Monday Lausanne, Yvoire and Montreux

Sunday off to Lausanne

Our train to Lausanne wasn’t until 11 o’clock so we went to explore part of Luzern’s city walls up around the old town. It was quite a steep walk from the river but we walked along the outside for a bit before coming back in through one of the gateways and walking back down through the town.

It wasn’t a particularly long journey to Lausanne and we were there before half one, once booked into our hotel, uphill all the way from the station, I unfortunately took to my bed not feeling well, however Diana went exploring  first visiting the Cathedral.

Then she walked to the Château Saint-Maire which unfortunately is not open to the public, then on to The Old Academy constructed between 1579 and 1587, it was the first building in Switzerland built specifically for higher education and Europe's first college of Protestant and French-speaking theology. It is still a place of learning for 16 to 18 year olds. On the way back she passed this covered wooden staircase, Escaliers du Marché with 177 steps leading back up to the Cathedral.

Then down to the waterfront, this area is known as “Ouchy” with Port Ouchy., As well as the port there is a rather large , luxurious hotel, Chateau d’Ouchy. 

she left the port area returning via the Olympic Village.   

In the town, like most Swiss Towns there is a statue on a fountain symbolising justice. She also passed Le Crapaud de Bourg la Princesse, A toad spitting at a Princess.

She headed back to the hotel which stands on the corner and is quite triangular.    

Unfortunately I was not up to having dinner with her that night so she ate with some of our fellow travellers in the hotel restaurant .

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Saturday Luzern Paddle Steamer trip

A wet miserable day with low cloud, no point in going up Pilatus so we opted for the a round trip to Fluelen and back by paddle steamer, the boat departed from in front of the railway station at about 10 o’clock to cruise all the way round the lake.

Of course our Swiss Pass entitled us to use the first class lounge and the upper decks. We spent most of our time on the upper deck under the canvas watching the countryside go by.

The trip took us about 5 hours  and like most paddle steamers you can see both the engine thrusting away and also the paddle wheels churning away. Here you see them stopping the boat by selecting reverse.

There is some interesting information on this notice board about the ship.

As we returned towards Luzern some girls were feeding seagulls by hand as they flew by, watching them there was only one bird in the flock that would come in and take bread from their fingers.

Back ashore we had a wander round the old town returning to the little bar for a beer as well as looking for somewhere to eat later. When we went out to eat the fairground illuminations reflected nicely in the river.

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