Sunday, September 29, 2013

Trip to Lausanne, Switzerland

Misty and I completed our Europe trip with a couple of days in Lausanne, Switzerland.  Lausanne is a city on the shores of Lake Geneva in the French-speaking part of Switzerland.   Lake Geneva separates Switzerland from France.


With its cobblestone roads, narrow alleyways, ivy covered buildings, the surrounding vineyards, and views of Lake Geneva - it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

To get to Lausanne we took a train from Munich.  The train ride was relaxing and very scenic.



These are a few pictures from the train. 

 Vineyards in Switzerland.

A view from the train. 

Another view very close to Lausanne. 

 We stayed in a terrific hotel called Le Bourg 7.  I did not know anything about the hotel before I booked a room through Priceline.com.  It was a terrific surprise.  One of the nicest places I have stayed.  Very charming hotel with a terrific staff.

 This is a picture of the outside of the hotel.

 The lobby of Le Bourg.

 The view out our window in the hotel room at night.

 One of the alleys by the hotel.  

 The view out our window the next morning.

 Flowers outside one of the buildings.

A view from inside the Le Bourg 7 lobby. 

Another picture inside the Le Bourg 7 lobby. 

A picture of a nearby church. 

 Notice the grapes vines above.

With ripe grapes. 

One of the many old world streets. 


 This is a terrific little Italian cafe that we had 3 meals at.  It was right on the water.

This is a view of the country side from the shores of Lake Geneva.

A view of the lake.

More pictures of the lake and surrounding countryside.


This is a picture from one of the little children's play areas right on the lake.


A duck.

This is a picture of the homes and vineyards around the lake.



I am not exactly sure what this is.  Maybe a diving board?  However, the water is very shallow so I am not sure if this can be used as a diving board.  I have no idea.

A rock beach.

This is a little cafe where people we enjoying a lunch beside the lake.

Some people playing ping-pong.

Paddle boarding.

These flowers attracted a huge number of bees.

This was our lunch.  A burger and chicken salad.  I know, I know - very American.  




This was a cool little book store.

Another view of the church just outside our hotel.

There were so many neat views in the city.





I was amazed to see candy cigarettes.  Something you just don't see anymore in the United States.  

The bus system in Lausanne was very good.  I was amazed that they ran on electricity (see the lines above).

This is a man swimming in Lake Geneva. 


A swan sunbathing.

This was a fairy that took people from one side of the lake (in Switzerland) to the other side (into France).  

Local kids playing on a halfpipe.  

a soccer field just outside a school on the shores of Lake Geneva.

One of the statues at the school.

One of the many streams that flowed from the hillside into Lake Geneva.  

The old buildings were incredible.  


Another example of the incredible sites around town.  



Misty loved these flowers.


One of several water wells around town.


Views of the lake at night.


This was the floor of a restroom (i.e., WC) at our hotel.  It had a lighted cannel containing personal photos of the hotel owners family and friends.

This is a picture of a giant wine rack / storage in a hotel lobby connected to the Zurich airport.