Day 14: June 19th, wednesday

Another castle Karen will never get to see but looks good in photo

 Chambery, France for a quick overnight stop en route to le mans from Genova, Italy.

June 19th Tom, leaving Genova, drives down one way street in front of Policia station.  He is yelled at in Italian by multiple dock workers and the Police officer.  Still riled and driving through the Alps  the Policia pull alon side and give hand unknonwn hand gestures.   By now Tom is very flustered and has to stop for a break in the bathroom pulls the cord hanging from the ceiling to flush the toilet but it turns out this is the  emergency cord....  He tried to tip the maitre dee to let him know that he is sorry for setting off the alarm - but this is insulting and he chases Tom out of restaurant to return the  fifty cents.

So ... off to France.  We are greeted at the border by people in uniform waving us one way and then another and finally into the entirely wrong lane that requires a card to get through and no one to raise the gate.  Finally Tom gets out and and talks to people in car behind him.  OK  -- everyone needs to back up and let me out of here.

When we finally get to the correct lane they smile and say $60 to drive through a tunnel.  Granted this was a nice tun but.... we are not sure who is ripping us off more, the italians or the french for their road use?

We stop in chambery thinking it looks like a nice village in the alps about half way between genova and le Mans (11 hours total) but it is a big historic city with not much parking.  Tourist info finds us Brit Hotel near shopping mall outside of town and it's a perfect french version of a motel 6 -- sheer luxury to us after living aboard the Il Gioia for 3 nights, showering at the public pool without shampoo and praying every morning the public restroom will open early..... 

Fondue and typical Savoie dishes (grilled trout, perch and some type of steak as the kids meal).  Tomas has a rough night, we learn he is terrified of gnats or small flies.  as well as can't chew steak very well.

Le Lac du Bourget?