Lausanne, You Are So Hilly and So French

 One last morning in Interlaken, and we bid Auf Wiedersehen to our lovely river view and to the more German part of Switzerland. We were off for Lausanne, from which one can literally see France across Lake Geneva.

 

We hopped a train for the couple hour trip, which took us from the Alps through beautiful Swiss farmlands.

 

Ned had read that newcomers to Lausanne should avoid driving at all costs--the roads are confusing, the signage equally so, and the entire town rises from the lake on steep, steep hills. Well, after exiting the train station in the wrong direction, and finding ourselves pulling heavy luggage up cobblestone hills and then staircases that never ended--and getting pooped on by a bird and losing a suitcase wheel--we decided that newcomers to Lausanne should avoid walking at all costs. Then, it started to drizzle.

But, eventually, we found our home for the next two nights, the Hotel de la Paix, and it became very clear why all that walking was important. Even with the grey skies and soft rain, we said, ravi de vous rencontrer, Lausanne!

 

We had missed Europe-lunch hour again, which we realized after stopping in a nearby cafe and finding only beverages. But, as we enjoyed our afternoon non-lunch, we spied a Coop (Swiss grocery store) out the window and decided to run across to grab sandwiches. It turned out to be a great Coop, with a whole Schar gf section and a to-go section with lots of yumminess. 

After our make-do lunch, Penn crashed, and Ned, Harper, and I borrowed parapluies from the front desk to explore Lausanne's old town. First stop, a 100% gluten-free bakery just a couple hills up from our hotel: El Gato. Merci!! Right across, I spied a local chocolate shop and did some gift shopping. We walked out with a cute gift bag and a free chocolate bar for our efforts. Lausanne was batting 1000!

We carefully made our way down the slick cobblestones to continue exploring. Though we were across a lake and over 300 miles from Paris, as we strolled with our big black umbrellas, the whole scene reminded me of Gustave Caillebotte's Paris Street, Rainy Day.

 

I was in search of a Lausanne-themed Swatch, which they did not have, though the two lovely women in the store told me to check out all the awesome special Swatches at the Olympic Museum (which was on our list for the next day). Since I was there anyway and the adorable How Majestic! Queen Elizabeth 70th Jubilee Swatch was in the window, so I thought--why not. They apologized--they only had the display but immediately offered to call the Swatch store in the Manor. Voila! Armed with their directions, we said, merci, and continued on.

On our way, we saw fountains, flowers, dogs in stores, and a cow.

 

 

 

Grand old buildings, yummy pastries, historic artifacts, and inviting passageways.

 

 

Then, around the corner and (surprise) up a hill, Manor!

After picking up the watch, which they graciously held for me (their last one!), we noticed bubbles floating down the street and followed them to their source. Magical!!

 

 

I found a well-reviewed place with gluten free options that we could see from the balcony of our room, Restaurant du Theatre. The food was beautiful and delicious and the service was warm and gracious. 

 

 

 

If only it had been a less damp night, we could have eaten outside in the restaurant's flower-filled garden. As it was, we had photos for our memories of what might have been.

 

By the time we got back to our rooms, any sign of the light rain had disappeared and the lights of the city were just beginning to make their presence known in the early evening.

I had a late night (Switzerland time) work zoom--but it came with a pretty great view from the balcony. Those are the sparkling lights of Evian, France, across Lake Geneva.

Bonne nuit, Lausanne!