With a couple days up our sleeves before the French Painting Workshop started, we had time to get our bearings and explore the lake and old town of Annecy. The town is just over the Swiss border and sits on a a series of canals that run out of a beautiful, spring fed lake. The town and lake are surrounded by the spectacular French Alps, so that postcard feeling of alpine bliss is everywhere.

Two small Painting Inspectors watch with a critical eye.

There is very little the French wont eat. We enjoyed snails, frogs legs and a selection of various internal organs transformed into mouth watering delicacies in this little restaurant.

Annecy hosted the International Animation Festival while we were there.

This giant inflatable screen and elaborate sound system provided a lake side outdoor venue for the festival.

Red chairs in the rain.

Lecturers from the Annecy Conservatorium pose for us as we paint the ancient entry door.

We had rain on the first day of the workshop then, fortunately,  fine weather for the remainder

Annecy public gallery in the old castle.(Noreen dancing sideways)

Wild wooden horses

     Border confusion.

Produce Markets keep the town busy three days a week.

 Fromage

Tiger riding bike

 Straw to line the nest.

 This dog carries brandy to lost soles in the alps

 Day one, painting in the rain