TR: yk/rkkwan + parents' 2-week mostly Swiss sojourn; Sept 2010
Oct 5th, 2010, 09:30 AM
#21
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P.S. I also would like to thank many of the Fodorites here, whom have helped me with trip planning. And thank you to those of you who have posted Switzerland trip reports in the past - they often have invaluable information not available in guidebooks!
Oct 5th, 2010, 11:26 AM
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<b>CHAPTER 2 - <i>Bienvenue à Genève!</i>
Day 1</b>
R and our parents arrived in Geneva early in the AM, while my flight didn't get in until 11:30am or so.
Geneva Airport offers a <b>free</b> transport ticket to all arriving passengers; valid for 80 minutes. There are several of these ticket machines located in the baggage claim area *just* before exiting customs. You can't miss the big yellow sign:
http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-67/
http://www.gva.ch/en/Portaldata/1/Re...ne_unireso.jpg
Armed with my free ticket, I exited customs and followed the sign for trains. There is a train station located right at the airport, and <u>ALL</u> trains stop at Geneva's main train station (Gare de Cornavin). The ride to Gare de Cornavin is only 6 minutes. This is so convenient (both the free ticket and the train) that I can't think of any other city more tourist-friendly than Geneva!
-----------------------------------------
<b>Hotel</b>
Our hotel in Geneva is Hotel Sagitta, located in the Left Bank near the Museum of Natural History, about 1/2 mile from the English Garden/waterfront. I picked this because it's one of the more affordable hotels that is not located in the Red Light District. Plus, all rooms come with a kitchenette. I booked a 1BR/1BA apartment for 4. This is the most expensive lodging we stayed at on our trip.
The apt turned out to be very spacious. The hotel building looks a bit tired from the outside, but the interior is well-kept and clean. The living room has 2 twin beds; a spacious dining table for 4 sits in the dining room. The kitchenette is quite small but usable. Bathroom is modern, and the bedroom has one double bed.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6078.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6079.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6080.jpg
Our room rate includes buffet breakfast. It's a pretty decent spread, with breads, cold cuts, cheeses and jams, juices, fruits, yougurts, and coffee/tea.
Free wi-fi worked well in our room.
Half a block from the hotel is a tram stop (with direct tram line to the train station); another 50 ft farther is a Migros supermarket. All-in-all, very convenient. The hotel sits on a quiet side street with very little noise at night.
P.S. All hotels in Geneva charge a 2.95 CHF city tax (per person, per night). In return, the hotel provides guests with a Geneva transport card which allows free rides on any modes of public transportation during their stay. Excellent idea, I must say.
http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/index....0417&lang=_eng
Hotel Sagitta
http://www.hotelsagitta.ch/en/presentation.php
6, rue de la Flèche, 1207 Geneva
Tel: 0041 (0)22 786 33 61
------------------------------------------
I found the correct tram stop (line #16) at the train station and took it to Hotel Sagitta without difficulty. R and our parents were resting in our 1BR apt already. After I settled in and freshened up, we headed out for lunch. We ate at La Casa Pizzeria not far from our hotel. Among us, we shared a pizza, a pasta dish, a steak <i>frites</i>, and a salad. Our bill was 86 CHF.
La Casa Pizzeria
Rue des Eaux Vives 3, 1207 Geneve
Then we walked to the English Garden by the lakeside, saw the famous flower clock and water jet
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6028.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6027.jpg
before we turned inland to hike up old town. The old town is rather cute, with curvy, narrow streets and picturesque squares. We saw St. Peter's Cathedral, the city hall, the old arsenal, among other things.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6031.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6035.jpg
We then took a bus to the International Area where UN's main European office is. We arrived after 5pm; everything has closed but we still wandered around a bit. Up the road is Musee Ariana, followed by the Red Cross HQ.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6037.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6039.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6041.jpg
From there, we took a bus back to our hotel, picked up groceries from Migros, and cooked dinner in our room.
[Transport info for Day 1 provided by rkkwan:
<i>8:05-8:11 ICN 519 Genève-Aéroport to Genève (SBB, standard gauge)
Tram #16
Buses #5 & 8</i>]
Day 1</b>
R and our parents arrived in Geneva early in the AM, while my flight didn't get in until 11:30am or so.
