Our friends live in Pully, a cute little village on the banks of lake Geneva. We enjoyed walks around the lake, treats at the patisserie, great burgers, and crepes at a local take-away spot. I did love the night we dined at Le Stella with an Italian language menu. Our waiter, Paolo, was from Sardinia and he spoke seven (yes, 7) languages, but not English. So there we were on the French side of Switzerland and the only language we had in common was Spanish. Wow. Food was great though, and I can heartily recommend the pizza and the aubergine roulade. Yum.
Switzerland is one of the most gorgeous places we have ever seen. Rolling green hills dotted with caramel-colored cows, clear placid turquoise-blue waters, and those majestic Alps surrounding the entire countryside. I have never seen a place that was so environmentally conscious either. Recycling is huge here and residents recycle every type of colored glass, paper, cartons, cans, even food scraps. We could all learn a thing or two from a country that takes such great care with planet Earth. ... no wonder the water is so clear and refreshing!
Here we go -
Our first adventure was a wonderful 3-hour (*assisted) bike tour with Flying Wheels in Interlaken.
Miriam is a fantastic guide, touring us about and sharing her love for this idyllic valley. We rode past dairy farms where fresh milk and/or cheese was available for tasting (and purchase too!) The most darling little baby cows were resting comfortably near the roadside and we just had to stop and visit them.
Take a peek at one of the houses we passed by on our bike ride. The small courtyard was surrounded by homes built more than a hundred years ago. Isn't this one incredible? I absolutely loved it.
We rolled past several cemeteries and had to stop at each and every one. I just had to check and see if any Michlig's or Baumann's were buried nearby. The cemeteries were some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Gravesites were lovingly decorated and planted with flowers, bushes, and small trees.
You too can enjoy this incredible biking adventure. Oh, and the e-motion bikes are a big help when you're chugging up those rolling hills. Check out Flying Wheels at www.flyingwheels.ch and ask for Miriam. She's a hoot-and-a-half!
Strolling through the cozy downtown of Interlaken, we wandered past little shops, restaurants, parks, all surrounded by mountains that seemed to reach into the heavens. My favorite thing about this trip was my daily chocolate. Interlaken did not disappoint with Laderach Suisse Chocolate. Located right on the main street, this chocolate was positively delightful. We grabbed a sample bag of 10 different varieties and weren't disappointed with a one. You can enjoy these chocolate delights by visiting them at www.laederach.com. My fave was the dark chocolate orange-almond. Try them pronto.
P.S. There is only one printed German. One. :)
Our day in Interlaken continued as we drove to the Trummelbach Waterfalls in the Valley of the 72 Waterfalls. Can you even imagine a valley with 72 waterfalls??
The Trummelbach Falls are the world's only glacier waterfalls accessible underground by elevator, tunnels, stairs, and a walking path. Glacial water from the Jungfrau is carried down to the valley over 20,000 tons of boulders, and my goodness the roar inside was incredible. We stopped into a little bitty coffee shop just outside the falls and had a lovely cup of cocoa. The vibe was hip and casual. Sorry I can't remember the name, but if you're heading out of the falls, it'll be on your left. You won't wanna miss it.
Next day was a trip to Montreaux and the Castle of Chillon. A self-guided tour wanders visitors through several centuries of construction, alterations, excavations, and medieval architecture.
Situated on a rocky island, Chillon was strategically and naturally protected from enemies dating back to the 12th century. Montreaux is a lovely city with tributes to the jazz greats as well. You can learn more about the Chateau de Chillon at www.chillon.ch and if you want to visit Montreaux look at www.montreaux.ch.
After we visited the castle, we headed over to the city of Gruyere. Yep, Gruyere - like the cheese. This walled city sits high atop a mountain with a stunning view of the valley below. We had a very enjoyable fondue lunch here and met some new friends from Poland. Check them out popping into our photo below.
As we strolled back to the parking lot we met a new friend... isn't he grand??
Further down the road we hit up Maison Cailler for their tour and sampling. Chocolate every day, seriously! The tour here is a bit kitschy but inventive and informative.
And... the tour ends with an all-you-can-sample chocolate buffet.
Picture the scent and sight of trays of creamy milk chocolates, bitter dark chocolates, flavorful white chocolates, truffles, and petit dessert chocolates. We sampled all around the room and about passed out from all the delicious-ness. I wouldn't have missed this for anything. You won't want to miss it either. Le Chocolaterie Suisse Cailler information can be found at www.cailler.ch.
Last stop on this particular day was the city of Lausanne. Lausanne is very close by so we stopped to check it out and grab a bite to eat. As we were wandering, we passed by a gorgeous church and heard the most beautiful music coming from within. We peeked through the doors and were invited inside to listen to a youth choir practicing for a next-day performance. Their angelic voices combined with the acoustics of this old church were absolutely glorious. I don't know why I don't write everything down, but I can't remember the name of this old church. We stopped into La Brasseurs in old-town Lausanne and had a perfect evening meal. The service was terrific and our waiter spoke a bit of English too. Magic.
