Baz was relieved that I wasn't going to subject him to the Auguilles du Midi chairlift to dizzying heights though I am sure if we had found him a mountaineering outfit like this he could well have found his mojo.
Instead we boarded the train to the Mer de Glace and got up close and personal with a real glacier. The glacier is the longest in Europe, and moves quite quickly at around 1cm per hour (according to Wikipedia). It has been shrinking and as you descend into the valley you pass markers for the height at previous years.
We ended up above the cloud line in a world of white mist. It was a steep climb over 20 minutes by rail followed by a short cable car ride into the valley and 436 steps and numerous ramps down to the glacier. And yes we climbed those on the way back up there was no easy way up!
The ice cave was just mind blowing, blue green and crystal clear in stark comparison to the ground concrete river of ice we saw from above. They had it lit up with all sorts of funky colours.
That rock you can see towards the right side of the photo on the ice, was easily the size of a house- incredible to think how it may have been moved by the ice over time.
Back on the train back to chamonix for (yet another) yummy lunch, then we tried out the luge for a thrill.
It was soooo much fun! We each had a turn with the kids, it was like hurtling down your own private roller coaster and a great view of the surrounds on the way up. And yes I was voted the fastest driver by the kids boo yeah!
We then hit the road south, even the motorway offers some scenery! Listening to french radio on the way has given us some giggles, our two faves being one song with a chorus that sounds like "stinky lalala" and the other shouting about "pork chop". he he....
We've stopped near Lyon overnight, and will finish the drive to Villeneuve les Avignon tomorrow- we think another 2 1/2 hours. Bon Nuit....
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