Geneva Airport offers a <b>free</b> transport ticket to all arriving passengers; valid for 80 minutes. There are several of these ticket machines located in the baggage claim area *just* before exiting customs. You can't miss the big yellow sign:
http://www.gva.ch/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-67/
http://www.gva.ch/en/Portaldata/1/Re...ne_unireso.jpg
Armed with my free ticket, I exited customs and followed the sign for trains. There is a train station located right at the airport, and <u>ALL</u> trains stop at Geneva's main train station (Gare de Cornavin). The ride to Gare de Cornavin is only 6 minutes. This is so convenient (both the free ticket and the train) that I can't think of any other city more tourist-friendly than Geneva!
-----------------------------------------
<b>Hotel</b>
Our hotel in Geneva is Hotel Sagitta, located in the Left Bank near the Museum of Natural History, about 1/2 mile from the English Garden/waterfront. I picked this because it's one of the more affordable hotels that is not located in the Red Light District. Plus, all rooms come with a kitchenette. I booked a 1BR/1BA apartment for 4. This is the most expensive lodging we stayed at on our trip.
The apt turned out to be very spacious. The hotel building looks a bit tired from the outside, but the interior is well-kept and clean. The living room has 2 twin beds; a spacious dining table for 4 sits in the dining room. The kitchenette is quite small but usable. Bathroom is modern, and the bedroom has one double bed.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6078.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6079.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6080.jpg
Our room rate includes buffet breakfast. It's a pretty decent spread, with breads, cold cuts, cheeses and jams, juices, fruits, yougurts, and coffee/tea.
Free wi-fi worked well in our room.
Half a block from the hotel is a tram stop (with direct tram line to the train station); another 50 ft farther is a Migros supermarket. All-in-all, very convenient. The hotel sits on a quiet side street with very little noise at night.
P.S. All hotels in Geneva charge a 2.95 CHF city tax (per person, per night). In return, the hotel provides guests with a Geneva transport card which allows free rides on any modes of public transportation during their stay. Excellent idea, I must say.
http://www.geneve-tourisme.ch/index....0417&lang=_eng
Hotel Sagitta
http://www.hotelsagitta.ch/en/presentation.php
6, rue de la Flèche, 1207 Geneva
Tel: 0041 (0)22 786 33 61
------------------------------------------
I found the correct tram stop (line #16) at the train station and took it to Hotel Sagitta without difficulty. R and our parents were resting in our 1BR apt already. After I settled in and freshened up, we headed out for lunch. We ate at La Casa Pizzeria not far from our hotel. Among us, we shared a pizza, a pasta dish, a steak <i>frites</i>, and a salad. Our bill was 86 CHF.
La Casa Pizzeria
Rue des Eaux Vives 3, 1207 Geneve
Then we walked to the English Garden by the lakeside, saw the famous flower clock and water jet
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6028.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6027.jpg
before we turned inland to hike up old town. The old town is rather cute, with curvy, narrow streets and picturesque squares. We saw St. Peter's Cathedral, the city hall, the old arsenal, among other things.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6031.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6035.jpg
We then took a bus to the International Area where UN's main European office is. We arrived after 5pm; everything has closed but we still wandered around a bit. Up the road is Musee Ariana, followed by the Red Cross HQ.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6037.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6039.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6041.jpg
From there, we took a bus back to our hotel, picked up groceries from Migros, and cooked dinner in our room.
[Transport info for Day 1 provided by rkkwan:
<i>8:05-8:11 ICN 519 Genève-Aéroport to Genève (SBB, standard gauge)
Tram #16
Buses #5 & 8</i>]
Oct 5th, 2010, 11:44 AM
#25
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Just want to comment on the free transport ticket from the airport. That is really civilized. Authorities around the world only ASKS people to use public transit, but how about actually doing something like Geneva and its airport to offer people free public transit?
Anyways, before yk arrived, my parents and I went out to walk along Lake Geneva as our room wasn't ready. It was around 9:40a, and the Jet d'Eau wasn't on. We walked all the way out on the jetty before my mom started to worry about what if the jet turns on suddenly? Well, turned out there is a schedule posted which we just didn't care to look at before walking out. And the jetty actually is open all day long. Only a barrier stops people to get to the jet from about 20 feet away.
