Mountains, fondue and pamplemousse rosé

We arrived safely in Morzine, with the wonderful Jodi picking us up in Geneva (and navigating the tiny mountain roads with flair, I might add!) The first order of business was naturally cracking open a bottle of pamplemousse rose and enjoying some local cheese and tapenades on Jodi and Math's front deck! And check out the mountain view in the background...

The beautiful town of Morzine, seen from a hiking trail (yes, we managed to stop eating cheese for long enough to go for a walk!) The town itself is nestled in the valley between several ski slopes - the resort is called the Portes du Soleil, with runs in both France and Switzerland.

The gondola that runs right beside the house! And a beautiful sunset over the mountains. 

One night we decided to make a cheese fondue, (a regional specialty!), so we headed over to the local frutiere - a new name for me for a cheese store - to pick up the perfect mix of fondue cheese. Check out that cheese slicer! She means business. 

 Our delicious cheese fondue dinner, complete with red wine in baby bottles! The idea originated from a fondue restaurant that Jodi and Math went to in Montmartre, but Tom and I weren't able to get to, so we decided to bring a bit of Paris to the Alps! Tom definitely got a few strange looks buying 4 baby bottles in a pharmacy in Lyon...

Jodi's been spoiling us with delicious home-baked goods, including these cranberry scones with orange-honey butter! YUM. 

Just we felt completely immersed in French culture, Jodi, Tom and I went to the 9th Annual Cheese fest in Bellevaux. The festival, though pretty tiny, was so classically French it was amazing! IT was celebrating cheeses from the Haute-Savoie region, including L'Abondance, Beaufort, Reblochon and Tomme de Savoie. There were donkey races, a polka band and free cheese tastings. What more could you want?!

Though it's hard to tell from this photo, the festival was perched waaay up on a mountain side in the middle of nowhere - you had to climb some serious switchbacks to get there. What was most amazing was the number of people there - people were piling        by the hundreds! 

And what's a cheese fest without some wine? Here we are representing the tricolores, of France!

Next was a visit to Thonon-Les-Bains, the closest big town. It's right on Lac Leman, the same lake as Geneva, Lausanne and Evian. It's also home to a really delicious ice cream stand :)

The Chateau Ripaille, a castle and vineyard in Thonon. Dating from the 13th century, it was bought in the 1800's and completely restored by a wealthy family. It now produces red, white and rose wines (which we tried, naturally!)

Tom enjoying the local vintages found in the castle's cellar!

The weather turned pretty hot, so we all headed to the beach between Thonon and Evian (seen on the far peninsula). The beach had everything - topless women, a dance show and swans swimming along the pebble beach!