With Pebbles, the Queen of Le Châble, perched on my lap we braved the fresh autumn snow fall and headed from Le Châble in Switzerland, to Annecy in France for lunch. ‘Man the windows!’ Accidentally Cultured constantly wailed.  Pebbles digestive system was extra bad today and I was beginning to agree she needed to stay on the gluten free diet.  A particularly bad moment is captured in this photo! ‘Look! Look! Look!  You’re not looking!’ Odd as it may seem, AC was convinced I was not looking at this magnificent pink Church nestled in Trient Valley, encased within the snow-clad Alps. ‘What the hell is going on here?’ This was […]

Amersfoort is a hidden gem!  The medieval old town abounds with history and culture.  So, here is a glimpse of what the city has to offer! Amersfoort is a flourishing city with beautiful suburbs and a well-preserved medieval old town. And, it all began as a prosperous merchant town which was granted a city charter in 1259. Remarkably, it still has its city walls, canals and ancient dwellings.  In its medieval heyday it was famous not just as a pilgrim destination, but also for its beer brewing! Pilgrimage to Amersfoort Pilgrims flocked to Amersfoort in the hopes that the Virgin Mary would reward them with a miracle. In medieval times […]

“I refuse to eat that Gruyère cheese!’  In other words, Accidentally Cultured (AC for short) will only eat Australian Bega cheese. This was his constant complaint all the way from Le Châble to Gruyères, along with, “I’m going to freeze my balls off!” or “I want my thermal underwear!” I’m not sure which he feared the most, the cheese or the cold. But I had to admit, there was a very nasty chill in the air. And, a very cold wind ruffled the golden autumn leaves. Gruyères Castle The approach to Gruyères Castle is stunning! The medieval, fortified Castle stands high above the surrounding village, glowing golden in the autumn foliage. Nevertheless, […]

  Driving to Mont Blanc Today was the first snow fall of the season! The road from Martigny in Switzerland to Mont Blanc in France was mesmerising. The entire landscape was coated in soft, glowing white sun-lit powder.  It was sheer magic! ‘Gareth, I really want to go up there in the cable car!’ I had just caught sight of the Mont Blanc massif. And my photographer’s eye was gleaming. “Not on my radar!” said Accidentally Cultured (AC for short) trembling with fear. It’s a photographer’s paradise to ascend to the peaks in the cable car.  Having a little jest I suggested we do this. But, even Gareth, champion skier […]