Geneva
As I come to write this, I realise that I've missed out something that happened in Salzburg: we decide to change our plans slightly. You see, when I was planning out our route six months prior to actually leaving, I thought we could totally handle an overnight train journey that involved two changes and didn't actually start until two in the morning. I thought it would be fun! An adventure! So we have to spend part of the night in the train station, so what? It will be interesting at least! Ha. HAAAAA. The me of twelve months ago needs to be slapped because... just, no. Having experienced two overnight journeys - journeys which didn't even involve changes, just a bed and trying to sleep - we reconsidered making the journey from Innsbruck to Geneva overnight. When we were in Salzburg we spent a good while looking at train times on the internet and trying desperately to figure out how to do the journey without killing ourselves. Should we just leave Innsbruck the morning after we got there? But then, we'd have hardly any time in Innsbruck. (If I hadn't have been sick, this idea would have worked because we didn't need that much time there! Luckily we decided against this.) Should we go to Zurich the day after we got to Innsbruck (but in the afternoon) and then carry on to Geneva the day after? A possibility, but we couldn't find any hostels in Zurich with vacancies. In the end, we decided to leave Innsbruck at about three on the day after we got there, and go straight to Geneva. This did mean we had a night with nowhere to stay, so we phoned up the hostel in Geneva and asked if we could reserve a room for an extra night. The guy said they had no more rooms available. Gah. However on the website it said there were rooms available to reserve, so we just went ahead and reserved two rooms in a three bed dorm, hoping that there was an internet-quota and an over-the-phone-quota of rooms which is why he said he had no beds left. I got a confirmation email when we were in Munich so assumed everything was okay (and if not, Pete is good at complaining!).
I'm actually quite glad we decided to change our plans. I mean, aside from the fact that we would have been total wrecks and possibly in the wrong country or something (changing trains at four in the morning strikes me as being quite risky in the getting on the right one department). The train we got from Innsbruck to Zurich was a cis-alpino train, which roughly translated means next to the Alps. Basically, we went on a route that took us right through gorgeous mountains - some covered in snow, some covered with trees, some with waterfalls cascading down the sides, some whose peaks were so high we couldn't see them no matter how we twisted our necks. So that was cool. When we got to Zurich we didn't exactly have a lot of time to make the connection... and we got there right in the middle of rush hour. However we did some fast lumbering (you try doing anything else with huge bags!) and made it. AND it was a double decker train! Yay. We'd seen a few earlier in the holiday and had always been jealous that we weren't going on any... and now we were getting one! The train was pretty busy and there were people sitting in our reserved seats, but we couldn't be bothered to shift them so just found seats elsewhere. It was dark and had just started raining when we left Zurich so... not really a good view of anything out the window! Journey was uneventful and we got in to Geneva at about nine/ten.
It was raining quite heavily when we got there, but this time I was prepared and had put my trainers on whilst still on the train! We also got the umbrella out, which meant that we managed to find the hostel (fairly close to the station) and stay dry. Yay us! The hostel we stayed at was called City Hostel. Lonely Planet said it didn't have much atmosphere, but honestly I didn't think it was that bad. Also, the dorms have only three beds - they're admittedly a bit cramped, but since we were unexpectedly having a night in a dorm, three was much better than well... loads! As you may be able to gather, we had no trouble checking in so I guess our quota thoughts were probably right. We were sharing our room with some random chap with long hair who didn't say much anything... although I did feel a bit sorry for him having to share with a couple, heh! Since it was fairly late we just explored the hostel (discovering the laundry room, locker room and "relaxation room" which was basically just a big lounge area with tv, internet stations and a play area for kids) then went to bed. Hostel was perfectly fine and yeah, I think I would stay there again. There were kitchens on every floor as well - complete with fridge lockers, which we found handy. Only gripe would be about the cramped rooms, but on the other hand we really didn't spend that much time in our room!
The wall is clearly very interesting.
The next morning we checked out of our dorm and - since we couldn't check in to our other room till later - stashed our bags in lockers. Then we just sat about watching telly in the foyer area waiting for Kristian to arrive. Kristian is Pete's best mate and the two of them and agreed that one day they would visit the Freddie Mercury statue in Montreux together. So when we decided to go on this trip, and to include Geneva (and Montreux) we asked Kristian if he wanted to join us whilst we were there! Kristian arrived about ten, and we showed him where the lockers are before setting off to explore the city for a while.