Well, after we walked back to shore, we found that in September, the jet starts at 10am. We had a few minutes to spare before getting ourselves wet.
Anyways, before yk arrived, my parents and I went out to walk along Lake Geneva as our room wasn't ready. It was around 9:40a, and the Jet d'Eau wasn't on. We walked all the way out on the jetty before my mom started to worry about what if the jet turns on suddenly? Well, turned out there is a schedule posted which we just didn't care to look at before walking out. And the jetty actually is open all day long. Only a barrier stops people to get to the jet from about 20 feet away.
Well, after we walked back to shore, we found that in September, the jet starts at 10am. We had a few minutes to spare before getting ourselves wet.
Oct 5th, 2010, 12:29 PM
#26
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Oh, and here are the pictures from our flights from/to Houston on Continental:
http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/cogvazrh0910
http://rkkwan.zenfolio.com/cogvazrh0910
Oct 5th, 2010, 02:39 PM
#27
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<b>CHAPTER 3 - Around Lac Léman, Lausanne & Montreux
Day 2</b>
After the buffet breakfast at the hotel, we rode the tram to Geneva's main train station to buy our 8-day consecutive Swiss Saver Pass. Although 320CHF pp seems rather pricey, we soon found out it was a good investment and we made the most out of it during the next 8 days. Not only the Swiss Pass covers all train rides (with a few exceptions), it also allows free rides on public transport in 30+ Swiss cities, and free admissions to over 400 nationwide museums.
Swiss Pass: http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/pro...e.php?passid=1
Free Museum list: http://www.museumspass.ch
We then took a train to <b>Lausanne</b>. From the Lausanne train station, we hiked up the hill to the Old Town. Following a walk described in our Fodor's Switzerland Guidebook, we first stopped at Place St-Francois, then the fashionable Rue de Bourg. Slowly, we made our way up to the gothic <b>Cathedrale de Notre-Dame</b>, the largest church in Switzerland.
http://www.musees-vd.ch/fr/cathedral...sanne/accueil/
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6044.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6050.jpg
As it happens, an organist was practicing for his concert on the following night; a nice surprise!
Short video clip: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_6048.mp4
The view from the terrace outside the Cathedral is quite lovely. Just a bit further up, at the top of the hill, is the 15-century Chateau St-Maire. It is still being used today as the seat of the cantonal government.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6052.jpg
Heading back down hill, we took a different route by way of the wood-roof medieval Escalier du Marche, and ended up at the City Hall.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6054.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6056.jpg
We stopped for picnic lunch on the City Hall plaza - there were numerous take-out places nearby. Mom and Dad shared a doner kebab, rkkwan had a sandwich, and I had a salad. We shared several petite dessert tarts. Lunch was 30 CHF.
<i>Traiteur Bosphore (for doner kebab)
Rue de la Louve 7, 1003 Lausanne
Manor (for sandwich, salad, & desserts)
Rue Pichard 3, 1003 Lausanne</i>
After lunch, we took the Lausanne subway (the only city in Switzerland that has a subway system; and the line we rode on runs up/down a steep incline) to Ouchy. <b>Ouchy</b> is the lakefront suburb of Lausanne. The lakefront promenade is very pretty (another flower clock here), lined with grandiose hotels.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6059.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6062.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6058.jpg
We took the subway back to Lausanne's train station, and caught the train to Nyon. <b>Nyon</b> is a town along Lac Léman but closer to Geneva than Lausanne. We stopped at the town's castle (now a museum) for the lovely lake view, before descending to lakeside for our ferry ride.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6066.jpg
All ferries on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) are operated by CGN. http://www.cgn.ch/eng The ferry we rode on is the paddle steamer <i>Savoie</i>, built in 1914. http://www.cgn.ch/eng/flotte
You can actually view the crankshafts at work inside the ferry! (Short video clip here: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_6072.mp4 ) From Nyon, it first stopped at <b>Yvoire, France</b> before it turned around for Geneva. We did not get off at Yvoire, though technically we were in French territory of Lake Geneva. Since CGN ferries crisscross Lake Geneva between France & Switzerland, our ferry has a French flag at its bow, and a Swiss flag at its stern.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6071.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6075.jpg
A lesson we learned on the ferry - although Swiss trains are very punctual, it's not the case for ferries. Over the next 10 days, we discovered that the lake ferries tend to run late, especially when there are lots of sightseeing tourists who take their time getting on and off!
