Swiss vineyards in Vaud

Near St. Saphorin, looking to Lake Geneva

Very little is known outside Switzerland about Swiss wines, especially about any varieties. Indeed, we have only learned about wine in Switzerland upon moving here. This site (in English) about Swiss wine gives a good overview. I posted earlier about how every Spring, "Caves Ouvertes" occur throughout the area (see "Caves Ouvertes"), providing locals and novices alike the chance to sample wine outdoors by the "caves." That is always a fun time! In the meantime, we have seen many vineyards on the northside of Lake Geneva, especially near Montreux - this is the Vaud region.

One sunny day recently, we decided to take a drive and look around. We parked near the lake, and took some photos lakeside (between Chexbres and St. Saphorin), and then made our way towards St. Saphorin, which is uphill away from the lake.

Vineyard in between Chexbres and St. Saphorin

Being on a Sunday, it was very tranquil, especially the further up we got up away from the lake. Despite the haziness, which made it hard to see the Alps across the lake, we still had fantastic views. 

Vineyard and Lake Geneva

In some cases, it seemed like the vineyard went right down to the lake.

There are many walled paths that criss-cross along the hillside. You can walk for hours and get yourself lost up there. Although, you do have to keep your wits about you, as you can quickly and unexpectedly come across a narrow road with traffic.

Walled paths, looking down at St.Saphorin. Ryan is seated on the bench

Looking towards Vevey and Montreux

Seems like land is highly valued around this area - any small piece of land was turned into a space to grow vines!

"Vineyard" and shed

Our friends Mark and Stacy visited us in the Spring, and recommended we take time to visit this area, and we are glad we took time to spend time there, after driving by many times. 

Thirsty, anyone?

Lake Parade

Every summer in July, the road around the lake in Geneva is blocked off for a "technoparade," or a parade where floats or Lovemobiles blast dance or techno music. Starting in the mid afternoon, the parade of Lovemobiles goes around the Geneva part of the lake very slowly, ending up on the other side about 3 to 4 hours later. At that point, they set up stages with a DJ on each stage, it's like having 20 mini parties lined up ready for sampling. The Lovemobiles have different themes, or the dancers on them have themed clothing (sometimes) and really, anything goes as far as clothing. The Lovemobiles are usually sponsored by radio stations or clubs, so the DJs are chosen to impress.
 
This started in 1997 in Geneva, and this year's theme (2012) was "Get ready for the unexpected."
Which I was!
The parade starts with a few cars to go down the blocked off road, but there was no strong enforcement of staying off the road, so most people wandered in between the Lovemobiles when they needed to. 

The Lovemobiles would have people walked around them holding a thin rope to prevent people getting too close.

What I called the flash Lovemobile, protected by men holding a thin rope

Some of the Lovemobiles had foam or "mousse" spewing out the back, which covered the dancers and the parade watchers.

MAD Lovemobile with foam or "mousse"

A trail of foam left on the street from a Lovemobile

Most people were there, like my friends and myself, to people watch. Because so many people dress up or dress oddly, it was so much fun to watch the parade of Lovemobiles and the people on the street too!

Cheeky

A stand off, or a casual encounter?

Moo

It's fun to see the Lovemobiles go by the ritzy hotels along the lake. I wonder what the hoity-toity hotel guests must think. Are they confused, outraged, or do they join in the fun? Do they get deep discounts on their hotel rooms?

After the parade moves around the lake to the other side, people either followed the Lovemobiles, or sat and relaxed, while the street sweepers quickly came out and did as much cleaning as possible. Which was vital to openin up the roads as the streets were littered as I'd never seen in Geneva.
Smashed bottles, trash, cups, confetti, take out food wrappers - you name it, it was on the street. We had to step carefully through it all.

The event goes on until the wee hours of the night, but I think I was there until 11pm. It's surprising how attending a Lake Parade (with a short break for dinner) can wear you out! I'm glad I went, and I really didn't know what to expect. The weather was absolutely beautiful, which really helped the day, and it was nice to hear so much dance music outside, without having to go to a crowded club. All in all, the ambience was pretty good, but it did get a bit rowdy towards the end of the drink, as the afternooners went home and a new crowd mixed in with the other revelers.

How most people felt at the end of the day

Flags

I just saw an episode of "The Big Bang Theory" where Sheldon and Amy made a YouTube video (apparently the first of 52!) called Fun with Flags. Perhaps this is why I am posting these pictures!

There are lots of flags on display in and around Geneva, and here are some of the places where the Geneva canton flag, Swiss flag, and UN flags are on display. I find myself taking lots of photos with flags in them, actually.

