Le vignoble

What if you lived here?
Had this view every morning?
Played with your kids in this backyard?

We went to a wine tasting in Lavaux because a friend knew a local winemaker. It was a really interesting and beautiful evening: learning about wine, its history and the region, as well as discussing different cultures and customs (Canadian, American, South African, Swiss). For example, each plot of land in this area is owned by different families, each making different brands of wine, and Swiss wine is almost never exported. I think it may be a Unesco Heritage Site; it is just too beautiful. Please take me back here <3

Instagramania: Lausanne

1. View of Lausanne and Lake Geneva

2. Stairs from Place du palud to la cité

3. School computers. Mac love.

4. School toilet

5. Free mojitos from the Great Escape
6. Friendly graffiti
7. Café St. Pierre
8. Le métro

Festival de la Cité

I haven't been taking many photos here. It must be some sort of record. It's kind of liberating in a way, because experiences become (more) important as it's my only reference now.

I can actually hear the sounds of the Festival in my room late into the night. I find it amusing that most of the food stalls are of the Asian variety. I'm still fresh off the Asian food binge I had before I left home, so it's going to take some time before I'm persuaded to eat it here. I hear it's good though (relatively speaking, I'm sure).

Reading

On Sundays, almost everything is closed here. Most people head down to the lake. I tried to review some grammar, but I mostly just soaked in some sun and felt like napping. Well, I started off in the sun, but the glare was too bright, blinding me until my pupils re-dialated. After, I opted to sit on the grass in the shade. 

Au café

I've been trying my hand at home cooked meals lately, most likely from the guilt of eating an $18 pizza on my first day (my travel wearied body protested going out and the grocery stores were already closed - pizza was actually quite tasty). Anyway, I love this place. Food was delish, and the patio is great for people watching and relaxing. I had a cool waiter to boot, who gave me all sorts of recommendations of things that locals like to do. "We just go out and drink." Merci, Gerard. I also love the key on their placemat.

I've realized that eating at a café is not as expensive as I had initially thought. Portions are pretty big, and tax and tip are included. Plus, taking into consideration the high grocery prices, it's really not too bad.

Coffee tastes much better here.

La Fête de la Musique

This is one of many indoor and outdoor venues that hosted live music throughout the night

Music festivals don't really feel different from city to city, country to country. The things people do tend to be similar: the drinking, the smoking, the chatting, the dancing, the merrymaking.

Apparently, this festival happens on the same day around the world. In fact, my brother attended the same festival, albeit on a much smaller scale, back home. Pretty cool.

Life on the boardwalk

1. Lots of people picnicking, chatting, and generally lazing about. I see people buying bread and fruit at the nearby grocery store and bringing it with them. I do love that there is so much green space. Points if you spotted the inappropriate statue.

2. Life sized chess. There was also life sized checkers. And one of the coolest playground climbing spaces I've seen.

3. Clean, cool water flowing from all the fountains. Drinkable, unless stated.

4. Bikes, any kind of bikes

5. Rent-a-bikes. A daypass costs 6 CHF and you can return them in multiple locations around town.

Scenes from Ouchy, an area alongside Lake Geneva. General tourist hotspot. In fact, it was the only day I allowed myself to go full throttle tourist: baseball cap, camera around my neck, maps. It was a pleasant day, but I was surprised at how few people were around. Not that it was empty, but it certainly wasn't close to being crowded. Although, I don't think I've seen any place in town that could be considered crowded, except maybe during La Fête de la Musique. I like this.

Lac Léman

Lac Léman. Lake Geneva.
This day, oh, it was a glorious day.
The lake is more beautiful than I had imagined. It's hard to believe that I live here.

By the way, it is not so fun to bring the wrong camera charger. So, you will either be subjected to the photo quality above, or of the cellular variety. sigh.

In a fortnight

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