When our ferry finally arrived back in Geneva, we rushed back to our hotel: changed clothes and ate dinner quickly, before heading back out for the opera (Barber of Seville at Grand Théâtre de Genève). Fortunately, there is a direct tram line from our hotel to the opera house, so we arrived with lots of time to spare.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6082.jpg
I wanted to buy a programme as a souvenir, but at a cost of 16 CHF (!), I just couldn't justify it. This is the highest price for an opera programme I have encountered so far in Europe!
[<u>Transport info</u> for Day 2 provided by rkkwan:
<i>9:45-10:18 IC721 Genève to Lausanne (SBB, standard gauge)
Bi-level train that goes from Geneva Airport to again St. Gallen.
14:20-14:49 IR 1422 Lausanne to Nyon (SBB, standard gauge)
Regional train from Brig to Geneva Airport
Lausanne - Metro M2 line down to Ouchy and back up
Lake Geneva - 1914 Paddle Steamer Savoie
Geneva - tram lines # 12, 16, 17</i>]
<b>CHAPTER 3 to be continued...</b>
Day 2</b>
After the buffet breakfast at the hotel, we rode the tram to Geneva's main train station to buy our 8-day consecutive Swiss Saver Pass. Although 320CHF pp seems rather pricey, we soon found out it was a good investment and we made the most out of it during the next 8 days. Not only the Swiss Pass covers all train rides (with a few exceptions), it also allows free rides on public transport in 30+ Swiss cities, and free admissions to over 400 nationwide museums.
Swiss Pass: http://www.swisstravelsystem.com/pro...e.php?passid=1
Free Museum list: http://www.museumspass.ch
We then took a train to <b>Lausanne</b>. From the Lausanne train station, we hiked up the hill to the Old Town. Following a walk described in our Fodor's Switzerland Guidebook, we first stopped at Place St-Francois, then the fashionable Rue de Bourg. Slowly, we made our way up to the gothic <b>Cathedrale de Notre-Dame</b>, the largest church in Switzerland.
http://www.musees-vd.ch/fr/cathedral...sanne/accueil/
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6044.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6050.jpg
As it happens, an organist was practicing for his concert on the following night; a nice surprise!
Short video clip: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_6048.mp4
The view from the terrace outside the Cathedral is quite lovely. Just a bit further up, at the top of the hill, is the 15-century Chateau St-Maire. It is still being used today as the seat of the cantonal government.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6052.jpg
Heading back down hill, we took a different route by way of the wood-roof medieval Escalier du Marche, and ended up at the City Hall.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6054.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6056.jpg
We stopped for picnic lunch on the City Hall plaza - there were numerous take-out places nearby. Mom and Dad shared a doner kebab, rkkwan had a sandwich, and I had a salad. We shared several petite dessert tarts. Lunch was 30 CHF.
<i>Traiteur Bosphore (for doner kebab)
Rue de la Louve 7, 1003 Lausanne
Manor (for sandwich, salad, & desserts)
Rue Pichard 3, 1003 Lausanne</i>
After lunch, we took the Lausanne subway (the only city in Switzerland that has a subway system; and the line we rode on runs up/down a steep incline) to Ouchy. <b>Ouchy</b> is the lakefront suburb of Lausanne. The lakefront promenade is very pretty (another flower clock here), lined with grandiose hotels.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6059.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6062.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6058.jpg
We took the subway back to Lausanne's train station, and caught the train to Nyon. <b>Nyon</b> is a town along Lac Léman but closer to Geneva than Lausanne. We stopped at the town's castle (now a museum) for the lovely lake view, before descending to lakeside for our ferry ride.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6066.jpg
All ferries on Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) are operated by CGN. http://www.cgn.ch/eng The ferry we rode on is the paddle steamer <i>Savoie</i>, built in 1914. http://www.cgn.ch/eng/flotte
You can actually view the crankshafts at work inside the ferry! (Short video clip here: http://s406.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=MVI_6072.mp4 ) From Nyon, it first stopped at <b>Yvoire, France</b> before it turned around for Geneva. We did not get off at Yvoire, though technically we were in French territory of Lake Geneva. Since CGN ferries crisscross Lake Geneva between France & Switzerland, our ferry has a French flag at its bow, and a Swiss flag at its stern.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6071.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6075.jpg
A lesson we learned on the ferry - although Swiss trains are very punctual, it's not the case for ferries. Over the next 10 days, we discovered that the lake ferries tend to run late, especially when there are lots of sightseeing tourists who take their time getting on and off!
