I will have a 3-4 hour train stopover, after dark, in either Geneva or Lausanne. Which would you choose, and why? <BR> <BR>Thanks. <BR> <BR>-Chels

Neither are particularly inspiring,but I would probably opt for Lausanne, which is slightly more compact, and offers a better choice of amenities close to the station. The station itself was refurbished about 3 years ago, so may be easier to navigate. <BR>Geneva basically caters for United Nations diplomats (?) and bureaucrats all of whom are on over generous taxpayer funded expense accounts,so Dining out is overly expensive, and offers less value for money.

Thank you for your response. Which of the two cities would you choose for scenery or ambience for a short stopover? <BR> <BR>Thanks again.

Florence, bonjour! <BR> <BR>C'est pour vous. J'aime les deux - mais "after dark" -- hm, je n'ai aucune idée! <BR> <BR>Bonne journée.

Geneva has a few inhabitants who sometimes dine out without "over generous taxpayer funded expense accounts", which means that you can actually find some good value for money here. ;-&gt; <BR> <BR>It all depends on what your expectations are: you'll find good local cuisine (not only cheese fondue and raclette), ethnic restaurants, and French cuisine. The prices are roughly the same in Lausanne, i.e. expensive compared to France and the USA. <BR> <BR>3-4 hours will give you ample time for a glimpse of the lake side and old towns of both cities, although Geneva station is closer to the lake than Lausanne's and can be reached on foot in about 5 minutes. Depending on the day and time of arrival, you might even enjoy some (window)shopping in one of the many antiques shops (shops usually close around 6:30 - 7 PM, except on Thursday when they stay open until 8 PM). <BR> <BR>Regarding scenery, you'll notice a difference by day, Geneva tending to be more often overcast than Lausanne. At night, both lakesides are very pleasant, although you won't be able to visit both lakeside and old town in Lausanne within your schedule.

Chels, <BR>Your second question about choosing one of these cities for a short stopover prompts me to ask -- have you considered Montreux? It's about 40 minutes by train from Lausanne, and if you have one or two nights to spend, I would recommend you spend them in Montreux. Montreux is a smaller city with a beautiful flowered promenade along the lake and several well-known restaurants. For a detailed list of things to do there, or if you'd like more info, e-mail me. <BR> <BR>s

s: Montreux is a nice place, yes. But it can be very dull in winter months. <BR>Nothing on at all. Just a couple of bars like the "Harry's Bar" at the Montreux-Palace or the Casino. A couple of years ago, I was at a convention there in November and it was extremely boring in the evenings... <BR>Chels: Stick to Geneva or Lausanne, if you come here from October-March. <BR>Also a very nice small town is Vevey where Charlie Chaplin used to live.

(Chels, please pardon this interruption in your thread . . . ) <BR> <BR>Ursula, <BR>With respect, I disagree about Montreux's delights in the winter. I've visited there twice in November and once in January, and I've enjoyed the visits a lot. Certainly, Montreux has never been a real party-town, and outside of the July Jazz fest, the August wine fest (or mini-fests), and the Aug/Sep Classical Music Fest, the nightlife is tame. But the scenery remains good, the food great, and I find the place still perfectly evocative for those of us who have slowed down. A winter storm on the lake after dark can be downright . . . romantic! By the way, I'm re-reading Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" (for class), and I'm revelling in her descriptions of Leman. <BR> <BR>s

Hello, <BR> <BR>I am so impressed by and grateful for all of your responses! I have actually already booked my vacation time,and,unfortunately,do not have time to stop in Switzerland. In fact,the original plan was an overnight train from Paris to Rome. I am departing a few hours early, stopping en route in Switzerland, then meeting the same night train to Rome in Geneva or Lausanne rather than originating in Paris. If you think of any other scenic ways to make this journey, since by necessity most of the trip will be in the dark of night, I would appreciate your advice! <BR> <BR>Regardless of this, the one thing I know for sure is that the next trip will include Swizerland as a primary destination. <BR> <BR>Thank you again,and best regards, <BR> <BR>Chels