, the trick is in being curious - there are a lot of very small passages that lead to enchanted hidden paths and I doubt that you'll find all of them on the maps, such as Chemin des Remparts or L'impasse du Trippoz. There's a hidden corner near the Chateau when walking down the Chemin des Remparts and turning left. It's a viewpoint from which you can see the towns roof tops.

When continuing the same little road, you'll get to see lovely town houses and will be lead to another passage that then guides you to one of the main streets in the vieux ville, Rue Perrière.

Every last saturday of the month, these streets are crowded with people attracted by the vintage flea market and an art market (which mainly takes place on Vicenza Quay) going on from 8am to 5pm. There's definitely something for everyone - I fell in love with these vintage ice-skates!

The town center is big enough to spend a good day exploring its corners. Of course, the main touristic streets are also a must - anything around the Thiou is a bit more expensive, but it's definitely worth a walk. I also recommend walking taking a walk around Notre Dame and, if you have time, take a walk in the Chateau (doors close at 5pm during summer on a saturday!).

If you decide to spend some sunny days in Annecy, you can't escape from spending some hours on the shores of the cleanest lake in Europe. There are a few so-called beaches - remember, you're talking with an island girl here, a beach is not really a beach without waves and sand. Ok, being more permissive - there's one beach I would certainly recommend, which is the Plage d'Angon Talloires. It's simply and naturally beautiful. However, you do need a car to get to this spot, as its almost across Annecy, on the other edge of the Lake (about a 30 minutes drive).

Source

Unfortunately summer seems to be over in Switzerland (and so does in Annecy...). But I'll surely check again during winter - I heard it also has a good christmas market!

Wine List - #2

Last summer me and my friends had our end-of-masters trip to Lebanon for about a week. The country is awesome - probably much better than you can ever imagine. It has a surprising mix of cultures as it has been through a lot in the last 25 years. But that story deserves a separate post - Today it's about wine!

I've recently discovered that the Lebanese take away near my flat sells wine from Lebanon (didn't expect it since I'm in the Vineyard area from Switzerland). This made me think of last summer, when we visited the Château Ksara located in Zahle, about an hour drive from Beirut. We took a guided tour through the cellars, which finished in a wine tasting session. From the wines we tasted, there was one I still remember - as it was the most cool and refreshing one: Ksara Sunset.

The wine obviously has won its name for its colour. Its aroma is a balanced mix of red berries and a hint of spiciness, which finishes with a refreshing and cool taste.

Grape: Made out of Cabernet-Franc, Syrah

Region/Vineyard: Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

Best year: 2000

Serving: served chilled (8-10°C)

.... Cheers!

Around the World III

Morges, Switzerland

Morges, Switzerland

Morges, Switzerland

Annecy, France

Annecy, France

Annecy, France

A Lucky Story (II)

And there I was, standing in the front of hundreds of people staring at me asking themselves the same question: Who the hell is that girl?

I must say, I wasn't the only one receiving a prize that night. We were three winners: one guy got a ticket to anywhere in Europe because it was his birthday and another woman (from my same department - we are pretty lucky as you can see) won the million-dollar-prize: that is, 2 tickets to anywhere in the World in business class (btw. she won because of the costume-competition!).

Anyway, ever since, I have been thinking how to use these two tickets before the end of the year. I don't have many vacation days left after my New Zealand Roadtrip in May. And of course, I wanted to go as far as I could! Tanzania, Kenia, Lebanon, Oman, Canada, US... too many attractive alternatives (yes, I know - Oman? well, check this out, and you'll see what I mean!).

Considering that Safaris are rather for couples, I had been in Beirut (Lebanon) last summer and in Miami last winter... and that my mom would have died if I told her I would go to Oman... I was left with just a fewer choices. Additionally, I had one restriction - It had to be a direct flight of Lufthansa / Swiss Air from Geneva or Zurich.

It has taken far too much time for me to decide. Literally - because my offer is only valid for certain tickets (that tend to disappear very quickly!).