When our ferry finally arrived back in Geneva, we rushed back to our hotel: changed clothes and ate dinner quickly, before heading back out for the opera (Barber of Seville at Grand Théâtre de Genève). Fortunately, there is a direct tram line from our hotel to the opera house, so we arrived with lots of time to spare.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6082.jpg
I wanted to buy a programme as a souvenir, but at a cost of 16 CHF (!), I just couldn't justify it. This is the highest price for an opera programme I have encountered so far in Europe!
[<u>Transport info</u> for Day 2 provided by rkkwan:
<i>9:45-10:18 IC721 Genève to Lausanne (SBB, standard gauge)
Bi-level train that goes from Geneva Airport to again St. Gallen.
14:20-14:49 IR 1422 Lausanne to Nyon (SBB, standard gauge)
Regional train from Brig to Geneva Airport
Lausanne - Metro M2 line down to Ouchy and back up
Lake Geneva - 1914 Paddle Steamer Savoie
Geneva - tram lines # 12, 16, 17</i>]
<b>CHAPTER 3 to be continued...</b>
Oct 6th, 2010, 08:01 AM
#30
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Ingo, I wrote a brief post about <i>Barbiere</i> here: http://www.fodors.com/community/fodo...omment-6681393
Unfortunately, we could only see the soprano version due to our dates. I think the mezzo version received better reviews.
P_M, I suggest you to get into your car and drive yourself to a Central Market; then load up your shopping cart with Swiss chocolates and Swiss Cheese. Both have been proven scientifically to combat depression.
--------------------
One quick word about <b>Luggage</b> before I continue:
We travel light; very light in fact, which was key for the trip since we moved around a lot and used mostly public transport (except for the last few days w/a rental car). rkkwan and I each had a 19" rollaboard and a small day bag. Our parents each had a 17"/18" rollaboard. It would have been difficult for us to travel the way we did if we had large & heavy suitcases.
Unfortunately, we could only see the soprano version due to our dates. I think the mezzo version received better reviews.
P_M, I suggest you to get into your car and drive yourself to a Central Market; then load up your shopping cart with Swiss chocolates and Swiss Cheese. Both have been proven scientifically to combat depression.
--------------------
One quick word about <b>Luggage</b> before I continue:
We travel light; very light in fact, which was key for the trip since we moved around a lot and used mostly public transport (except for the last few days w/a rental car). rkkwan and I each had a 19" rollaboard and a small day bag. Our parents each had a 17"/18" rollaboard. It would have been difficult for us to travel the way we did if we had large & heavy suitcases.
Oct 6th, 2010, 08:32 AM
#32
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<b>CHAPTER 3 continued - Montreux and GoldenPass
Day 3</b>
We checked out of our Geneva hotel and took an early train to Montreux. We stowed our luggage at a locker in the Montreux train station (the largest size fits all 4 of our suitcases; 8 CHF/24hrs).