Geneva canton and Swiss flags at Lac Leman, Geneva

This one was taken when the sun was setting one nice Saturday (the kind of weather where you just delight in having an icecream):

Swiss flag and Jet d'Eau, Geneva

 All around town, especially in Old Town, or Vieille Ville, you can see flags adorning the streets. This is one of the quiet streets where the flags demonstrate the street's narrow width.

Flags in Vieille Ville, Geneva

Flags at the UN

This was taken in nearby Yvoire, France:

My sister and mother

Here are some more from the back of boats:

The Swiss one...

...and the French one

And here is the Welsh flag on our couch cushions (thanks cousin Audra!), with Fred the model:

Lakeside cinema

For about five weeks every summer, CineTransat shows films lakeside just after sunset. For free, you can bring blankets, chairs, food, drinks, umbrellas, whatever you like really, and enjoy a movie. We decided to go and see Blade Runner (director's cut) in August with some friends - there were 7 of us in total.

Comfy chairs for hire

The forecast wasn't looking too good, so we decided to wait and see what would happen. Ryan volunteered to go early and reserve a large space for us. Thankfully, he took our large umbrella, as the skies opened soon after he ventured out! The organizers, however, told the few people there that the forecase looked as if the rain would go away in time for the movie, and then they proceeded to play rain-themed songs - Here Comes the Rain by The Eurythmics, Purple Rain by Prince, etc.
Ryan gave me updates while the rest of us collected in the apartment, waiting for the rain to let up. By 8.30pm, about half an hour before sunset, we ventured out and found Ryan (Thank you, giant umbrella) had saved a great spot for us. We got chairs, and broke out the cooler for some refreshing beverages.

Before the movie. Notice the "paper" chairs and the robot DJ setup to the left

This was an impressive display and really built up anticipation to the movie!

Only 3 of us had actually seen the movie before. I'd heard good things about it from friends, and I love Harrison Ford and think highly of Ridley Scott's work, so I was looking forward to it. And it was a really good film! It's 30 years old, and it was funny to see the futurist LA (which is only 7 years from now); pouring with rain, and full of buildings so tall you couldn't see the ground; with constant noise and lights, yet it dim and grim.

During the movie, the following really enhanced the experience: the fireworks that went off across the lake and also to the right of us; the moon rising over the lake; and the lightning.

While we stood around discussing the film and the "ambience," Mother Nature decided to do what she had threatened for the entire evening - the rain started and suddenly we were all chased away by a massive storm! We couldn't have been more soaked!

What a great night we had! It is yet another reason why Geneva is such an amazing city in the summer.

Château de Chillon

My friend Tracy was here from the US, and we decided to go to Montreux and visit Château de Chillon while we were there. I love castles, so I was pretty excited to go and see it. It's on tons of postcards of Switzerland, with most pictures taken from the lake. We had expected to spend about half an hour at the Château, then most of the day at Montreux, but there was so much to see, we spent most of the afternoon wandering around the Château, exploring the castle and the grounds!

The weather was fantastic: warm, but not hot, and sunny. We took a pleasant train trip from Geneva to get to Montreux, then took a short bus ride to the Château.  On the way, a quick read through the guide books taught us that was "made famous" by Lord Byron, who wrote the poem The Prisoner of Chillon.  It has become a very popular tourist destination, It's in the very corner of Lake Geneva, and surrounded by tall mountains.

It is on what is now a very busy street, so it's hard to imagine how it was centuries ago. It must have felt like such a serene place to those who lived there.
Upon crossing a small bridge, you can see the natural moat.

The map given to us showed a suggested path to follow for a self-guided tour, which we chose to do. One of the first places we went to was the cellar, where we got to see the dungeons made infamous by the afore-mentioned poem. It's quite chilling to see pillars and posts where you can almost picture prisoners being shackled. I think if the lighting was any dimmer, it would be a very ominous place.

There are windows dotted around that show the stunning lake and mountains. Nowadays, a large ship full of tourists will sail by (very rapidly) or smaller boats.

The tour continued to 30 more different points of interest... it was full of narrow staircases leading to big halls or small private rooms.

There are many signs that this castle was built in stages, over centuries. There were three or four courtyards, for instance, and more than one private quarters.

We spent a good few hours exploring this lovely castle, with great views looking out and into the grounds. There were so many windows and scenic spots!

This excursion cut into our "Montreux time", but it was an afternoon well spent.

View of Château de Chillon from lakeside Montreux

The photo opportunities in this place are almost endless, and I thank Tracy for taking her wonderful camera and sharing her photos with me!