So... I had to take a quick step - Use the tickets. No matter how, but use them. I didn't want my prize to be void! And then in came into my mind, my next destination...

....And I got the tickets!

Here we go NY!

A Lucky Story (Part I)

Guess a number.

But not any number.

The number of flights a travel agent books during a year.

This question was key in my company's Christmas / New Year's dinner Quiz, but more specifically, how many flights the company's travel agent booked between January 2009 and January 2010. I had just spent my first 3 months in my job, and wasn't even sure how many people were working in our office. But I did know that people tend to travel a lot, and often book whole all-around-the-world trips in just 2 weeks time.

So there I was, sitting next to colleagues I had hardly met before, answering to all the quiz questions basing ourselves on group knowledge. Until we got to the last question. Of course, it's just a guess. There's no way that ANYONE (besides the agent himself) knows the answer. Each of us handed in our paper and had dinner and drinks as usual until they announced the winners of the night. I didn't feel any tension - I was actually enjoying my last bits of dark chocolate mousse, when they suddenly called my name!

Unlike others, I was too excited to exteriorize my feelings. I took a deep breach, calmly stood up (cleaned my mouth full of chocolate), and walked through the long corridor of tables with people looking at me with a puzzled look, figuring out who the hell I was. I stood there, in front of around 100 people staring - believe me, whatever you call stage fright is miraculously cured after this kind of debut.

When they gave me the my prize, wrapped with a big ribbon, they told me that this was for guessing so accurately the number of flights booked. I was thrilled, and was trying to remember which number I actually wrote down. 756. I think it was 756. And the answer was 758. Impressed? ;)

Anyway, as I unwrapped my far too big box, I discovered an envelope. In it, a simple letter. I read it out loud and, while I was reading, my eyes went bigger and bigger. I couldn't believe what I had just read:

I had won a 2 tickets to Middle East / Africa / Europe / US / Canada.

*gulp*

(Part II)

Ay, mamita!

Photo Source

Talking about flexibility, today I've been informed that sometime around October I'll be going for a few weeks to Cuba to learn about the business that is done from Cuba and to get to know our local team.

I had been hoping for this moment for months, since 30% of my working hours I'm handling cuban business, which exposes me to its current political and economic situation. I've been looking forward to being in the heart of La Havana and experiencing the tension, but also the lust for life that characterizes its people. I want to walk along a local market selling old books and converse with their sellers about national poetry or art exhibitions (I'm sure there are many of them!).

I like to travel alone and don't need much to be entertained. Specially in South America, where people from Spain (and specially from the Canary Islands!) are treated as hermanos. With some interest in the country, it's very easy to start a conversation with locals - at least this was always the case in Montevideo.

... I guess I'm finally getting my "beach break" that I've been longing for the whole year! Does this mean I have to start my look-fit-in-your-bikini-routine over again?

Photo Source

Are you flexible enough?

Almost a year ago, I started on this job - my very first job, as a trainee in my department. Back then, one of the things that most attracted me from the job description is the word flexibility. To be able to be turned, bowed, or twisted, without breaking into pieces - or in other words, to accept whatever comes on you with courage and decision. My mind started picturing anything that can be related to this word in a job - a broad variety of tasks, working with different cultures and traveling a lot. Yes, that's pretty much my dream job.

But then, during this year, I learned that this word is pure marketing. Yes, I do have the above in my current job; but flexibility wants much more than just a small suitcase and an ability to socialize with all-man-kind. It's being ready for eternal uncertainty regarding your job, your location and your tasks. It's being asked to relocate anywhere in a short period of time under a take it or leave it contract. It's never having too many personal stuff with you, in case you have to go. It's not making plans in more than 4 months in advance, 'cause you'll never know where you will be by then.

