Paul and I were off to Grenoble for the weekend today to visit Paul's friend Susan from college. The road to Grenoble from Turin was filled with many tunnels and even more toll gates to pay for the tunnels and other road access. I actually think that is kind of a good idea...charging for road use and such. Needless to say, the drive was beautiful. The French side of the trip was especially beautiful with many castles and sweeping vistas along the way with the Alps as a background.
Besides a lot of wonderful time with Susan's family in Voreppe, a village just outside of Grenoble that included lots of incredible food, cheeses, and coffee we did get a little sight seeing in too. The big trip was to the tram in Grenoble up to the old fort. My first green discovery was that the tram was powered with green power and the sign hanging right by 'les boulles' little cabins made sure everyone knew it. The view from atop the fort, La Bastille, was incredible and I even discovered a little mural celebrating recycling.
Later, in Grenoble, we stopped by the local Sunday market which had quite a few local and organic options. I noticed all the organics were labeled "bio" so not sure if they were organic, or even better...biodynamic. Best of all, while sipping a bit of espresso outside a street cafe, a Prius drove right up and parked in front of us. How picturesque, Non? The last evening we had dinner at Chateau de la Commanderie, a former "maladrery de la Levade” or "leper-house" of Templiers up until the 1300s. The castle of course has an amazing history that stretches back into the 1200s. Chateau de al Cammanderie is where is staged my own little mini protest, what I call my last action in France, my sustainable style stand...I refused to order any foie gras! on the grounds of it being animal cruelty, so should you. Now I grew up on a farm in Nebraska eating lots of meat (including a few chickens that I had become best friends with as they were growing) so I don't have too many issues with eating meat (must be organic, I prefer to personally know the farmer/butcher, and I always take a moment to honor the animal) but the modern day practice of stuffing food down the throats of geese and ducks is just sad all around. On the way back home, we ran across a road sign identifying the local hydro power plant. Kind of neat that that they brought attention to it.
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