Deux randonnées

Grenoble is a city surrounded by mountain ranges. So far we've taken some short hikes up (the first parts of) two of them.

La Bastille is a military fortress from the 16th century. It's built right into the side of the Chartreuse mountains overlooking Grenoble and seems to be the main tourist attraction to check out - so we did. We hiked up the "steep way" with lots of old staircases. It was so exciting that we didn't take any pictures, so you get to enjoy an old postcard image that Google found for us.

There is a cable car line (téléphérique) that goes between downtown and the Bastille. We went up on our own power but decided to take the easy way down. You pay your ticket then get into these little glass spheres - they don't stop so you really have to just hop on and sit down.

Here's a view of downtown Grenoble on the way down, overlooking the Isère river.

...and a view of Dan being strange.

The next hike we did was today (Sunday) up into the Vercors. We intended to follow a route called the Grande Randonée up to the ancient ruins of some tower, but instead accidentally took a different (and better-marked) trail around the cliffs to the west. Anyway, it was a great, steep hike through the woods!

Leah's 80s retro workout clothes fit perfectly in the old European forest.

Here's a view of the Chartreuse from along the hike. The village below is either Fontaine or Sassenage, the two towns just west of Grenoble.

Of course you have to celebrate a successful hike with a tasty dinner and nice bottle of wine! Look closely at the label of the bottle - it was made for us!