Chapter 23 B /Swiss Trip
Because this is being posted all at once, you can read it from the top down in chronological order.
NOTE: The Chapter 23 Summer posts will continue, so check back there as well
We just returned from a 10-day trip to Switzerland.
The plan was to get away from the Cannes summer heat for a while.
But we ran into two problems.
First, Switzerland was having a heat wave with temperatures 20°F over normal.
Cannes weather
Geneva Weather
Second, it is a county that has effectively banned air conditioning for environmental reasons.
Having said that, we had a great trip – 5 days in Geneva for day trips and then 1 day in Interlaken and 2 in Luzern with 1 day in Milano on the way home. All by train.
D1- Monday, Aug 11 Cannes to Geneva
We took two backpacks to travel light.
We caught an 11:59 AM train in Cannes to arrive in Geneva at 18:35 via Marseille and Lyon. Total cost about 80 EU (First class most of the way)
We stayed in an Airbnb room (Rue de Bern 19) with our private bath and door. $700 for 5 nights. It was a good-sized room with a private bath.
We took an evening walk in Geneva. Due to the heat, many people were relaxing on the waterfront.
D2 – Tuesday, August 12, Geneva/Montreux
Montreux can be found in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and is a popular destination for excursions, thanks to its location on Lake Geneva, its mild climate and the Montreux Jazz Festival. It is the home of Chillon Castle.
We took a morning train (1H/10M) from Geneva to Montreux, about $20 each/each way with our half-price Swiss card. The train ride takes us along Lake Leman. We met a cute young couple who helped us with directions.
We had a tasty and affordable lunch at La Brasserie (Av. du Casino 32, 1820 Montreux, ) that exceeded our expectations.
Montreux is a lovely town. From the train station, we walked along the lake on a beautiful, flower and sculpture-lined path to the Chillon Castle. Rebecca loved the walk with its many colorful flowers and impressive sculptures.
We then spent an hour or so in Chillon Castle. I used my Press pass for free admission.
We took a bus back to the train station, returning in time for a dinner engagement.
That evening, we enjoyed a delightful time and dinner with two friends (Sanjay and Sonia) we met years ago during a trip to Barcelona. They graciously invited us to their nice home, a short hop outside of Geneva, for an American dinner consisting of corn on the cob, hot dogs, and chicken wings.
We learned that Sanjay had been the official photographer to the King of Bhutan and had written a book about that country. He also recounted how we met and spent an afternoon with two members of a famous rock group when they were visiting India, his home country. The two guys were John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
D3 – Wednesday, August 13, Geneva/Annecy
We took the Train from Geneva to Annecy (1H/15M) for a day trip.
Annecy is an alpine town in southeastern France, where Lake Annecy feeds into the Thiou River. It’s known for its Vieille Ville (old town), with cobbled streets, winding canals and pastel-colored houses. Overlooking the city, the medieval Château d’Annecy, once home to the Counts of Geneva,
Its blue-green lake and canals that run through the old town have given it the nickname ” Venice of the Alps “. World-renowned for its tourist appeal, quality of life and surrounding mountains, Annecy is today a tourist town that has managed to preserve its charm and authenticity for the greatest pleasure of holidaymakers and, at the same time, is active and dynamic all year round.
Annecy is a charming village. We walked around the channels and took a relaxing one-hour boat ride around the lake. 18 Eu each.
We also visited the Cathedral of St. Pierre
At the beginning, it was a former chapel of the Cordeliers convent that was built between 1535 and 1538 at the instigation of Pierre Lambert, a churchman. In 1538, the city of Geneva went over to the Protestant reformation and the members of the Catholic Church were exiled to Annecy. The church of Saint Pierre then welcomed the bishop of Geneva.
During the French Revolution, the building was desecrated and used as a temple to the goddess Reason. In 1822, the church became the cathedral of the diocese of Annecy.
At the local gift shop, a pickpocket tried to ply his trade on me. I felt a slight movement of my wallet, foiling his efforts, he quickly scampered away.
A local landmark in Annecy is a Castle in the center of town on the canals.
D4 – Thursday, August 14, Geneva/Chamonix
We took the bus to Chamonix (1H/10M), which is located at the foot of Mt Blanc. 21 Eu each
Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (usually shortened to Chamonix) is a resort area near the junction of France, Switzerland, and Italy. At the base of Mont Blanc, the highest summit in the Alps, it’s renowned for its skiing. Year-round, cable cars take visitors up to several nearby peaks with panoramic views, including Aiguille du Midi above town, and Pointe Helbronner, across vast glacier fields on the Italian border.
Chamonix is a charming town. A key reason for visiting it is to take the tram up the mountains. Unfortunately, the highest lift was closed due to the weather. We did explore it and had lunch there. Later in the afternoon, we were greeted with a rainstorm as the foul weather crossed the mountains.
The bus trip there and back treated us to some beautiful scenery.
D5 – Friday, August 15, Geneva/Yvoire
On our last full day in Geneva, we took a day trip to Yvoire. This requires a train to Nyon and then a ferry to Yvoire.