Our next sight-seeing adventure took us to the little city of Annecy, France. It's fascinating to me that you can live in Switzerland and drive a few hours to France... or Italy... or Germany... fascinating. Annecy is a former walled city that is just darling today. Street performers, a lovely park, great views of the lake, a beautiful church, terrific ice cream, and meringues as big as your head!
Oh, and right on the main shopping street we saw an unusual vending machine.
Take a good look... 'cuz I guess you never know when you might need a little "protection."
If you're thinking of making a visit to Annecy, check out www.en.lac-annecy.com for more information.
Ah... next day we are on a leisurely 2.5 hour drive to the city of Lyon, France. Can't even begin to explain how much fun we had playing 'name that tune' with our friends. You never get too old for car games I guess. Anybody out there familiar with "I Want You to Want Me" by Cheap Trick? Yep, us too.
We arrived in Lyon under cloudy skies but that didn't hamper our travels. It feels a little bit like Paris' little sister here. A bit less crowded, with great shopping and dining. I loved it.
We visited several absolutely gorgeous churches. Overlooking the city of Lyon, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere was brilliant. You can make the trek on foot, but we choose the super-inexpensive trip on the funicular. Who doesn't love a funicular?? A small chapel was built on holy site in the 1100's, and work on the Basilica itself was begun in the early 1800's. This picturesque church has been spared throughout history and occupation of Lyon. Lucky for us because it truly was one of the prettiest churches I have ever seen. We loved the incredibly diverse architecture, inspired tile-work, and richly-designed religious sculptures throughout. Every inch of this church has been lovingly cared for and maintained.
The Basilica has a website of its very own at www.fourviere.org. If you decide to make a visit, be sure to go downstairs too. Such a surprise.
We stayed at the Hotel de Celestins on the rue des Archers. What a darling little place. We climbed up three flights of stairs to our rooms. The room was everything we needed and the hotel staff was uber-friendly. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a stay here. Clean, affordable, and centrally located. Check them out at www.hotelcelestins.com. Thank goodness Ann chose this little spot because the shopping around our hotel was fabulous. Gorgeous designer dresses, shoes, and a great wine shop around the corner. Can't beat that.
Oh, and the food.... our dinner at the Bouchon Lyonnais of Daniel & Denise was truly TRULY one of the best meals we have ever had. French deliciousness at its very best, but tough for English speakers. The place was packed on a Thursday evening. Everybody was enjoying themselves here and the waiters were hustling. The foie gras started us off in its escalope of mushroom and cornmeal. Moaning with delight here. My entrée was the mixed trio of fish and each piece was delicate and cooked with panache. The hearty brown bread was warm and fresh too. Hubby's entrée was a rib and cheek casserole that was tender and delicious. And everything was served in Le Creuset - imagine that. Ann had the white fish with a simple beurre blanc and John had a sausage dinner. The shared plate of Lyonnaise potatoes were crispy thin slices - just the way a good french fry should be. But the macaroni and cheese (OMG) with white crème sauce was absolutely unbelievable. I could've eaten a bucket-full. We did have to ask for water a few times and the language barrier is partly to blame. I gotta learn me some French if I'm going back. Dessert #1 was a black currant sorbet with cassis. It was sweet and tangy and refreshing. Dessert #2 was a sweet crème brulee with a perfectly burnt brulee. We didn't leave a bit of it behind.
Make a reservation - you'll be glad you did. E-mail them at danieletdenise.saintjean@gmail.com.
We prided ourselves on finding a different piece of chocolate each and every day of our trip. The last chocolate of the trip was found at a little artisan chocolatier named Tristan. Tristan is located in Bougy-Villars and I kid you not - it was the BEST chocolate of the trip. This little teeny tiny store with fresh samples and bags and boxes and assortments all around. Just the kind of place I love to pop into. Too bad there isn't one here in Arizona.... probably just as well.
Our last day found us in Geneva wandering about and visiting churches, peeking into shop windows, and grabbing a bit of lunch. We stopped into the Restaurant Le Flore Pizzeria on the Rue de la Fontaine and had the most amazing dining experience. Our waiter, Jose from Portugal, was the friendliest waiter in all of Switzerland. The pizzas (regina and diable) were cooked to order perfection, as was the lasagna. I had a salad masterpiece as well and we couldn't have been happier.
Of course we had a beverage and this time my beer came with a little grenadine in it. De-lish.
I couldn't have planned this trip any better than my friend Ann-Marie.
Thanks so much - love to you and John both!!!
Beer & Chocolate & Flowers Every Day!!
:) Deb
Oh - wait, I almost forgot to share my friend, Bessie. We got off the road more traveled and found this lovely lady. I had to take a snap of her and share her with you all. "Cow is King!"
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