My company is a market player. It needs to be flexible and adapt quickly - when one market is hot, more resources will be destined to this market; and if it's falling, these resources will move to another geographical area and/or department. This might end up in you being transferred to another country, another (hopefully related) division or fired. A company asking its employees to be flexible is probably flexible itself - just as mine. It will have to adapt quickly to any kind of market trends and moves, and never lag behind. This makes a dynamic job, but also a quite risky one - as your job might not be required anymore when prices fall below limits.

As much as I like my job, I've got to admit that, uncertainty is something I will still have to learn how to deal with.

Top 5 City Ranking (according to me)

The other day I decided to check out this years Mercer's city ranking for quality of living worldwide. Not surprisingly, Switzerland has 3 cities in the Top 10 (Bern, Zurich and Geneva). I'm sure it's high quality of life in many senses: low criminality, clean streets, efficient transport service (all this thanks to all the taxes we pay) as well as a good salary (which, at least in my case, decreases significantly after-taxes), good bread and cheese and a lot of leisure activities (all these hiking tracks, ski resorts, lakes... definitely make themselves useful).

If considering these points, I should be delighted to be living in Switzerland. And partly I am - even if I don't say that too often. The fact is: Switzerland is awesome to live in - specially when you're married and have kids. But when you are a young single expat, things might get complicated. It's really difficult to meet swiss people (generally, they are a quite closed folk), and the country is not specially recognized for its party-lust (there are some exceptions thou).

So, since I don't really agree 100% with Mercer's list (we have different qualities we value in a City) I decided to post my own ranking in which the quality of life is mainly driven by the openness and friendliness of its people, the quality and variety of food and drinks (being this, restaurants, pubs and bars), the affordability of goods and services and, of course, my own experience.

5. Hong Kong

Great city! 24-hours activity and you will find a party every day (although for non-asians its rather reduced to Lan Kwai Fon area). Restaurants offer food 24:7 and chinese are quite friendly to foreigners - I must have so many pictures with cooks and waitresses! Although you can find different types of restaurant, most of it is classic chinese which, by the way, has nothing to do with the greasy chinese food we know in Europe! Transport is cheap but the rent is very expensive - so you better find a well-paid job to compensate! Besides from the 24:7 attitude of this city, I liked the fact that, after just half an hour drive you can be at a nice beach, and with only a one hour ferry you get to Macau (an asian version of Vegas!). Its flaws? Probably the language (although I must say, cab drivers are really used to foreigners and the way they pronounce chinese street names), the weather and the extremely high pollution.

4. Madrid

It's been said that it's one of the best places to party, probably because of its huge variety on bars and its party hours - it's absolutely normal to go into late hours on a normal basis. Spanish food is great too (ok, that's me speaking, so you might disagree on this), but I do have to admit that the city is still missing variety - it has to catch up on that. However, there's something Madrid has that other big cities envy: it's underground! It's cheap, reliable, works until quite late and will take you anywhere. Probably what I most like about this city is its culture of tapas and siesta (there's too much of Spain in me). This definitely raises life standards, even if you have to deal with low salaries and extremely hot and dry summers.

3. London

I was surprised not to see London among the best cities to live and it really got me wondering if I'm being objective here - probably not. Unaffordable apartments (if you want to live in Zone 1), expensive (and unreliable) public transport, rainy days, pollution... Yeah, seen like this, it doesn't look good at all. But London has something that attracts me: it's perfect for being single. There are infinite possibilities to meet people, bars are packed with happy-hour frequenters every afternoon and you'll always find exactly the type of cuisine your stomach is asking for (there's even a restaurant offering food from Seychelles...).

2. Sydney

I don't know much of Sydney, as I only spent 5 days there (so please correct me if I got wrong impressions), but it seemed to me as a great city to live in. The climate, the sea, the beaches, the parks.. makes it a great place to be all year round. Going out was fun and also very rich in variety. I specially enjoyed its bohemian area - with late-night art expositions, modern stylish people sipping champagne and awesome little shops selling Sydney-styled outfits (which I love, by the way). However, I do think its a city in which you need to earn good money - I heard apartments are extremely expensive and public transport isn't cheap neither, besides from the fact that alcohol is ridiculously over-priced. I guess that, when living in Sydney, you have a healthier life and probably you also get a good salary - The big deal is only to get the right work permit.

