Manuel Valls tries to spoil our day: he fails!

So who is Manuel Valls? Well we now know he is Prime Minister of France and he decided to visit Montenvers, Mer de Glace on the same day as we decided to visit. He does not come alone as he bought all the civic dignatories that Chamonix could muster, a bevy of MPs, and most of the Gendarmes in France all in body armour and sub machine guns at the ready! The Gendarmes were kept busy by at least one lady protester who needed three of these Gendarmes to wrestle her to the ground. His visit was to show he cared about climate change ( the glacier is receding fast and soon there may not be a tourist attraction left!) and the protesters were saying he did not really care!

A short walk from our hotel to the lower station of the rack railway up to Montenvers, Mer de Glace

The ticket office: I have photo shopped all the crowds of people out by using a photo taken last evening!

Prime Minister's shiny train!

Arriving at Montenvers, a half hour ride into the mountains

A bit basic!

A Military Band to greet us!

Mer de Glace glacier

 When we got to the top we were expecting to go some of the way down by cable car but it did not seem to be running so we headed off down this steep path. Half way down we were turned back by a plain clothed security official who told us access to the glacier was closed from then until early afternoon, so dejected we returned! On complaining back at Montenvers we were told the cable car was running all day so we went down on it!

 The cable car only runs on demand. It was not running so we all thought it was closed!

So down the 400 steps to the ice cave
 

And not so easy up the 400 steps at close on 2,000 metres altitude!

Machine for creating the ice cave

Waiting for our return train
 

Company on the way down!

Views of Chamonix on the way down

Shame it is no longer steam!

Waiting for the Prime Minister?

Afternoon spent exploring Chamonix and some shopping after an Ice Cream!

A well earned Cuppa!

After extensive research we decided to eat here this evening

 We had hoped to do the cable car up the other side of Chamonix to get views of Mont Blanc but it was closed for post summer and pre winter overhaul!

Middle station
 

Chamonix base station - closed!

First stage

Top Station

So back to the hotel (our room on second floor and James directly above) to pack for the journey home on Saturday!

Day trip to Italy....by cable car

When we woke up the weather was a bit cloudy and misty and cold. By 8am the sun began to break through and by 9 it was wall to wall sun. So we decided to do the Aiguille Du Midi which included the panoramic cable car to Italy. We expected grand views back down to Chamonix and of the mountains including Mont Blanc: we were not disappointed!

 This was the view of Aiguille Du Midi (3842 metres) from Chamonix before we left on the first cable car

The base station in Chamonix - a short walk from our hotel
 

We are on our way
 

We leave the first Gondola and make our way to the second stage
 

Aiguille du Midi - the famous walkway! Bit of a let down
 

The final panoramic ride was in small cabins across the mountain range with stupendous views over the glaciers and the final station was just over the border with Italy

Yes, tower cranes 3,000 metres up. This was the view into Italy (Courmeyer)



The Viewing platform
 

Tea and a coffee 3.5 euro!

The cable cars run in groups of three

Mont Blanc 4,810 metres in the middle

The 'step in the void' which James did after a long queue. The girl in front of him spent ages doing three handstands: which were specifically banned!

The aerial walkway: this was the only place where we felt the -14C cold!

Our hotel in the centre from 3,000 metres......
 

.....and from 1000 metres, or at Chamonix level!

Mont Blanc from our balcony

Back into Chamonix looking for somewhere to eat

Settled on this restaurant as James wanted to try their.....

......Profiteroles

A simply fab day: weather could not have been better. Forecast for our last day in France tomorrow as good.