Switzerland's French QuarterCruising across Lake Geneva (or as the residents of Lausanne call it, Lac Leman), we set a course for the island castle of Chateau de Chillon. We sailed past charming chateaus, the sloping Lavaux vineyards, herds of swans, and even Freddie Mercury rocking out to "Bohemian Rhapsody." Arriving at the medieval castle, we were taken on a tour of the impressive grand hall, master bedroom complete with secret passageway, and the poem-inspiring dungeon complete with Lord Byron's engraved signature. Departing the castle, we headed for the vineyards. The European bus drivers never fail to impress, and Joe was no exception as he maneuvered our bus down the narrow street to deliver us at the doorstep of the winery. Domaine du Daley welcomed us with a tour of the estate.
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About LausanneLanguage: French Population: 138,900 Elevation: 1,624 feet Region: Vaud on Lake Geneva in western Switzerland Nearest Mountains: Jura, 5,643 feet Claim to Fame: It is the Olympic Capital |
FUN, FUN, FUN...Our son Justin lives in Lausanne and does fusion research at EPFL. Being from Ohio, he sometimes fields some very Swiss questions such as "What is the elevation in Ohio"? |
For the FoodieCheese fondue: Pinte Besson Meat fondue: Cafe du Grutli Breakfast: Blackbird Cafe Pizza: Pz Pizza Wine: Domaine du Daley |
Living like a LocalWe loved our time in Lausanne, which is where Justin currently lives. Lausanne has something for everyone. The early risers can scoop up fresh veggies, crisp baked goods, hand-crafted raviolis and cheeses, and a beautiful bouquet of flowers. For museum aficionados, the Olympic Museum makes its home here. It has three floors of intricately stitched costumes, athletic memorabilia, antique and modern sporting equipment, demonstrations of technology through the years, and even scale models of Olympic venues. The hills are bursting with acres of grapes and topped with wineries that overlook the lake. And those lucky enough to join Fabian Rueger on a Rick Steves' tour can ride along "the Lake Geneva shoreline" rocking out to "Smoke on the Water" and hear the details of that infamous night when the Smoke rolled across the water as the Montreux Casino went up in flames. Along the waterfront, Freddie Mercury perpetually performs and "is guaranteed to blow your mind, anytime".
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Island Living: Chateau de ChillonThe destination for our cruise across placid Lake Geneva was the medieval castle Chateau de Chillon. Portions of it have stood on this island for over a thousand years. During this time, the castle has served as a summer home to the Counts of Savoy, a prison to the Genevois monk Francois de Bonivard, a munitions and weapons depot, and currently a destination for scores of school children and other interested visitors. Our guide gave us the 'royal tour' starting in the dungeons and working our way up to the King's lavish bedchamber. It has everything that one expects of a castle; including beautifully landscaped grounds, a dungeon that goes on forever, an authentic medieval chamber pot, and even a secret passageway leading out of the royal bedchamber. This is the stuff that stories are written about. It even has its own famous poem, The Prisoner of Chillon, penned by Lord Byron who left his autograph on a column in the dungeon.
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Time to Wine Down from a Busy DayDomaine du Daley is a beautiful winery perched high on a hill above Lake Geneva. Our tour group had the pleasure of taking a tour. The cellars were filled with the oak barrels that those of us from the states are familiar with, but one of the rooms contained massive tuns of wine which are large enough for a person to stand inside. One might surmise that this was the inspiration for the expression, "tun of fun". It was a delightful evening perched on the terrace above beautiful Lake Geneva, gazing over the vineyards bursting with wine-to-be. We had a memorable evening nibbling on delicious appetizers, sipping a fine sampling of Domaine du Daley's wines, and enjoying the company of our tour group members.
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At the Olympic Museum, Everyone WinsThe much anticipated trip to the Olympic Museum did not disappoint. The visit was a multi-faceted experience involving the history of the games, engineering of equipment and venues, elaborate costuming, and even a race with Usain Bolt. We witnessed the humble beginnings of the modern Olympic games illustrated by the 1914 hand-stitched flag, saw the beautiful medals from every Olympic game, and were impressed by the craftsmanship of the torches designed to be carried by athletes via land, sea, and air without being extinguished. The highlight of our tour was the amazing Olympic apparel. Jesse Owens' German-made running spikes were on display a short distance from Usain Bolt's running singlet. You could almost hear the cheering as you passed Jim Craig's jersey as he and his "Miracle on Ice" teammates skated to victory. Shannon Miller's autographed leotard was displayed from her days as part of the Magnificent Seven. But our favorites were the bedazzled ice-skating costumes. Katarina Witt's lace-embellished "Battle of the Carmens" leotard was displayed next to Torvill and Dean's flowing purple costumes from their haunting "Bolero" performance.
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