1. Buenos Aires

Surprised about my number 1 in the list? I think Buenos Aires wasn't even considered for Mercer's ranking! Buenos Aires is beautiful and people are friendly, talkative and open (I love their accent, btw. its so sexy...). Never before had I seen so cheap drinks - in Palermo Soho there are bohemian bars offered gin tonics for what would equal 2€ a glass. And what to say about its wine, steaks and sweets! Besides from its national food, the variety on foreign cuisine restaurants is also broad enough to satisfy anyone's crave. It's a city full of entrepreneurs, dreamers, artists of all kind and people taking their chances. As happens with most of LatAm countries, its population is well onto the economic and political history and the present situation, and enjoy open discussions about any current issue. To highlight probable its main flaws I would mention the high crime rate (although I felt safe everywhere except in La Boca when I was caught up in the middle of a gang street fight) as well as its still unstable economy. I just hope it improves soon, 'cause I promised myself Buenos Aires as possible next destination (to live).

Which cities would you rank in your top list?

My Secret Places In Tenerife I

Playa de Los Patos and Playa del Ancon

Picture Source

I realized I've never talked about my home land, when, in fact, Tenerife is pretty much paradise. A different kind, though, which is what I like most about it. Forget about the white sand, the crystal clear water and the millions of tourists, and turn it into high and aggressive waves, rocky background, black sand and less than 10 people on the beach - that's Los Patos and Ancón.

They belongs to a part of La Orotava called El Rincón. When going by bus (probably the easiest, due to the lack of parking spots) you can take bus 376 from La Orotava and get down on the last stop. From there on, the walk is only of 10 to 20 minutes.

Getting there is already an adventure, as you have to walk through banana plantations, climb rocks and try to avoid high tide and full moon, since the beaches are not very wide and tend to disappear with the sea during those days. Sounds amusing, right? It's half as difficult as it sounds, really - you just have to keep that in mind. Both beaches are frequented by surfers, nudists and sometimes, during summer, you can find people camping. It's rather rare to find foreigners around - They tend to stick on to the first of the three beaches of the area, Bollullo (maybe because it's the only one that does not carry the risk of leave no trace on certain days).

Dealing with Seat Mates

Flights are exciting.

I've been told that, the more you travel for business, the more you'll avoid taking a plane for pleasure, but I don't think this applies to me. Every time I feel like a school kid on a day-trip to a chocolate factory - You're wild about the destination, but also look forward to enjoy the ride. You'll hope to sit next to your best friend, or maybe the boy/girl you fancy, and would hate to sit next to the sweaty fat kid that doesn't stop talking about his/her nasal hair - Er, just an example.. haven't been there, luckily.

After twenty years, I still feel the same about trips. Whether I'm flying to London, Montevideo or Hong Kong - I'm always waiting for Mr. Right to take the seat next to me. This never happened so far. However, during the last years I've sat next to many that could perfectly be qualified as Mr. Wrong:

