Blogs from Lausanne, South-West, Switzerland, Europe

Not the first time on the Eurostar from St Pancras, but the first embarking on an adventure on the train across Europe to Italy. One that we were both looking forward to - not the same as getting on a cruise ship, where your bag can be totally unpacked and you appear in different ports overnight. This was going to be different. Armed with our ‘Inter-railing’ ticket, we boarded the Eurostar heading for our first brief stop in Paris. Arriving at the Gare du Nord, we caught the RER to Gare de Lyon ready for the next journey. There was around a two hour stop, which gave us time for lunch at Fosca (just outside the station). The food was very good and I would recommend it - we had booked using the trip-advisor links but ... read more

Getting there is half the fun Every other July I take 10 students to Switzerland where they spend a month taking courses from me and a few other professors. I realize this makes no sense. Why not skip the going to Switzerland part? Call it a holistic approach to education. For many of them it's their first time travelling abroad. It's a pleasure for me to watch them have those Dorothy moments discovering that there are places not like home. This year I purposefully booked a flight to Geneva that would match the itinerary of a large number of my students. I was a little surprised not to see any of them waiting at the gate in San Francisco. When they didn't show up in Toronto or Montreal my surprise turned to concern. Maybe they would ... read more

Yesterday we travelled vis train from rainy Torino to Milano Centrale to Lausanne. Just a word of warning, buy snacks and food before yiu get in the train, it is very expensive and not many options for choice. We paid CHF 11 for an expresso with creama and a dreadful sandwich which we had to take out the salmi which was then bread and butter. anyway, as Dale said move on.... But when we got to Lausanne and the very clean station, our hitel was right across the road, just needed to get to the right side first, which we finally did. The Hotel Contintentsal was so welcoming with the informative and warm reception staff Pascal, he shiwed us in the map the bestplaces to go and great advice. so after settling into our rooms across ... read more

2.30 am Wake up and quickly get all bags down stairs, waiting for the arrival of the taxi driver the excitement was building! Then what could of been disaster struck, the taxi turned up and was no bigger thAn a normal estate car. We managed to squeeze all bags in, and myself and Simon. A quick nap and we where soon slurping coffee at terminal 5 Heathrow! So everntually we saw the plane that would be takIng us to our new home in Switzerland for the winter! Constantly checkifor wether we had left anything behind we boarded the plane. Zzzzzzz I was asleep benforce take off! And only woke up as the air hostess came over the speaker saying we where soon to land! Our bags where quick, but unfortunately still very heavy! My hands hurt ... read more

I stocked my kitchen, did the laundry, cleaned the apartment, and made the beds. Everything was ready for Nancy’s arrival the next day. I could wander down to the Summer University’s annual lakeside picnic without any worries. Chi and the twins would be there, having just arrived from a week in Denmark. As soon as I arrived, the Bacchanale began. A warm beer was thrust into my hand and I was hoisted onto a tight rope. Things got hazy from there. I suppose I only need to look at the photos my students are probably posting to piece things together. Maybe one of those photos will reveal the moment I parted company with my iPhone. Nancy and I were greatly relieved to see each other at the airport the following day. She was (and has been) ... read more