Advertisement
Published: September 30th 2017
Edit Blog Post
a
Le Chateau de Chillon. It is supposedly the most visited historical building in all of Switzerland. Why? I have no idea, because I thought it was kind of boring.
It could have been worse - filled with cheaply made/tacky club wear, young kids, and effeminate male workers. I'm glad that Le Chateau of Chillon isn't like "Le Chateau" clothing stores in Canada! Geo: 46.488, 6.7898
Bought some yogurt for breakfast - pomegranate - goooooooood! Almond yogurt - gooooooood! Off to the train station. Walked through a week-end market on the way. Too bad I had no time to browse - it looked pretty good.
Grabbed a great sandwich for the train - chicken cutlet, served in an excellent, crisp cheese bun. Heavenly ... until I bit into the centre filled with curry sauce. Curry sauce seems to be a favourite in German regions. It actually wasn't that bad, but I prefer it without.
Rode on a nice double-decker train with couches, tables, and sofas - positively luxurious! The Swiss countryside was bathed in fog today - it's funny because fog would normally dull its appearance. But today, it actually enhanced its beauty.
Off to the French-speaking region of Switzerland. Switching between languages no longer fazes me - I don't really speak any of them anyway, so it doesn't matter! Arrived in Montreux/Territet - part of the so-called Swiss Riviera.
I dropped off my bag at the hostel and walked along the lakeside promenade to the famous Chateau de Chillon. JAHBIS! Just another historical building in Switzerland! After, I hopped on the train to Montreux.
b
Vineyards line this section of Lake Geneva. Wine tourism is very popular here - I didn't bother checking any out with my limited time in Montreux. Very quiet today - I wonder if it's always like this? Wandered over to the COOP grocery store and had another hazelnut stick.
I imagine getting beaten to death with a stick is a horrible way to die, but getting beaten to death with a hazelnut stick is probably quite a heavenly way to die. Provided they let you take a few bites between yelps of pain.
I found Montreux to be a little bit Monaco-esque. It's less cosmopolitan, but still has a few elements there (casino, location on the water, etc.). I like it better here despite it being quieter. Perhaps because it wasn't 40 degrees C like it was in Monaco in July!
I sat on the lakefront and listened to an amateur orchestra (at least, I hope they were - their playing wasn't "tight"😉. I walked around the shops and then along the waterfront, back to Territet (where the hostel is located). I probably should have taken it easy and rode the train back, but it was still early in the afternoon, and I had nothing else to do.
Plus, it's a great area for walking. Along the way, I scoped out a few restaurants - all
c
This is the dungeon of the Chateau. The most famous prisoner, François Bonivard, was described by Byron in "The Prisoner of Chillon". Bonivard was the prior of St. Victori in Geneva, and when he supported Geneva's independence in 1532, the Catholic duke of Savoy chained him in the dungeon until 1536, when he was released by the Bernese. Bonivard was chained to this very pillar.
Are you impressed with the fact that I could remember such details about the dungeon? I hope you are, because I lifted that straight off of another website! very pricey. I had planned on having some nice meals in Switzerland, but I can't bring myself to pay those prices! I decided on dinner at the hostel - only 15 CHF! It turned out to be a great choice.
A mixed salad with nice tomatoes, lettuce, and sprouts. Good salad dressing and good, crusty bread. The main course was chicken vol au vent - holy crap, was it ever good! Assorted veggies and chicken in a cream sauce, served in a pastry shell with a side of rice. It's been ages since I've had rice (well, maybe two weeks since I had some in Rome). Huge portions. Dessert was fairly average - some grainy type of custard or pudding. I was stuffed, after.
Ate with David, a computer science grad student from Stanford. He's in town for a conference. He's got it bad for some girl who is moving to Chicago - they just started dating a few months ago and he only found out about the move very recently. He hasn't slept in days and now he has to contend with the jetlag, as well. I feel bad for him!
I did a little bit of journal writing
d
Montreux is famous for a jazz festival held every July. The chateau had a photo exhibit of the famous acts that have performed at the festival over the years. And who is this? It's Jay Kay, of Jamiroquai fame! I don't know how they could be considered to be a jazz act, but I would've gone to see them play. and then stood outside on the lakeshore for a short time. I started "Northanger Abbey", by Jane Austen. I picked it up from the last hostel - I hope it is more interesting than "A Tale of Two Cities"! Did a little bit of reading and then it was lights out for me at 22:00. A nice quiet and clean hostel - just what I needed!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.101s; Tpl: 0.014s; cc: 12; qc: 29; dbt: 0.0705s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb