Postcard from Switzerland: Day 9 Touring Lausanne

After a day of sightseeing, we decided to take a dip in the pool. The water was extremely refreshing but first we had to use the net to remove a multiple of bugs that had ended up in the pool since yesterday. What is it with bugs anyway? Don’t they know they can’t swim? . . . . .or . . . .are they all kamikaze pilots and think if they dive bomb into the water they will be saving someone or making some kind of point. Or . . .. . . .are they just so darn hot they think committing suicide is worth being cooled off for at least a few moments. I think I will see if I can get a research grant to study that.

Went to Lausanne today to see the Cathedral. It was worth the 20 minute drive on the freeway with the top down on the car and the breeze flowing through. It is an incredible work of architecture. It was started in the early 1100’s and completed in the early 1200’s. Every time I go into one of these structures I am awed by the creative ability of early man and their skills. At one time it housed the famous golden Madonna but during the reformation the statue was melted down for the gold. Apparently some of the gold nuggets from it are still housed in some museum in Switzerland – like they really know those coins are from the Madonna. It totally amazes me that generations of people can protect one little item for the future generations and not misplaced it. I know that it my family had been in charge of say . . . . .the crucifix . . . . . it probably would have been turned into something like a bookshelf rather than little splitters to be sold in the tourist shops inside the Vatican. Our ancestors were totally clever people to think of preserving these things.

Anyway, it’s all a croc of crap, but an impressive croc of crap.

Attached view of Lausanne and the Cathedral

Postcards from Switzerland: Day 8 Poking around Town

Hey. How’s it going, eh?

We spent yesterday poking around Vevey. Quite quaint. Had 2 cokes at McDonald’s…..7 francs, which is about $9,00 Canadian. No way we could retire here…way too expensive, but what a great place to stay for a month.
Picture 1: E is desperately looking for a Carefour, but just can’t seem to find one. I am looking for naked women, but can’t find any either. So far, not a good day.
Picture 2: I was admiring the Swiss Army Knives, when the salesman and I struck up a conversation about Why The Hell the Swiss even need an army or a knife. He was non-pulsed, and invited me to the back of the store to look at some “serious” knives. One of the knives was about six feet tall, and took at least 2 men to lug it around. He pushed one button, and a tent popped out, which then inflated. He pushed another one, and a rocket launcher popped out. No rockets…..that is another button, but he wouldn’t show that one to me.
I pushed another button, and a white flag popped out, and said, “Don’t shoot! We’re neutral!” The guy said they are working on a French version that says “Don’t shoot! We give up! We gave up before! We give up today! We give up in the future!”
I would have bought one of these knives, but Ev and I couldn’t lift it. Not to mention how we could get it on the plane.
Picture 3: Some building or other.
Picture 4: Some building or other.

Evelyn here – the architecture here is stunning.. . . . . . .very French, which of course it is. Lots of pretty balconies with loads of flowers. I just love it.

Saw a wedding car today – a silver Porsche Carrera . . . . .obviously someone rich (there is a lot of that going around here). For decorations the car had a centerpiece of roses on the hood and then some white ribbon and bows – a little different than we do in Canada.

Turned the corner and came to the City Hall where all marriages have to happen first. Posing out front was a small wedding party. . . . . . .a much younger bride and a much older groom (do the words “sugar daddy come to mine). It struck me immediately but Mike was still talking about the car.

Fresh fish for dinner again. Just melts in your mouth . . . . . .so good here. They get it out of the Lake.

Some other building

Some Building

Evelyn looking for Carefour

Swiss army knives

Postcards from Switzerland: Day 7 Immersed in Culture

We have been housesitting for one week now and if all the people and all the homes were like this I would highly recommend it.

The family are so very nice and friendly. They wanted us to meet Alexandre’s mother when they were here last Saturday but she had just had surgery and wasn’t feeling well that day. She was flying out later in the week to meet the family.

On Tuesday evening, Elaine, Alexandre’s mother came by for a visit and brought her good friend. Elaine is a tiny little French lady from St. Marlo, Fr originally. She still has an apartment there on the beach that she will go to for a few weeks after visiting with Alexandre and Tanya.

We had a wonderful visit. She was so friendly and her English was excellent (she spent a year in England learning the language). Her and her husband, whom she met while she was visiting Geneva, had their own business. They supplied marine materials for the enormous number of boat and yacht owners in the region. The also owned a mini golf course – but that was just for fun. They would work all day at their shop and then go run the golf course in the evening – just because they enjoyed how much fun everyone was having there. He died very suddenly ten years ago from a sudden infection.

After our visit she asked us to come and visit her on Wednesday at her place. We graciously accepted. Her place, which she kept calling the Attic, turned out to be the penthouse in an apartment in Vevy close to the lake. She has a deck that runs completely around the building giving amazing views of the town, the lake, and the mountains. Her apartment is huge at least 1200 sq ft.

She was leaving on Thursday from Geneva to Bordeaux where Alexandre was going to pick her up. We offered to drive her to the Geneva airport rather than have her take the train to the airport. Again, during our one hour drive to Geneva we had a wonderful visit. Last night, Alexandre phoned to thank us for taking his mother. They want us to come back and spend a few weeks with them just visiting.

I have never felt a connection like this with strangers. Normally Mike and I do not like people but this just seems so different – it is odd. We wanted to do housesitting so that we could experience what it was like living in Europe, but not as visitors. So far the experience is wonderful. We do not have the urge to go “sightsee” everyday – we just enjoy the European experience.

Later today we are going into the “downtown” core to check out all the lovely old buildings and a church or two. Today we will be tourists. Tomorrow we are going to the market to buy some food supplies for the next days until Tuesday’s market. Tomorrow we will be Europeans.

Love,
M & E