Hello my sunny steeminions !
today I'm going to make you discover my city through a post that I wrote last year when I had only a handful of followers,
and that I want to share today with a wider audience of almost 2.3 K subscribers,
because my city really deserves to be put forward for its beauty and the quality of life which is ours here ...
And also because in these 2000 followers there is the newly arrived @renee-m that is a tsu friend of mine and who loved above all the virtual strolling in the streets of my city, so Renee...this is for you ;-)
Warning for everybody though ! I will make you dream... at the end of this post you will have only one desire : to visit this place of magic ^ _ ^
All the photographies and art in this post(outside of the map) are my own
Annecy chose me about thirty years ago when I did my studies, as to learn the Russian language, I went to the Lycee Berthollet who gives this teaching ...
I was 15 years old and did not really know this city, living about fifty kilometers a little more towards Chamonix and Mont Blanc.
It is from this time that my attachment to this city dates, slowly, without realizing it, during the 3 years of high school, I slipped into this love for this beautiful place, and felt that a Day I would return.
23 years and a life later, I found a charming apartment 10 minutes from the lake,
it was 7 8 years ago now and I have not ceased to be amazed since ^_^
So here I am, I will introduce you to my city,
- not as a tourist guide would,
we do not have time to go around all the offerings of my town in a single post, - not like a tourist brochure that would detail all the places to go,
all these pamphlets already exist because Annecy is a tourist worldly known place ;-)
I will present it to you as my heart knows it,
as my soul sings it,
as I discover it at each glance and never get weary ...
So let's start....
We might as well begin by some geographical data and figures nevertheless, then :
Annecy is a city in southeastern France, in the Massifs of the Northern Alps and next to Chamonix, the Mont-Blanc and very next to Switzerland
Geneva is at about 30 minutes when there is no traffic, which is rather rare, it must be confessed ...
indeed many people work in Geneva and Switzerland because the wages are much more interesting there,
which makes of Annecy an expensive city (many Swiss people also come to live here)
and as the region is beautiful, the tourism is very developed, so the real estate offer is .... VERY EXPENSIVE =O
... for the many people (like me) who do not work in Switzerland, it is more complicated to find accommodation and just live than in any other place in France !
... yes but ...
the quality of life is soooo well worth it!
I rent a small apartment that is not too expensive compared to market prices,
and as said by Anaïs Nin
luxury for me is not a necessity
but the beautiful things are
.... and what is more beautiful than this, Happy Fellows ? :
I know my Lovelies.. this is breathtaking, it always do this WOW feeling the first time
and the second time
and all the times.... =D
I present you the lake Annecy, a lake of very pure clear water we are very proud of,
its periphery is 40 kms,so not the biggest lake but the purest waters ;-)
Annecy is at the bottom end of the lake and this magnificent lake is
as beautiful from above than it is from land ;-)
Indeed, I can prove it :
Yeah, I know, I know... ^_^
Now that we are on land, the visit will start ...
yes of course it has already begun,
because the lake is the central element of our life here, 
it's the one we come to admire,
to whom we entrust our joys and our thoughts,
it is the one who nourishes us with its energy and calmness, its beauty and its majesty ...
Majesty that comes to it from these magnificent mountains
plunging into its sovereign waters and which make that whatever the season,
the place is marvelous, enchanting, beautiful to stay for eternity
This lake, that is central in our lifes, is also kinda central in the city, as it joins the city and pours its quiet waves into a canal that crosses the old town ...
aboard the biggest boat,LE LIBELLULE (the Dragonfly) you will also have a lunch during your journey , and even a dancing diner...Oh my ! ^_^
Now comes the heart of Annecy : its old town
It is a picturesque and timeless place that I never get tired of photographing, I love to restore the quaint and less touristic appearance one can find in most of the clichés that are usually shot of my city
The old town is full of narrow cobblestone streets and its medieval architecture makes it a wonderful place to shot
...One must be there very early to shot an empy street !
Indeed the old town has an energy and a lively mood and streets are usually teeming of people ;-)
THE MARKETS IN THE OLD TOWN
Let me show you one of the simplest enjoyable thing to do while you are in Annecy ^_^
Three times weekly, you can buy your fruits and veggies at the market, but also all sort of local products can be found,
But market days are more than just shopping fresh products,
)it's an opportunity to meet friends at the terrace and to live the sweet life to the familiar and joyful sounds of the market ;-)
THE CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC LIFE OF THE CITY
We have an important cultural complex, national scene, named BONLIEU which broadcasts many shows throughout the year.
To this must be added the various festivals hosted by the city :
- the Italian Film Festival,
- the best known of all, the International Animated Film Festival the place of reference for animation in the world and The International Animation Film Market ~ the Mifa.
- The festivals of the lake in August, which is a great pyrotechnic spectacle of sounds and lights on the lake
And if at the bend of an alley you meet these fancy dressed characters...
...it means you are during of the venitian carnaval that takes place each year in March and gathers thousands of people from all over Europe ...
Annecy is nicknamed Venice Of the Alps because of its channel which crosses the old town, and the Savoyard Venice has also its masked parade and it is truly beautiful and enchanting.
An highly anticipated moment each year ..!
Some events during the summer are poetic and scattered throughout the city :
Isn't that cute and enchanting...?
I love to be filled with wonder, when discovering such artistic surprises in the town ^_^
artworks installed in the Old Haras, last summer 2016
one will always find a picturesque scene in Annecy and especially during artistic happenings in July ;-)
WHAT MAKES ANNECY A UNIQUE PLACE TO PHOTOGRAPH...?