1. The Drinker. I once sat next to a (cute) guy around my age in a flight from Paris to Madrid quite early in the morning, who kept on ordering wine and whisky (at the same time, ew!). I had little sleep the night before, and eau d'whisky at 8am wasn't among my favorites perfumes. This year, in my flight back from Lisbon to Geneva, I was surrounded by a group of drunk frenchmen, who insisted in kissing their neighbors, painting each others faces, and singing - I only understood half of it, but I if I could, I would have chosen ignorance. However, it wasn't as bad as having Clare Irby next to me, for sure.
2. The Chit-Chatter. A classic. From my experience, these are mostly first timers or business men. I'm not going to generalize and say that all chit-chatters ought to be ignored - you can miss out some really interesting people (people worth skipping your siesta!). My best experience with a chit-chatter? On my way to Montevideo I sat next to a 40-something man who initially just asked me what I was going to do in Uruguay and ended up drawing me a map of Montevideo to show me how to get to the best bars, restaurants and clubs in the city - btw. he was a manager of a big whisky brand! who could have given me a better advice than him? Unfortunately, most of the time I give my seat mate a chance, they've ended up telling me about a scene in a book I was currently holding in my hand and hadn't read yet, asking me for personal advice or even talking to themselves (maybe because I had decided to use my iPod for insulation).
3. The Sleeping Beauty. Last September, when flying back from Hong Kong, I was lucky enough to get a window seat: I enjoying the afternoon sun shining on the horizon, leaving a reddish shadow on the unending sky-scappers. Next to me, an asian women that immediately fell asleep. I'm not the kind of person that keeps standing up every 10 minutes during the flight, but 12 hours is far too much. The two or three times I kindly tried to move her a few inches to have enough space to jump over her toward the bathroom (see picture above), she woke up, cursed on me in chinese (I'm sure it was cursing - what else would she be doing at 4am when someone wakes her from her beauty sleep?) and turned around again. I spent 12 hours avoiding liquids.
4. The First Timer. Not a very long time ago, I sat next to a young man, who didn't stop moving from side to side in his tiny seat - yes, a first timer. He asked me how to fasten his belt (I did it) and then he asked me to describe what was going to happen next (I did it). When we finally were in the air (btw. with something like an hour delay, as usual), he started feeling more comfortable and mutated into the chit-chatter - he asked me if he could walk from Madrid Airport to Leganes (5hr walking distance according to Google Maps), which is where his cousin lived. For your record, we were flying in from the Canary Islands - and as strange as it sounds, there are people that just walk everywhere they go. He bombarded me with a billion of questions of this type - exhausting. Although it was only 2 and a half hours trip, it was one of the longest ever...
5. The Selfish Mom. I wasn't sure of adding her to my list, since she wasn't sitting right next to me - but behind me, with her adorable 6-year old daughter (I guess). A long flight from Phuket to Frankfurt, back from vacation. The plane was full, but of one seat: the one next to me. Behind me, a family with a screaming baby and the adorable girl. I wanted to sleep. I turned my face to one side, turned on my iPod and waited until the baby stopped screaming. Then, I would take my extra seat to engage in the best flight-nap I had ever had. 10 minutes later, I turn around and see the little girl cuddling on the seat next to me. I looked back and saw her mother using both of the seats. I was too tired to get annoyed, and cuddled back into my blanket with my two cushions. Suddenly, a stewardess taps on my shoulder and growled at me pointing toward the little girl. I was asleep and it took me a while to realize that her selfish mom had kept her little daughter's cushion (AND her blanket!), so I spent the rest of the flight with one cushion - ok - and sharing the blanket with the little girl.

My Secrets Places In Madrid I

Plaza de Olavide (Chamberi)

Source: El Angel de Olavide

Until 1974, it used to be a local market selling fruits and vegetables but it was destroyed by the city's mayor (some say because of a political revenge, other, because of real estate speculation). Olavide surges from a fountain that stands in the middle of an intersection, away from all the traffic. It's said to be rented per hours because of the variety of people that you can find walking around it: catholics, evangelicals and jews, chess players, jazz musicians, elder men playing card games while drinking some beer, people enjoying tapas and tinto de verano any time of the year. I recommend going on weekdays in spring - the trees will be blooming and bars will be taking out their chairs and tables for guests to enjoy the good weather. Due to its near location to Calle Fuencarral, it's an ideal place to go before a cinema or after shopping.

Make me Laugh and I'll be Yours

I'm back! - Not sure if I'm feeling as enthusiastic as that exclamation mark, though.

Madrid again was a perfect weekend (this time including my flights being on time, and me getting an upgrade from Iberia to business class as a reward for my "fidelity" with them - it was about time!).

After a hammering friday night on which we had drinks at my friend's apartment until 5 am, which is when we left to a club to have the deadly last drink - we call it deadly, because we are sure that it's the reason for our huge hungover, not the mix of bottles of wine, cocktails, pacharan, turkish shot and beer. No way.

