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  • Via Jacobi 🇨🇭⛰️🥾
    Day 18–19

    Am Ziel 🎉

    May 15 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌙 13 °C

    Bei Sonnenschein und gestärkt von 2 Tassen Kaffee ☕️ ging es immer weiter südlich Richtung Lausanne. Mittlerweile sind die hohen Berge 🏔️ der Westalpen gut zu erkennen und nach einer Kuppe zeigt sich auch zum ersten Mal auf dieser Reise der Genfer See. Wir freuen uns, dass wir es geschafft haben aber sind zugleich auch etwas wehmütig, dass dies auch das Ende der 3 wöchigen Reise ist.

    Der Rucksack muss leer werden und so vespern wir unseren verbliebenen Proviant auf. Wir tun dies im Garten von BIOPOLE. Der Campus ist auf die Förderung von Innovationen in den Bereichen Biotechnologie, Pharma, digitale Gesundheit und Medizintechnik spezialisiert. Hier forschen 2.500 Wissenschaftler unterschiedlichster Herkunft aus 150 Unternehmen gemeinsam. So gehts auch. Gemeinsam statt Egoismus !Das Silicon Valley der Pharma Industrie.

    Gegenüber beziehen wir unsere Bleibe und gönnen unseren geschundenen Knochen etwas Wellness da es eine Sauna gibt.

    Wir sind noch 3 Kilometer von der Kathedrale Notre-Dame entfernt. Dort werden wir morgen die Lücke dann endgültig schließen da dies der Startpunkt der Alpenüberquerung Lausanne-Aosta in 2020 war.

    Jacobi meint es immer noch gut mit uns und veranstaltet heute Abend am Hafen ein Thai Asia Food Festival. Es gibt Penang Curry, Noodle Suppe und Sticky Rice Mango 🥭 😋.

    Wir lassen den Abend mit Musik bei Sonnenuntergang ausklingen.

    ANGEKOMMEN    Read more

    See translation
  • Traveler2024 Travels in Europe
    Day 84

    Steamboats!

    October 6, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    One thing we thought was really cool about Lac Leman, or Lake Geneva, when we got there was the ferries that run up and down the lake. They are very large and look like the ones in pictures we saw at the Steamboat Era Museum in Irvington, Virginia. Back in the late 1800s and early 1900s steamboats sailed all over the Chesapeake Bay carrying freight, including seafood, and passengers. They were the only practical way to get between a lot of places and Washington or Baltimore. There was even a steamboat landing on the Coan River about three or four miles from where we live.

    Once automobiles were invented the steamboats faded away. What a cool idea to have ships looking like those from a long gone era sailing up and down the lake. They even looked like they had paddles on the sides! We just had to take a ride on one. So we did.

    Imagine our surprise when we found that our boat really was an authentic steam side paddle boat, built in 1910! Not a replica, but an original! Running beautifully. It was really cool! We had a great cruise.

    We then got back on the road and walked to Aigle. It was a perfectly nice walk, but after the last two days it just seemed ordinary! Some nice views as we walked up the narrowing valley, but nothing spectacular. Our standards have gotten pretty high after the last two walks!

    We did enjoy watching Mount Vélan, near the Great Saint Bernard Pass, getting closer and closer. It was covered with snow! Watching it grow closer made us feel like we really were closing the circle on our trip. We’ll be in Martigny, where we started hiking, in a couple of days.    Read more

  • TravelerVia Francigena with Liam
    1
    12
    Day 27

    Rest day in Lausanne

    July 31, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 75 °F

    Today was our first day of rest. We have walked 22 days now, with no rest for the last 19. Our feet and legs are aching. A lot.

    I need to replace my shoes. They are the correct size for regular hikes, but not for day after day use. I need more space in the toe box, especially for hills. My feet have swollen and I would like to buy another pair that’s 1/2 size bigger than these. Unfortunately, everything is closed tomorrow for their National Swiss Day (or something like that) and the Decathlon I was aiming for will be closed. I hope I can replace them somehow in the next 2-3 days, before the bad hills.