* Wrought iron, stones, wood and old signs
The delicately suranned look of the storefronts is a characteristic of Annecy 's old town buildings
The quaint storefronts and old signs allow me "out of the time" shots
The retro streetlights of the old town always give it a special atmosphere...
* The canal "le Thiou" crossing the old town
The water flows from the lake into the canal running through the old city...with bridges and floodgates, it makes enchanting shots for who knows to wait to the perfect moment...
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The most shot building of Annecy ~The Palais de l'Isle ~ancient jails ...
The canal makes the city looks like Venice ...
* The restaurants and bistro with their unique style and terraces
I hope you have enjoyed this poetic stroll that I wanted to be more visual than descriptive,
I have put energy and days of merry work in order to give a full homage to my city that I cherish so much ^_^
I am happy if I eventually made you eager to visit Annecy
and if you are lucky to travel to France and come here,
I would gladly show you my city in real ^_^
Have a wonderful day my Love-lies ! 
Feel free to
for your DailyWonkieDose ^_^
And follow @luigi-the-gnome's funny adventures =))
and if you are lucky to travel to France and come here,
I would gladly show you my city in real ^_^
Have a wonderful day my Love-lies !
Feel free to for your DailyWonkieDose ^_^
for your DailyWonkieDose ^_^And follow @luigi-the-gnome's funny adventures =))
Oh my god what a truly beautiful place you live!!! Amazing photography @barbara-orenya and great post :D
I'm happy you enjoy the presentation of my city...this is really a beautiful place to visit (even more to live in ... ;-))
Thanks much and have a great day ^_^
What a magnificent blog @barbara-orenya The best ever!!!!! You are a great ambassador for your quaint and very beautiful city of Annecy. I think they should make you 'Lady Mayoress' of this enchanting city. I have admired this place you call, "Home" for a while now (through your skillful images and prose) but sadly from afar........until now. Because you have brought it into my home with passion, vision and artistic flare. You have blended the poetic, the visual and the descriptive qualities so beautifully my friend and it gives me so much pleasure to share this superbly enjoyable post.
Thank you very much for your beautiful words my dear Trudee ! It's my pleasure to bring you the best of my city and I'm happy it enchanted you ^_^
It certainly did enchant me Barbara. You works of art have that effect on me.........and many others.
I have to tell you Barbara, your Annecy posts are one of my all time favorites. Truly beyond beautiful 🌸💖🌸
It's so kind of you my dear Lena ^_^
Always a pleasure Barbara 🌸💖🌸
I just felt in love with your city!! Looks amazing , everything, amazing!! I love all the photographs! Thank you so much dear Barbara for sharing this! I love it!🌺💗🌸😍😍😍
This is one of my absolute favorite kinds of posts, really takes me on a journey with lovely photos. Resteeming to share the joy and so your hard work has more of a chance to be rewarded.
I'm happy you enjoyed the stroll @twirble !Thank you very much for supporting ^_^
a very nice city friend
wow, all the pictures are very good, thanks for sharing friend
I'm very glad for you @barbara-orenya. You have an original style in editing photos which make your city look like a place from a fairy tale. Beautiful photos and story :)
What's a fabulous place :) I am in love :) I have seen all of your posts which I missed them :) Like always excellent work :) I need to also visit Luigi :) Have a wonderful day :)
Your first two photos look like pigmented watercolors.....I really love them.
Oh my goodness....I would love to visit there - maybe even live there. It's so quaint and friendly looking. No wonder you are where you are.
Lovely and informative read. Thank you for reposting this gem.
Indeed, I'm glad more person can discover my beautiful town ;-) Thanks a lot@countrygirl and have a wonderful evening ^_^
You got a 18.32% upvote from @upmewhale courtesy of @barbara-orenya!
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That was exactly what my heart needed this morning. A dose of one of my favorite places on earth! And you presented it all perfectly!
I know you was lucky to stay in Annecy for real my dear, and maybe one day you will come back here and I would be more than happy to make you the visit ;-)
have a sweet evening my friend ! ^_^
Amazing place . More and more I see it I am pretty sure that I should see it one day :)
With all your travels around the earth, you both should come here one day for sure ;-) It is kinda neighborhood from Poland so to speak...LoL
Oh my, I am so happy to come upon this post. I have often desired to come to France to enjoy some of the country.... your post made that desire come to life again... So beautiful and you are so fortunate to enjoy such beauty.
Ooh yes I am aware of my good fortune and never tired of admiring all the beauties there and around ... ^_^ Thanks a lot for your appreciation @sunscape, and if you come to France you really have to visit here, and we will walk together in the the beautiful streets ;-)
Aww that is so sweet, I never know from year to year where my next vacation will be.... lol I just follow my heart and fly. ;-)
LoL this is also my style ;-)
Not only I enjoy this trip, I absolutely love it! You're so lucky to live in such a gorgeous place and be so close to the lake!
Indeed I feel blessed, even if it is a real choice of living, in an expensive place with not much money but the most important treasures like the view, the lake, the mountains, the fabulous architecture, all of that is free to enjoy for me, so that is worth while... ;-)
Bonjour Barbara, Excellent article!
merci ma belle ! Bon dimanche ! ^_^
What a gorgeous place you live in 😊
I love your style of photography too 😊
I would love to come and visit one day as its such a wonderful place 😊
Wow sometimes I can't tell if it's a photo with an artwork or an artwork with a photo. Kinda confusing but still lovely nonetheless.
Now I want to live there one day. Huhu.
Hehe ! ^_^ Thanks for your appreciation @artgirl ;-) Indeed Annecy is a place to at least visit one time if possible =)) Living here is a dream come true for a lot of people, despite the expensive life, but the view of all these beauties is free, so it is a conscient choice for me anyway ;-)