This is our cozy flat at Annecy. It is located in the attic of a building at Place Sainte Claire in the old town.
From time to time, there were interesting performances and markets downstairs. There was even a cinema across the street which I never went because I can not understand much French then. Ce'st dommage... Oh, and the place near the red umbrella in the above photo, they sold tasty Kebab that cost 25 Franc. About 125 NTD then. Very big even for me. I thought it was expensive but look at the price we have now in Taipei...
Believe me or not. Under the tent, it is the market.
Again outside our office at Archamps. Look at the booming flowers! If I remember correctly, we were probably on our way to Geneva and stop by the office to take something. We sometimes drove to Swiss to get petrol as it was cheaper there and diesel was more expensive. Or the other way around. Anyway...
If you were born in an island country like I was in Taiwan, you will probably also have odd feelings toward the borders as you never see one alive in your country. There was never a border you can drive through in Taiwan. For work or life, I need to go pass through the Swiss/French border very frequently and to be able to do so, I need both French and Swiss Visa which I had to renew in England every three months, the longest period both French and Swiss Ambassy can grant me. This was because my work permit was issued in England. I sometimes have Passport Envy to people from other countries when I lived in France. To look at the bright side, every three month, I got the chance to visit china town at Leicester Square, London to fill my supply of ginger and soy source that I cannot find easily in my region...
This was how it began from Place Sainte Claire. Unfortunately I did not see it by myself. Don't be fooled by the year printed by the camera, we have done the settings wrong. Year 1994 I was still in Hungary and never been to France yet. I am most certain I was on a business trip then and Michelle was alone in town. Great that she has come across this very interesting festival. My job then demanded very frequent travel. Sometimes I got up in 5, drive to Geneva by 7, took a flight before 8 and arrive in perhaps Schipol airport (Amsterdam) and took rental car to visit customer by 10. Back to take the flight back to France by 4 , go home by 7. This is not an unique experience for many European travellers but definitely something new for a young man like me from Taiwan then...
Old ladies weaving wool
Making Apple Juice
This chair looks familiar. Normally we did it with Bamboo back home...
It is great to live in a small town like Annecy. We do have our rituals and festivals back home in Taiwan but in big cities like Taipei, you never feel an event that is so big that the whole city is there together. Not even the Chinese New Year. I remember our Chinese New Year in our youth back in Chia-Yi was much more exciting then like this Annecy fesitval but maybe that was simply because we were so young then...
Cows are the stars for this festival. Every spring, the cows were back from the mountain and had a parade in the town. Cheered by all. These pretty ladies are decorated with flowers and big cowbells that resemble their Swiss relatives. Annecy is very close to Geneva and last century, they both belong to the kingdom of Savoyard. These cows must be related...
The giant cowbells now carried by men...
Some said this is the longest instrument in the world.
Michelle trying to make a dish...
A Chateaux near Yvoire