On Wednesdays school finishes at 11.45am! With the sun shining and the cable car reopened, we took the opportunity to explore a bit more of our back yard.
I lured the girls out giving them the opportunity to take a return trip on the car cable but only if they promised to explore the Mandrin Caves and walk to the top of Mt Jalla. Thankfully they agreed. After lunch, we sauntered over to the bottom station of the Telepherique de Grenoble Bastille, purchased tickets for a return trip and climbed aboard a glass bubble.
When it opened in 1934, the original cable car consisted of two blue dodecagonal (12 sided) cabins that held 15 people including the operator. These cabins were upgraded in 1951 with rounded boxes painted blue and could accommodate 21 people. In 1976, the spherical glass cabins were installed and quickly nicknamed baubles or bubbles. As the main tourist attraction of Grenoble, these baubles carry around 260,000 people per year.
Being the off season, the Téléphérique was quiet so we were lucky to have a bauble to ourselves. Soaring upwards, it only took 3-4 minutes to travel the 700m (with 270m ascent) to reach the top. 
Once at the top, we made our way to the Mandrin Caves (named after a Dauphinois bandit and smuggler). As part of the Bastille defensive system, these caverns and underground passage were excavated in the cliffs of Mount Jalla allowing troops from the Bastille to move without being seen. Those attacking the Bastille from the Chartreuse direction would cross the glacis then find themselves trapped between fire from opposite directions as the troops located in the caves were able to fire from behind.
The Mandrin caves are not really caves at all. The first section has a series of 'windows' with a wide passage connecting them. The next section, involves descending a flight of stairs before another window appeared. From here the stairs disappeared into complete darkness. We began thinking that a sensor would switch some lights on but it didn't. Luckily I used the light on my phone and after a conference (Ella wanting to go on and Katy wanting to go back) we continued on. Eventually after a nervous few minutes of pitch darkness, a small glow appeared. Our pace quickened as the light at the end of the tunnel brightened! We emerged relieved to have made it!
The small path continued along the base of a large steep stone wall with Mount Jalla in the horizon in front of us. I was confused and very disorientated as to where we had popped out until we turned a corner to find the drawbridge of the Bastille! The girls were not happy that we had to walk up once again past the entrance of the caves to go to the summit of Mount Jalla however an ice cream helped distract them for a while.
Mount Jalla sits at an elevation of 630m and is home to the national memorial to the Mountain Troops, the Blue Devils, who have fallen in combat since their creation in 1888. The wide track slowly climbs before a series of switchbacks brings you up to the saddle. It's a popular walking and running trail with lots of people and their dogs out enjoying the sunshine and slightly warmer weather. Halfway up the switchbacks, remnants of snow and ice partially cover the track providing more distraction for the girls.
At the top, the afternoon haze is beginning to form over Grenoble. Basking on the rocks in the sun, we enjoy an afternoon snack.
The return journey downhill is always faster only stopping briefly for a spot of posing for photos! In no time we arrive at the top station of the cable car and climb into a bauble ready to enjoy the ride down. A great afternoon out.
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