    Most of the day was spent lying or sitting down. We did visit the cathedral, and Liam found a replacement for his lost hat. And I had my hair done. That was a relief, because after a couple weeks on the road my hair was grubby.

    I am going to come out and say it: I don’t like Lausanne. In France the roads were in perfect condition, the people were welcoming and, most noteworthy, it was pristine. No trash on the paths, no graffitti, the housed showed pride of ownership. We cross the border, and the roads were a little rougher, the people are a little less welcoming, the city is dirty and gray and uninteresting, and there is trash. I know people love Lausanne, and it is, in terms of geography, a good resting place, but I would not expend time, effort or money to return here.

    Tomorrow we will head to Montreux.    Read more

  • Paris-Londres à vélo!
    Day 1

    Let's go!!!

    May 8, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Ça y est! Après 2 moins de planning, de réservations, de tracés sur google maps et Qgis, d'achats de vélos, de clés, de housses de transport (tgv de merde), d'entraînements, de démontage de vélos et d'emballage, nous sommes enfin dans le train de Lausanne vers Paris! Tout se concrétise petit à petit devant nos yeux, et tout ce qu'il nous reste à faire c'est d'arriver en un morceau avant de pédaler bien sûr.
    En guise de bonus, pour vous cher•e lecteur•ice, nous allons chaque jour ajouter une chanson du jour, histoire de vous inviter avec nous pour voir quelle musique joue dans nos têtes durant ce voyage!
    Chanson du jour : Top of the world - The Carpenters    Read more

    See translation
  • Martha SleutelItaly & Switzerland
    112
    Day 11

    Lausanne - Chillon Castle

    September 15, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    Built in the 12th century, this medieval castle is on a rocky island at the edge of Lake Geneva (outskirts of Lausanne). It was continuously occupied for 800 years, although by different people and for different purposes.

    Notes about Lausanne and Switzerland:

    1. This is the French part of Switzerland. People often don't speak English, but are fluent in French, Italian and German. Menus can be a challenge. I almost didn't get a salad with "pignon", thinking it was pigeon (it's pine nuts).

    2. Even more than in Zermott, it seems like everyone smokes. We like to eat outside, but outside tables are sometimes overrun with smokers and smoke! Corners outside buildings - and just everywhere - are often heavy with the smell of smoke.

    3. Like everywhere in Switzerland, buses and trains are completely electric (97% powered by hydroelectric). Children as young as 7 ride the city buses by themselves.

    4. The city and country are gorgeous!    Read more

  • Martha SleutelItaly & Switzerland
    Day 10

    Lausanne - Cathedral and City Scenes

    September 14, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F

    Our train arrived in Lausanne in the afternoon, leaving time to explore. On the banks of Lake Geneva, the city has hills (a lot of hills!), bridges, stairways, and twisting roads. Huffing and puffing our way up a massive hill to the cathedral, we heard organ music, and went in. It was REALLY loud. We later read that the organ is modern and has 7,000 pipes.

    Also called Notre-Dame Cathedral, it overlooks the city and is in the heart of the old town. Dating back to the 1200s as a catholic church, early protestants removed much of the original statues and decorations. The gothic interior was still beautiful. The church is the largest gothic church in Switzerland.

    On our 2nd afternoon here, we strolled along the tree-lined lakefront promendade and visited the Olympic Museum, celebrating the history of the Olympic games. (A French aristocrat devoted his life and fortune to re-starting the Olympic games in the late 1800s). Tomorrow's train destiination: Murren.    Read more

  • TravelerVia @ 70
    Day 41

    Lausanne 16 miles

    August 22, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    Dreadful night. Hot, sticky, noisy, airless. Sometimes camping isn’t as much fun as you think it should be.

    Off sharp as I was due to meet a young lady later. Temperature lovely for walking until the sun came up.

    Then another hot one. Forecast is for another couple of hot days and then start to reduce. By Sunday it might be 14C cooler. Can’t wait!

