
(1) Crossing the Alps on the way from Munich (Munchen) to Marseille.
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The first part of the Alps that becomes visible may be the Jungfrau area near Interlaken, one of my favorite places in Europe. The Jungrau is one in a series of massive peaks to the northeast of the Matterhorn (also visible in this photo on the right): 
As we fly a little further south, the distinctive shape of the Matterhorn becomes more readily visible.

Soon after, there is another massive set of peaks with the main peak to the left and a glacier running north around it. It is too early for the Rhone-Alps glaciers near Mont Blanc, so it is likely that this is the glacier from Mont Collon, near Arolla, Switzerland.

Mont Blanc is visible near the end of the higher Alps. However, the Alps run all the way into the Mediterranean near Marseille, hence the Alps of the Haute Provence where we will visit a deep canyon, France’s Grand Canyon. Mont Blanc is at the very far right in this next photo:

As we leave the higher alps, green valleys and towns become more common:


Studying the map did not allow me to exactly pinpoint the name of this lake, but I suspect it is Lac de Mauvoisin:


The end of the higher Alps is evident in this photo showing we are now well below the snow line in the direction we are flying:

Finally, Grenoble is the city with two rivers and strange round building in between them near their confluence. The two rivers are the Drac and Isere.

The strange building is the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, according to Wikipedia it is a joint research facility supported by 19 countries (18 European countries and Israel). It contains the most powerful synchrotron radiation source in Europe, and is generally considered to be a world leading research facility. Research focuses mainly on the use of X-ray radiation in the study of chemicals and materials, as well in physics experiments. A synchrotron provides more energy and resolution than is allowed by normal x-ray sources.

Next, we approach the coast and are greeted by coastal fair-weather cumulus with just a little, non-threatening buildup from the day's heating:

Below the clouds lies an appealing terrain

We fly out over the Mediterranean and come back for the landing:


Finally we drive to go to the Riviera at Giens’ Presqu’ile (photo taken when leaving Marseille):

This is the countryside near Marseille, very colorful and peaceful, even pretty:

And this is a view (taken when leaving Marseilles) of that funny-looking foot sticking out of Provence, the place where we will spend a few days next:

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Links to other 'Septober' trip pages:
(2) Sunset on the Giens Peninsula where my first set of meetings took place.
(3) Sunrise on the Giens Peninsula. (I took no photos of the city where my second meeting took place, Toulon).
(4) A visit to the north rim of France's Grand Canyon, in Provence.
(5) A visit to the south rim of Provence's Grand Canyon.
(6) The ITER site near Cadarache.
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