Lausanne.Bern.Zurich.

Lausanne

Bern

Zurich

About an hour before the French politics would explode via an alleged scene in a Manhattan hotel, I settled comfortably and safely in my seat on a TGV bound for Lausanne. Suffice it to say that my weekend was much more idyllic and awe-inspiring than the past couple of days in the life of DSK (Dominique Strauss-Kahn), the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and the PS (Parti socialiste) in FR (France).

Meanwhile, in the CH (Confédération Hélvétique, i.e. Switzerland), life and the landscape were beautiful! I arrived at the train station in Lausanne around 21h40 and realized that I had posed very few questions pertaining to the logistics of meeting up with my gracious hosts that evening. Fortunately, my Babolat appendage gave me away and soon after, the three of us hopped in the car, destination: V and T’s apartment.

After a good night’s rest, the morning sun and fresh Swiss air beckoned me outside and down to lac Léman for a gentle Sunday morning run and photo shoot. As has become one of my traveling routines, I laced up my Nike’s and grabbed my camera for a “jog and snap”.

"Lakeside path"

These Sunday and Monday morning outings led me through the park and the sculptures of the Musée Olympique de Lausanne, along the lake, past a castle and a port of sailboats, towards a hillside of Swiss vineyards, all the while, running towards or alongside snow-capped jagged peaks of the Alps.



Post-run and breakfast, V, T and I loaded up in the car for a Sunday drive through the countryside and the aforementioned vineyards.











After stopping along the way to admire the view of the lake, the mountains and the vines, we arrived at our first destination of the day in Gruyères in front of the maison du gruyère.

Gruyères

Gruyères church and landscape

Although we had initially planned to tour the cheese factory, we opted for a short walk through the town towards a little chalet for some ½ ½ fondue, which is made with two different kinds of cheeses, among which, of course, is gruyère. We arrived at the restaurant just in time so as to snag one of the last non-reserved tables in the upstairs room. With the warmth of the atmosphere and the traditional decor of wooden beams, Swiss cowbells and other mountaineering tools hanging in this principal area of the restaurant, it would have seemed completely natural to head out in the snow for an afternoon of skiing and snowboarding.


Instead of heading home after our tour of Gruyères, Thomas suggested a trip up the Funiculaire and the téléphérique up to Moléson, where it had just snowed that morning.





Although the gondola seemed to float through eerie twilight-zone like clouds up to the 2000m peak, a break for tea and coffee at the top provided just enough time for the weather to change, the sky to clear, and the magnificent green valley to reveal itself below.

A year ago to the day, K and I celebrated his birthday with an afternoon in the bleachers at Wrigley Field as the Cubbies managed a come-from-behind win versus the Pittsburgh Pirates. On this Monday, May 16th, an ocean away from my dear birthday boy, Vanessa and I took advantage of her all-Swiss railpass and a generous coupon for an accompanying guest (me) to board a national train to Bern, the capital, en route to Zürich. Although it is rather expensive, the railpass to which both V and T subscribe allows them to travel on all Swiss public transport (local and national) with the flash of a badge. Once we got off the train in the Swiss German-speaking city of Bern, we both handed over a handful of Swiss francs (CHF) for a sandwich (me) and a hotdog (V) on pretzel bread before boarding the tram down to the Bern Bear park. 

Bear Park + view to the north

The Bears' west-facing view of Bern

As we watched the bears sleep and take care of other important tasks assigned to well-cared for animals in captivity, we chatted some about life in Switzerland. Over the course of a discussion about safety in the idyllic CH, I learned of the law that requires every Swiss male over the age of 18 to own a military rifle, which they are trained to use during their period of mandatory military service and subsequent intermittent training sessions.

Clocktower-central Bern

The "capitol" in Bern

V in Bern

After our leisurely stroll through the streets, we re-boarded the train towards Zürich. Minus the bear park, we followed the same course as in Bern and enjoyed the beautiful weather in absolutely picturesque surroundings while strolling around the city, wandering in stores, and enjoying one another’s company. Between and late-afternoon snack of coffee (V) and edamame (me) and a pizza dinner with Thomas, who had business in town, we stopped in for a chocolate sample at a fancy sweets boutique and before entering one of the last shops open on the Bahnhofstrasse. We passed the time until closing by admiring shoes and trying on a few designer dresses that were about 5 multiples outside of my price range. Nonetheless, our game of modeling of the Marc Jacobs fabrics after slipping on some high heels available for the occasion provided a bit amusement for a group of diners below who enjoyed their voyeuristic perspective from the outdoor terrace of an adjacent café.

Zurich Cityscape 

Cathedral (up close)

Post-pizza, the three of us hurried back to the train station to catch the 21h04 back to Lausanne. After a couple hours of chatting, we passed through Neuchâtel where the full moon shining reflected a silver light on the lake and a bordering château made for a brilliant end to a stunningly enjoyable and beautiful week-end.

Before crossing the border on my TGV from Switzerland back into France, the train passed through a wide-open area revealing the rounded, snowy Mont-Blanc and a full horizon lined by the chain of rugged, captivating peaks on either side. A vivid mental snapshot that will not soon fade away...