With a mix of excitement and a touch of wistfulness, departure day has arrived. The adventure of moving day: from southern comfort to alpine bliss was finally here. Saturday was here, and it was time to set off on our next adventure! It’s wild how much life you can pack into just six weeks. My Airbnb had been a perfect little haven, a cozy, centrally located nest that made exploring the city feel effortless. It quickly became home, and leaving it behind felt bittersweet.
The Morning of the Adventure of Moving Day
That morning I was ready to roll! Bags packed, dogs walked and just as I was catching my breath the Uber driver pulled up right on time. We had planned this rendezvous days ago, and he wasted no time. Gallantly stepping out of the car, he tackled my mini mountain of bags with such efficiency. Honestly, I couldn’t help but marvel at how much “stuff” I’d manage to accumulate in such a short amount of time. What is it about travel that turns some of us into accidental collectors?
A Quick Lesson About Metrics
Now, I have to share a hilarious rookie mistake from a few weeks back. A lesson about the metric system that I won’t soon forget. While buying dog food at a pet food store, I decided to order a “larger size” bag to save me some trips and make life easier down the road in Annecy. In my best French, I asked if they had anything bigger than the usual 1.5 kg (3 lb ) bag. The kind shop assistant said yes and offered to special order it for me, “Why not make it two!” I said confidently, feeling very prepared and very French.
The Adventure of Moving Day – Finally Here
Fast forward to pick-up day, I squeezed into the tiny pet store (seriously, it’s the size of a large walk-in closet) and was greeted with “Bonjour Madame!” And, then I saw them! My “larger” bags of dog food were 14 kg (30 lb) each taking up an inordinate amount of space by the checkout counter in the store. One bag was practically the size and weight of my larger dog! What a lesson learned, understanding the metric system is afterall pretty important.
Needless to say, both of the colossal bags made the journey with us, loaded into the Uber alongside my other belongings. Bless my Uber driver, he even brought a nice blanket for the dogs for their 6 hour trek north.
The drive itself was pure magic. We chatted away in a delightful mix of French and broken French (mine of course), with him patiently helping me find the right words. Every couple of hours he’d kindly suggest a break. I couldn’t have asked for a more considerate travel companion.
Finally in Annecy
We reached Annecy in the late afternoon, with the golden daylight highlighting its charm. Nestled in the French Alps and just a half an hour from Geneva, this picturesque city was already stealing my heart. But, of course, there was a twist, the street the Airbnb was on was closed to cars for the month, creating an additional pedestrian walkway during the holiday season. There are always unanticipated twists during the adventure of moving day.
Here is a nice read from National Geographic about Annecy.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/weekend-in-annecy-french-alps
No problem for my superhero Uber driver! After meeting the apartment manager in a nearby parking lot, he insisted I take the dogs to the apartment while he single-handedly hauled my belongings. Four trips later everything was safely inside. I couldn’t have been more grateful for his kindness and professionalism.
This journey was “packed” with lessons, laughs and moments of awe. From kibble calamities to Alpine splendor. It’s clear that adventures aren’t so much where you go but it’s about the incredible people and stories along the way. Feeling so thankful and grateful to be able to meet such kind people and experience such adventures.
Thanks for being here,
-Soraya
Curious to know how I got my dogs over to France from the US? Packing, Passports, and Paws