Saturday afternoon was a time for running errands with three friends - to buy tickets to attend a soccer match that very same night, and to buy train tickets to visit Annecy the following day. During this time, we somehow ended up randomly in the middle of the city with one friend talking to a Jehova Witness, and another talking to a Japanese lady, leaving me and OG standing in the middle of the two conversations asking ourselves how this situation came to be.
It was my first time attending a soccer match that night and the experience was unforgettable. We all dressed up with St. Étienne gear, face paint included. Though, we were surprisingly the only ones who were really pumped for the match in town. While taking the bus to the stadium and while waiting in line, we were the loudest ones, singing and offering people face paint and chips. Intoxication definitely played a large role in this. We sat in front seats, taking in the atmosphere of unity, cheering for a team we'd only be supporting for one night and only night only. Because in reality.. they suck. We lost the match at the end with the opposing team scoring literally in the last few seconds. Although we lost, we still came out of that stadium singing out loud all the way home. Singing when leaving the stadium, singing when walking to the bus stop, even singing while on the bus and getting off.
Sunday, we woke up early for our day trip to Annecy. When we got to Lyon to transfer trains, we met AY's lovely friend who would be joining us that day. Annecy is a place I've been waiting to visit for a long time, so when we arrived and witnessed its beauty, I was just so overwhelmed. Walking through the old streets and over bridges felt surreal, as if living in an old princess Disney film. The canals which ran through the town were still, decorated with flowers on the side. The weather was beautiful despite the forecast of a thunderstorm. Never was there a hint of rain. We first walked through a lively market, bought a few fruits, a couple of sun hats and a Hello Kitty beach ball. We then picked up some lunch at a sandwich shop where I bought a large curry flavoured sandwich. While eating, we walked on over to the gorgeous lake and rented a paddleboat for an hour. I've never seen a lake so clean and so stunning. In shallow waters, one can clearly see the bottom. We paddled to the middle of the lake where a few of us jumped into the refreshing water. The scenery of mountains was mesmerizing. After an hour of fun and relaxation, we headed back to the old town for some ice cream, then went to the beach section of the lake where we laid down to tan and take photos. Most of the photos we took were jumping photos and as we were taking them, one little girl stared at us with curiosity and delight so we inevitably invited her to jump with us! After getting pleasantly sunkissed, we walked back, yet again, to the old town and decided to explore the routes that went uphill. We eventually found a large castle, which is now a museum, and a nice view of the red rooftops of the town. We then had dinner out at a patio in the middle of town where I ate tartiflette - the traditional plate of Annecy. It was a delicious meal, made with potatoes, onion, bacon, and melted cheese. There's no denying that Annecy is one of the most charming and beautiful places I've ever visited, giving me the feeling of living in a fairytale.
Last night, many of the Canadians ate at EL's place for dinner for a little going away party as today would be his last day. His host parents prepared a delicious dinner with various types of salads, cheese, meats and bread, with a variety of alcoholic drinks. After that, we all went bowling. I only have two words for that experience - I suck.
Ps. I peed in a washroom only with holes in the ground.. what an experience.
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