Day 7 & 8: The Alps and Southern France

Our Tuesday morning started out with a brief 5 minute drive to a small pasture that was home to a group of Heren mountain dairy cows, near Trient, Switzerland. The sound of the bells that the cows wore around their necks was absolutely great. The cows have short legs and can survive on minimal food, which is perfect for the region in which they are grazing. After some time with the cow herd we traveled through the rest of the mountains and back into France where we saw the summit of Mont Blanc (White Mountain) which was at 15,000 feet. We stopped in the town of Chamonix which is a main ski town for the area and held the first ever Winter Olympics, very cool place. Later we toured the Chartruese Distiller where we were able to try a couple different kinds of liquors made from plants and herbs. Two bottles of liquor have a secret recipe that only two monks are allowed to know and produce at the factory.

The following is a video of the the cattle and the sound of all the bells:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9g0Og8513Y

The detail on the leather was so cool.

Mont Blanc

Chartruese Distillery- Voiron Where a special liquor is made that only two monks know the secret recipe for.

On Wednesday we drove to Southern France to visit a truffle farm near Grignan, have lunch in Nyon and then later tour ancient ruins of a Roman city in the afternoon. Truffles is a type of mushroom that grows near the roots of Oak trees. They are considered a delicacy in French cooking and are very expensive. The truffles have a very strong smell and the producer uses a lab canine to search out the truffle.

Lab searching for truffles in the dirt. Once she retrieves one, the owner rewards with a treat.

A fresh truffle.

Our lunch in Nyons of ravioli filled with shrimp and fresh vegetables, with a pesto basil sauce.. Very good!

Back side of the Roman theater.

A room in an old Roman mansion.

They had beautiful flooring with exquisite detail.

They would plaster the walls an paint them very vibrant colors, but not much was able to be preserved.

Tomorrow we are off to a lavender museum, olive oil mill, rice fields, and then a boat tour on the sea to the Rhone river mouth.