Hotel de Ville

UK tourist trapped in French hall

Dannemarie's hotel de ville is one of the town's most impressive buildings

A British tourist has spent a night trapped in a French town hall after mistakenly thinking she could book a room at the "hotel de ville".

The hapless female visitor arrived in the Alsace town of Dannemarie on Friday and tried to find a bed for the night.

Spotting the impressive-looking "hotel de ville", the tourist popped in to use the toilet before trying to check in.

But as she was in the convenience, officials finished a meeting, left the town hall and locked its door.

The solitary traveller, said to be in her 30s, ended up with the inconvenience of spending the night on chairs in the building's lobby.

'Je suis fermer ici'

The woman tried calling for help and switching the town hall lights on and off to attract attention, Dannemarie's mayor, Paul Mumbach, told the BBC.

But her plight went unnoticed until Saturday morning when a passer-by noticed a message she posted on the inside of one of the building's glass doors.

"The note said 'Je suis fermer ici. Est ce possible moi la porte ouvrir?' (I am to close here. Is it possible me the door to open?)" said Mr Mumbach.

"The woman did not speak very much French, but she did make it clear that the next night she would find a proper hotel to sleep in," he said.

Dannemarie is a small town of some 2,500 people near the Swiss and German borders, but the nearest open hotel is in the neighbouring town, said the mayor.

Thanks to the BBC for this one it doesn't need me to add anything at all, except to question how she could have spent so long in the convenience!!

Miles Jefferson

www.chaletdoctors.com

For all your property needs in the French alps

Le Chinaillon

If you are looking for another nice place to eat then you can't go too wrong with the Restaurant La Bouillotte. Taking the wrong way round from Mont Saxonnexe to Annecy we went via the Col de la Colombiere and emerging from the clouds we stopped in Le Chinaillon and were made very welcome.

I had the Diots a local sausage done with pine needles (ecorce de sapin) which although unusual was really good. Nice fresh carrots and mash too.

A splash of red and we were back on our way to Annecy.

5 adults and two kids (adult appetites) with soft drinks and a pichet came to 90€ which I don't think is too bad.

Try it!

Restaurant La Bouillotte
Immeuble l'Aguille Verte
74450
Le Chinaillon
04 50 27 04 22

Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps

Views of the Aguille de Midi and down to Chamonix

We drove up to Bionnassay today along apparently an old route into Italy. The steep and winding road (as the warning signs say) brings you into this delightful hamlet which nestles within spitting distance of the Bionnassay glacier and Mont Blanc itself.

However we were here to have a bit of exercise and, wanting to avoid the extortionate fares on the tramway du mont blanc, were en route to the col de voza. Just above bionnassay there is a carpark, where you can leave your car and a donkey rental station (more on that later). The route is clearly signposted and you won't get lost, but you need strong legs and lungs as it is a steep pull of 25 minutes.

On the way you may pass several people attached to donkeys (or was it the other way around?) as you can apparently hire them for the afternoon or even longer. my observation was though that they all seemed very good at not wanting to move.

This one especially seemed to be one to steer well clear of. Roxanne she is called and we heard her name being called increasingly loudly.

A great example of French donkey mime here at the air courant a nice little drinkery at the col.

See pic below.




The altitude here is 1653 metres but the sun is strong so bring plenty of water. You could even hire a donkey to carry it for you.



Miles Jefferson
www.chaletdoctors.com
For all your property needs in the French alps