Yvoire is a flowery medieval village on the shores of Lake Geneva, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France
Located on the French shore of Lake Geneva, between Geneva and Evian, the village of Yvoire is nicknamed the pearl of the lake.
Built at the beginning of the 14th century, the medieval city of Yvoire has more than 700 years of history, with its ramparts, its fortified gates and its imposing 14th-century castle as witnesses.
We had a tight connection between the Nyon train station and the ferry dock. We hustled to the ferry dock and arrived just as they were untying the ferry, getting ready to leave. Fortunately, they redocked the boat and allowed us to get on. A photo finish.
Yvoire, in our opinion, is overhyped. After walking around for about two hours, we headed back to the dock to return to Geneva. The only real attraction was its castle, which is privately owned.
We had lunch at a Lebanese restaurant (Street Beirut/Pl. Bel-Air 2, 1260 Nyon,) in Nylon before returning to Geneva. We sat next to a guy who was a law partner with John Roberts (we eavesdropped).
The train ride the Nyon and back was very scenic.
D6 – Saturday, August 16, Geneva/Interlaken
Today was a travel day to Interlaken. Our 8:00 AM train arrives at Montreux at 9:09 to catch a 9:35 train to Interlaken at 12:48.
We booked the panoramic GoldenPass Express, which provided a beautiful ride through the mountains.
The travel class “Prestige” is the centrepiece of the train. It offers everything you would expect from an unforgettable train journey: plenty of privacy, maximum comfort in a small compartment, and an exceptional culinary offering.
Make yourself comfortable on the luxurious and heated leather seats, which can be rotated 180 degrees upon request. The travel class is also elevated by 40 cm compared to the other travel classes, offering you an even better view of the fascinating scenery.
We stayed at the Central Hotel, across from the train station and in the center of town.
The hotel is an international holiday resort famous for its glamour and social character. It stands out with its English-inspired architecture and scenic views of the Swiss Alps.The rooms are luxuriously decorated and hints of Victorian decor reflect in its furnishings
After unpacking, we toured the town and ended up at a Asalleni’s Restaurant (Höheweg 94 3800 Interlaken). They offer great burgers at a reasonable price (comparatively speaking). We returned the next day before leaving town.
Interlaken is a nice village and seems to be popular with paragliders who often descend into the park at the center of town.
D7 – Sunday, August 17, Interlaken/ Grindelwald /Luzern
We opted for a short day trip to Grindelwald (0H/30M). 10 Eu each
Grindelwald, a village in Switzerland’s Bernese Alps, is a popular gateway for the Jungfrau Region, with skiing in winter and hiking in summer. It’s also a base for mountain-climbing ascents up the iconic north face of Eiger Mountain. Gletscherschlucht, a glacial gorge just outside Grindelwald, features paths with interpretive signage, waterfalls and striated limestone walls
The town is quaint, and its key attraction is the tram to the mountain top for a great view, which we took.
Waiting in line for the overlook, we met a couple from Seattle and had a nice conversation.
We returned in time for our train to Luzern.
As we prepared to leave Luzern, we noticed people jumping into the river with their things in waterproof bags. It seems this is a fun way to commute down the river from town.
We took the 16:15 train (1st Class/20 eu each) to arrive in Luzern at 18:04
We took a walk around town after unloading our stuff at the apartment- Kobi Boutique Studios 4 Hirschenplatz. The apartment was a short walk from the train station.
D8 – Monday, August 18, /Luzern
We spent the day exploring Luzern, which is Rebecca’s favorite city now.
We took the Luzern tour trolley and afterwards hit a few churches and city highlights.
The castle bridge is one of Rebecca’s favorite sites in Luzern.
D9 – Tuesday, August 19, Luzern/Milano
We checked out of the hotel (10 AM) and stored our bags at the train station to explore Luzern for the last time before heading to Milano.
We caught the 16:15 train for a 19:50 arrival in Milan. Unbeknownst to us at the time, we only had until 21:00 to check in before the staff left for the day. From the train station, we took the metro 3 stops to arrive at the apartment around 20:30. The address was very difficult to find as it was on a private drive. Just made it in time. Hotel 15 Quindici by Serendipity, /Corsa Italia 15A (135 EU)
We went out for a late dinner after checking in. The dinner was disappointing.
D10 – Wednesday, August 20, Milano/Cannes
We set out to explore Milano before our 16:00 train to Cannes (via Ventimiglia)
We hit some of Milano’s features, the Duomo di Milano area, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, which is adjacent and the Sforza Castle. We opted not to spend time in the Duomo itself.
As Rebecca explored the Castle, I headed off for a Sushi lunch Sensei Milano, Via Cesare Correnti, 16,
We regrouped at a bookstore and headed back to pick up our bags for an Uber to the train station (which is an amazing building).
I booked us in 1st class, leaving at 16:00 and arriving at 21:02 in Ventimiglia. The Italian trains were in sharp contrast to the well-maintained Swiss trains. Most of the toilets on this Italian train were not working.
We changed trains in Ventimiglia and arrived home in Cannes at 23:12. Tired, we took a cab home, arriving just before midnight.
It was a good trip and we were happy to be home again.