Saturday night was about our routine: having tapas in la Latina. This time, instead of going to our usual bars, we tried out something new - Aroca XI, a designer tapas bar. The interior was amazing, and I later found out that it preserves part of the Arab and Christian walls. Specially recommendable are their cocktails - try out the Watermelon Mojito!

Anyway, getting to the reason of this post - the waiter. He wasn't particularly handsome, rather average (although there was something in his voice or accent that was appealing). He was watching for us all the time and, the best - he was hilariously funny. It was a really long time ago since last a guy used his sense of humor to flirt with me, and I don't understand why - it's such a good tactic! I noticed how my attraction towards him was changing during our dinner. Where I started thinking he was average, I found him more and more attractive - and the reason was definitely the way he acted towards me - he was sassy, cheerful and flirty, and I just love that. This got me thinking: in my long list of qualities the one should have, I now rank "makes me laugh" as the very first. In my last relationships it was me the story teller and the one trying to make the other laugh. It had only been my first boyfriend, who was a big story teller and who had a great sense of humor that could keep me laughing for hours in a row (at least the first two years of the relationship). Why did I just push this quality down the list? Maybe I had assumed that it's something rare, after all, I only found it once (ok, twice including the waiter). It's about time to change back my top priorities - maybe I wasn't being lucky because I was looking for the wrong character.

I must admit, that I was sad to leave this bar (with its waiter), knowing that I cannot come back as often as I would like to - but I'll keep it in my mind, and will definitely go back next time I'm in my Madrid.

NZ Road Trip #6: Southern Island Glaciers

Franz Joseph Glacier from the Helicopter

It has been ages since I last wrote on the journal of the trip, but only because I was carefully searching the best way to describe the next chapter, which was definitely one of my favorites: the Glacier hike!

When we crossed over from Wellington to the Southern Island, we immediately noticed the cold breeze and you're imagination goes to fantasize about a totally different landscape from the one we had before: you substitute beaches for rocky cliffs and the volcanoes you once (tried) hiking for impressive high mountains covered by snow. Well yes, it's pretty much like that, but before we arrived the nearest of the heart of the island, we drove through quick changing landmarks that went from flat vineyards to rocky mountains through rivers and of course, miles and miles of deserted roads.

Vineyards in Marlborough region

On the road

It's a long way from Picton (where the ferry stopped to start our way to the south) to the glaciers, so we spent the night in Greymouth (not really worth mentioning - at least not in autumn/winter).

On the next day we finally arrived to Franz Joseph Glacier. Our initial thought was to take a helicopter ride for 45 minutes to overfly both glaciers and Mount Cook - we were short on time to drive up to Mount Cook and take a few days to hike and still wanted to get a glance of the highest mountain of the country! But once in the tour office, we saw a great offer: "10min heli-tour and glacier hiking for 3 hours" for only a fraction of the price we would pay for the heli-tour. That was our chance! We - the fittest people on NZ - were going to hike a glacier! We took a look at the people we were going to hike with and stood up with a self-convinced if-they-can-we-can attitude. Well this time we weren't wrong: we could! It was definitely worth every single NZD spent and every stiffness earned the next day.

At the beginning you start feeling insecure with the bulky hiking boots. In your mind you are standing on ice, which, you have learned, is slippery and should be avoided to stop on. And suddenly, wherever you're eyes reach: it's all ice. You get a stick - which, in my opinion, has as sole function to boost people's confidence. The walks start easy, for you to get used to your own steps and, specially, to learn to take decisive steps into the ice to get those nails deep in. We were a young group of people, which made the tour much more venturesome! We climbed up with cords, passed through ice caves, saw not-so-iced-lakes and could try glacier water from a small stream. The sensation is indescribable - you lose notion of time because every step is an adventure.

I would definitely do it again.

Franz Joseph Glacier

Franz Joseph Glacier