We wandered down in the general direction of the lake, and then spent a while trying to figure out where we were and what we were going to do. Kristian came prepared and had loads of information about boat tours and the like, so we went a booked places on one of those for later. We had a couple of hours to kill before the boat tour, so we just went to see some of the main sights, including the flower clock...
A clock made from flowers! Cool.
...and the Brunswick Monument.
I think Brunswick actually paid for this monument himself...
We also made a failed attempt to find the Île Rousseau and then moved on to the Old Town. There's not a huge amount to see in the Old Town... in fact we just kind of wandered around the cobbled streets until we found the Cathedrale St Pierre.
STOP PRESS. We did not climb this tower.
We didn't go into the church, but we did go under it! There's an archaeological site that lies underneath, mainly the remains of the original church that was built here. You could get an audio guide and go round the archaeological site and since we had time to kill we went ahead and did it! Some of the audio clips went on for ages though, so by the time we were about three quarters of the way through we'd all given up on our audio guides! It was quite interesting but... yeah, went on for ages. We had to rush round the last bit too as we were cutting it fine for getting back for the boat tour!
We hurried over to the pick up point and ended up having to wait around for a while after all! Eventually we got on the boat. By this time it was quite chilly and grey looking, so almost everyone else went into the cabin area... it was just us and another group of three who stayed outside (and they pussied out half way through, pfft!).
We are hardcore.
The tour was a pretty good one - it took us all the way round the lake and showed us various interesting buildings and gave us lots of cool facts about the actual lake (in short: it's mahoosive). We got to see all sorts, including a house where Mary Shelley wrote, the United Nations building, the mermaid statue and - my personal favourite - the mansion belonging to Mr Colgate!
This is the mermaid, not the Colgate residence. In case you were wondering.
We also got to go past the Jet D'Eau and see exactly how far the wind was spreading it!
The answer was 'far'.
About ten minutes into the tour it started to rain... it never got really bad, just annoying really! We got fed up of getting wet though and so pulled out the raincoats. And yes, I wore my big blue poncho of doom much to the boys' amusement! It will take over the world!
Being mocked.
After the tour ended we decided to get some lunch. Bearing in mind all I'd had to eat in over twenty four hours was a bit of a pastry, I was absolutely starving. We decided to go to a supermarket we'd seen and get some sandwiches and other nibbles there. After the purchasing of much food (me: MILK! I WANT MILK!) we headed back to the hostel to eat and check in. Eating! So good. Oh if you're wondering, I was feeling almost right again by this point - just had a few twinges in my stomach when I turned too fast, same as last time. Also, yes we realised we had missed a trick with the whole room thing - there were three of us, we probably should have just got a dorm between us. Still, nevermind. Pete and Kristian checked in and we got our rooms. Pete and I had a private twin, which was essentially a dorm with a small table instead of a bed - same size and everything.
"I'm being good!"
We were on the same floor as Kristian which was lucky. After settling into our rooms (you have no idea how good it felt to be staying in a place for longer than twenty four hours!) we ended up just hanging out in the relaxation room for the afternoon. The weather continued to be manky so it seemed like the best option! The boys played several games of table football whilst I sat curled up in a very comfy rocking chair (had difficulty getting out of it elegantly) and read my book.
By the time we were ready to go out again, it had stopped raining thankfully! We first wandered down to the quay to see if the Jet D'Eau was still on. Luckily it was and it looked great!
Not the best picture.
We then spent ages wandering around trying to find somewhere to eat. In the end we just chose a random place and had done with it. The waiter guy told me to smile almost as soon as we sat down, which is something I HATE. Y'know? Like, maybe I've just got some really bad news, or am in incredible pain. Maybe smiling isn't appropriate at this moment in my life, thank you. Well anyway, I made sure I always had a smile plastered on my face every time he came over. And really, apart from that he was okay. I really wanted to try one of the cheese fondue baskets but I decided not to risk it (curse you to hell, digestive system!). In the end I settled for a steak, which actually sounded just as appetising so it wasn't all woe really. Some man came into the restaurant in the middle of our meal and randomly starting playing a banjo-type instrument... and then went round all the tables asking for money for his performance! Uhh yeah, we didn't indulge him.
We tried to get some McDonald's milkshakes for pudding (Pete and I both love McDonald's milkshakes) but everywhere was closed. Sob. So umm, I don't know what we did for the rest of the evening! But I'm sure it was very interesting. Or something.
