This isn’t just a travel guide, this is us, on the Balcony
Once upon a time, in a little village called Thollon les Memises, in the hills above Lake Geneva, there lived an adventurer. Yes… It’s me!
Hello there, I’m Lindsay, creator of Tales from the Balcony and I’m so happy you’re here.
I’ve been visiting this beautiful corner of France for over 15 years, but I began writing about France and the Haute Savoie when I found myself accidentally living there during the pandemic.
As a lover of mountains and beaches, this little corner of France offered me both shed loads of snow in winter and sun-drenched shorelines in summer. A perfect combination. When I had to return to Scotland a couple of years ago, I thought that dream was over.
But wait a minute… I still have so many things to tell you about this extraordinary place. Not just French village life in the foothills of the Alps, or about Lake Geneva and it’s iconic towns and cities, but also the history, the art, the food and that unmistakably French ‘Je ne sais quoi’.
So, I’ve picked up my pen again and I’d love to take you with me. I’m updating my favourite stories from Tales from the Balcony and adding new discoveries over the coming months.
I’ll show you how to get there, where to go and where to stay, how to explore without a car and the little local details that make all the difference.
There’ll be day trips and longer trips using Thollon as a base. I’ll tempt you with Tarte Tatin and Tartiflette and even give you my honest thoughts on what it’s really like to buy and sell and apartment in France.
But this is more than just a travel guide.
This is us, on the Balcony, looking out over the silvery blue waters of Lake Geneva. In the distance, the rolling hills and villages of the Vaud in Switzerland. A train glints in the sun as it winds its way from Montreux to Lausanne along the opposite shore. Red kites swirl overhead on their their way north. Cowbells drift up from the meadows beneath the Balcony.
And then there’s the breeze….no wait…. that’s the sound of a deep sigh as you sink into your chair on the Balcony, coffee in hand, and realise that in some places, all is still right with the world.
I hope you enjoy some of the stories and posts on Tales from the Balcony. Perhaps they’ll inspire you to visit this part of France for yourself. You won’t be disappointed.
Don’t forget that the Balcony doors are always open. There’s coffee on the hob and wine in the fridge. So, if you’d like to see more you can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook.