Off to Lausanne
Trip Start
Apr 26, 2005
1
4
15
Trip End
Ongoing
Lausanne, Switzerland
Friday, April 29, 2005
A little walk down the avenue & then we hopped on the train to go to Chatelet and then a short walk over the Seine to see Notre Dame. What a grand cathedral it is. The stained glass windows are just as beautiful as ever. I still think that Notre Dame has to be where God lives whenever He visits Paris!
Walking back from there we went into a part of Paris we haven't seen before - the area near the subway station of Hotel de Ville and close to the St. Paul subway stop also. It's a nice, picturesque area, and one where we'll spend a bit more time exploring next time we are there.
From there it was back to the hotel to collect our bags & head for the train station, Gare de Lyon, to catch our train to Lausanne, Switzerland. If you're ever catching a train there be sure to go to the right part of the station. We were waiting for the train & I asked someone what track it would be on - turns out it was in another part of the station. Just a short walk, but if we hadn't asked we could have been still waiting as our train departed. Also, you can take your own food on the TGV trains so I recommend that, too - you'll probably get better & more interesting food if you plan ahead & buy it before boarding.
Just 4 hours later & we were in Lausanne and soon after that, checked into our hotel, Hotel Angleterre & Residence, which is right across from the lake. Great weather again & just right for a long walk along the lake - nearly 2 hours worth of waling down the path & back along the road and a bit through the park. This walk took us in front of the Olympic park - Lausanne is home for the Olympic committee. After our return it was time for some dinner at the Pirate Restaurant (odd name, but decent food) of perch (wonder if it's from Lake Leman?) and some pretty decent Chardonnay from a nearby winery.
Day 4 - up early again and I can see a swan having his morning bath in the cold waters of Lake Leman. The mountains across the lake are capped with snow and the sun is poking through some light clouds. We're heading for the mountains today, but there's still snow up there so not sure what we'll find - will let you know in the next update.