The next day we met Kristian in the kitchen over breakfast (Pete was so happy to have cereal) and when we were all ready, set off to the train station. We were headed for Montreux that day, which is about forty five minutes away on the train. Montreux is still on Lake Geneva, so the train journey took us mainly along the shores, which was cool. Montreux and the surrounding towns are often referred to as the Swiss Riveria, and you could see why. Once we'd got down to the lakeside, it was just stunning every which way you looked.
Wow.
We were quite lucky because it was a glorious, sunny day too. So it didn't take us long to find the Freddie Mercury statue where many (MANY!) photos were taken.
They were happy.
I have to admit, I was surprised at how well kept the statue is - not much wear and only a couple of bits of (Freddie related) graffiti. Turned out we were just a few days too early for the celebrations of what would have been Freddie's 60th birthday, which was a shame. We did get to see them setting up for it though.
Freddie
Then we set off to look for the door of a studio that used to be there. Apparently this recording studio was used by all sorts of artists, but in particular Queen. The door is the only remaining bit and it's covered in graffiti. It took us a while but we found it. Well, okay the boys found it... I was just following them.
Kristian and Pete at the studio door. They didn't add any graffiti if
you're wondering.
After achieving all the Queen related ambitions, we decided to just have a walk round the lake to Chateau du Chillon, which took about forty five minutes. Apparently the chateau is the most visited historical building in Switzerland, and given that fact it wasn't actually that busy when we were there! There were a few school groups but really it wasn't overrun. Having said that, we didn't go inside so it may have been busier inside!
Chateau du Chillon
Anyway, the actual building is really impressive, especially with that backdrop.
Lake Geneva through the Chateau
We stopped in the gardens to have our lunch and a wee (in the toilets not the garden!) before heading back to Montreux. Once we were in Montreux, the boys decided they wanted to find some place that was on the cover of some album (I was paying attention, honest!) (Okay, so maybe not so much) but after much walking and admitting that it was supposed to be hard to find, we gave up and just enjoyed the view for a while.
Love love love it.
We caught the train back to Geneva mid-afternoon, and then proceeded to spend ages in a queue at the station, waiting to reserve seats for the next leg of our trip. When we'd finally got our tickets (surprisingly painless) we made another attempt to find Île Rousseau. This time we succeeded, although there's not actually much on it apart from a lot of birds and a statue to Rousseau. And I didn't know who Rousseau was at the time ("well, the name sounds familiar..."). I've since looked him up and learnt that he was a philospher though, so I'm not all ignorant. Honest! As we were heading back towards the hostel we noticed the Jet D'Eau looked really cool...
There was a rainbow at the top of it!
On the way back we decided to grab some food at a restaurant we'd spotted the previous night (it had been heaving then). Food was good, although I can't remember what I had. I don't think it was anything particularly Swiss, tsk. Spent the rest of the day doing the boring but necessary task of laundry! Fortunately there was a tumble drier so no worrying about hanging it all out to dry this time. In the evening we had a wander around Old Town by night, which was cool.
He probably wasn't supposed to do this...
Stumbled upon some parks and places whose names I am proving to be rubbish at remembering.
We probably weren't supposed to be playing on this either!
We also got McDonald's milkshakes, so all was right with the world as far as I was concerned. (Now I really want a strawberry milkshake, GAH).
Kristian got up way before us the next morning and went for a walk. I guess it's easier to get up and go when you haven't already been doing it for two and a half weeks! After breakfast, packing up and checking out, we headed back to the train station. Saw Kristian onto his train to Zurich (double decker, woo!) and then we waited for the first train in our long journey to Manarola.
Geneva... I don't know, I was a bit confused by it to be honest. That sounds stupid I know. What I mean is, it seems to have interesting historical buildings buried in amongst loads of industrial or run down commercial looking buildings, which seemed really random to me. I don't feel like I'm explaining myself very well. Basically, it was fun but there weren't a lot of touristy sights and attractions in the city centre, so we covered the major things in one day. Not sure I'm especially bothered about going back to Geneva, but I would love to go back to Montreux... or any of the Swiss Riviera really! Even though I guess there isn't a huge amount to do there, I could just spend ages soaking up that view! I'm really glad Pete got to see the Freddie statue as well. It was like his version of my Sound Of Music moments...