    The signs have completely changed in Switzerland. No more of the French signs with their Via Francigena symbols or Red and White flashes for the GR145. Even worse is the loss of the red and white crosses to indicate the wrong way. Now I need to know the name of the next place I am going to and hope that the Swiss have decided to mark a route going there. They have nice big signs listing all sort of places. After that they have large yellow diamond symbols to indicate the way. Trouble is they show the way to something. You don’t know it is the way you want, you just know it is the way to somewhere. And if you do go off route there is just a slow realisation that you haven’t seen any signs for ages to give you a clue that things are not going well.

    Reached Lake Geneva. Looked lovely with the Alps on the far side. Long walk along the lakeside, feeling very hot and sticky, carrying that damn great bag, passing all the young things lying about, wearing not a lot and looking a whole lot more comfortable than I was feeling.

    Reached Lausanne and then started walking uphill to get to the hotel. Passed a chemist where I got the temperature confirmed. Because the footprints automatically show the temperature for the time and place that I post (usually after 10pm) it has been suggested that I have been exaggerating the heat. Believe me I can tell the difference between backpacking in 26C and 36C.

    This city must be about the hilliest I have ever been to. All up, down and then back up again. Managed (just) to get to the hotel, drop the bag off, quick shower, change of clothes and off to the train station to meet the gaffer. By the time we got back to the hotel, via a wee ice cream halt, I needed another shower and change.

    Basic, but pricey Vietnamese dinner to follow. One course and a bottle of water got rid of £70. Of course, paying for two doesn’t help.    Read more

  • TravelerHexatrek
    Day 35

    Fechy

    July 10, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    We have had a lovely couple of days with Pierre-Yves and Claudia. They were incredibly kind. Evenings were a bit dangerous as Pierre-Yves is a very generous host.
    Hopefully we can return the favor soon.
    Waiting to catch ferry to France and the Alps    Read more

  • Carmel CarlsenVia Francigena - part 1
    2
    2222724
    Day 56

    Day 54 - Lausanne to Vevey

    June 12, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Another warm sunny day and plenty of good walking. The day started with lakeside walking and evolved into 'above lake' walking through vineyards (white wine, I believe). I met heaps of people today: a lovely lady who has done the camino in Spain (she took the photo of me); a woman, originally from Canada, who's mum's came from Brisbane, and has lived in Switzerland since she was 15; and a really lovely couple from British Columbia, Kim and Crag (could be Craig, but pronounced "Crag"), who are dipping in and out of the VF. Again, it's very hard to select the photos as I have taken loads today, and there was so much beauty and so much to be in wonder of. I feel strong today. Yes, the mountains are intimidating, but after a pep talk from my daughter last night, I'm feeling strong and capable again. I'm tired, of course - walking all of today and most of yesterday on sealed surfaces has made my feet burn, but I'm not so sure now that the mountains will defeat me. Oh, and I had a small heart attack this afternoon as both of my credit cards were declined!!!!!! It appears that it was the machine at the hotel, as I was able to withdraw cash to pay, but I may have paid $156.00 up to 6 times - with all the failed attempts!!!! Oh, and I wasn't exaggerating about the midges/gnats, I managed to take a photo of a swarm as I set off this morning.Read more

  • Carmel CarlsenVia Francigena - part 1
    2
    222242
    Day 55

    Day 53 - Cossonay to Lausanne

    June 11, 2023 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    The day started warm. Even at 5 a.m., I was quite comfortable sitting outside before the sun came up, with only my slides on and no jacket! I had a late start because it was Sunday (and breakfast is not served before 8 a.m.) and was grateful when the roadside walking, through farmland, changed to riverside walking (La Venoge). I got to Lake Geneva at 1:45 p.m. and got to walk almost 9 km along its shores. I don't know why, but I was surprised to see swans on the lake. I saw a terrific number of people today (the most I've seen this trip). There were loads of people all along the path today, walking, running, cycling - all getting out in nature on the weekend. Of course, being a beautiful, warm day (and the weekend), Lake Geneva was a big attraction. It was very hard to pick my photos today as I took so many. Note: My waymarkers are now a yellow diamond with a black border and are nowhere near as frequently as I would like. I have to refer to the app constantly! P.S. I look at those mountains and feel very intimidated. I weary today. P.S.S. the only downside was the SWARMS of midges or gnats that were all along the lake path!Read more

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