8.16.24 // 3 Years Ago in Chamonix

Three years ago, I took my first step into the Chamonix city limits.
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It was just a day trip from Geneva and the thought was a big mountain adventure awaited. I had heard the rumors of iconic trails and big mountains, but when the bus arrived, and I took my first deep breath of Chamonix air, the spell was cast.
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I had never heard of love at first sight when it came to a place, but I had just experienced it. I watched as the countless colorful paragliders swooped overhead, and I felt the mountains holding me in a deep embrace with ridges to both the east and the west. Mont Blanc cast an inspiring bright glow over the homes with Swiss chalet-like exposed beams and balconies bursting with bright flowers and French architecture.
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It was August 15th, 2021.
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The world was coming back online after the pandemic.
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The city center was bustling but calm. For the first time in my life, my heart whispered in my mind that I was home. I couldn't believe it. Every part of me yearned to find a way to stay rooted between the mountains, next to the silt-blue river winding its way through town.
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But it was only a day trip... which eventually turned into a week-long trip... and then a many-week solo stay in the following months.
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After that first day's visit, I fell so in love with Chamonix that I eventually returned with my Dad and stepmom in tow. "This is the town I'm madly in love with," I whispered through wide-open eyes and a grin that could barely be contained.
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But then my life changed—everything changed. After that last visit, I took two years off from Chamonix. I knew I wanted to return but felt anxious about my arrival. I had changed... had the valley changed too?
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And the valley has changed. The streets are crowded with people and children, and the trails are filled with so many more tourists, and yet her beauty and buzzing energy remain. My heart still gently whispers to my soul, "I'm home."