Despite overcast skies, we can still tell <b>Montreux</b> is a lovely lakeside resort. Just like Ouchy but of a bigger scale, the lakeshore is studded with grand hotels one after another. Because it is shielded from cold winds by the mountains, Montreux and surrounding towns are known as the Swiss Riviera. Many writers and famous people have stayed here, including Stravinsky, Bryon, Shelley, Tolstoy just to name a few. We strolled along the lakeside promenade for close to an hour, before returning to the pier to catch a ferry to Chateau de Chillon. My only disappointment is that there are tented stalls set up on the promenade selling cheap goods. Not only the tents and products are a distraction, they also block the gorgeous, million-dollar lake view.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6085.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6086.jpg
From the Montreux pier, we boarded the ferry which delivered us to Chateau de Chillon in 15 minutes. The chateau is only 2 miles from Montreux; it would be a pleasant walk on a nice day. We find the approach to the Chateau by ferry very impressive.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6091.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6099.jpg
The 12th-century <b>Chateau de Chillon</b> is one of the most visited tourist sites in Switzerland, made famous by Lord Byron's <i>The Prisoner of Chillon</i>. http://www.chillon.ch/en/
The 12 CHF admission was waived using our Swiss Pass. We did not get the audioguide; we found the English leaflet more than adequate. On this grey day, the view from the prison where Francois Bonivard was locked up in was particularly gloomy.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6103.jpg
Even though the chateau didn't look that big from the outside, we spent over 90 minutes touring the interior. We could easily spend more time here, however our schedule was tight and we had to return to Montreux for our onward journey.
We caught the No. 1 bus (stop located across the street) back to Montreux. The bus runs every 10 minutes and the ride takes 10 minutes. We had limited time for lunch, so we grabbed some sandwiches from a kiosk inside the train station (34 CHF). We then retrieved our luggage and boarded the 1:45pm <b>GoldenPass line</b> to Interlaken.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/default.asp?OrgID=6
The trip is divided into 2 segments. The first segment is on a narrow gauge train which goes from <b>Montreux to Zweisimmen</b>. This is the more scenic segment and all carriages are panorama cars with large windows.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/CMS/default.asp?ID=407
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6107.jpg
Last view of Lac Léman/Lake Geneva before the train enters the tunnel and continue Eastward:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6111.jpg
The second segment from <b>Zweisimmen to Interlaken</b> is on standard gauge train.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/CMS/default.asp?ID=371
The entire trip from Montreux to Interlaken-West takes 3 hours, with a 4-min transfer time in Zweisimmen. What strikes me most with the scenery is how lush green Switzerland is.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6112.jpg
[Transport tech info:
<i>8:36-9:39 IR 1719 Genève to Montreux (SBB, standard gauge)
Regional train from Geneva Airport to Brig, but newer equipment and fewer stops then the IR 1422 previous day.
10:40-10:55 "Ville-de-Geneve" ferry from Montreux to Chateau de Chillon
Bus No. 1 from Chateau de Chillon to Montreux train station
13:45-15:32 D 3126 Montreux to Zweisimmen (MOB, meter-gauge)
First part of the GoldenPass line, panorama cars with huge windows even in 2nd class.
15:36-16:45 RE 3126 Zweisimmen to Interlaken West (BLS, standard gauge)
Switch cross platform to standard gauge, non-panorama cars. Train continues one more stop to Interlaken Ost.</i>]
Day 3</b>
We checked out of our Geneva hotel and took an early train to Montreux. We stowed our luggage at a locker in the Montreux train station (the largest size fits all 4 of our suitcases; 8 CHF/24hrs).
Despite overcast skies, we can still tell <b>Montreux</b> is a lovely lakeside resort. Just like Ouchy but of a bigger scale, the lakeshore is studded with grand hotels one after another. Because it is shielded from cold winds by the mountains, Montreux and surrounding towns are known as the Swiss Riviera. Many writers and famous people have stayed here, including Stravinsky, Bryon, Shelley, Tolstoy just to name a few. We strolled along the lakeside promenade for close to an hour, before returning to the pier to catch a ferry to Chateau de Chillon. My only disappointment is that there are tented stalls set up on the promenade selling cheap goods. Not only the tents and products are a distraction, they also block the gorgeous, million-dollar lake view.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6085.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6086.jpg
From the Montreux pier, we boarded the ferry which delivered us to Chateau de Chillon in 15 minutes. The chateau is only 2 miles from Montreux; it would be a pleasant walk on a nice day. We find the approach to the Chateau by ferry very impressive.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6091.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6099.jpg
The 12th-century <b>Chateau de Chillon</b> is one of the most visited tourist sites in Switzerland, made famous by Lord Byron's <i>The Prisoner of Chillon</i>. http://www.chillon.ch/en/
The 12 CHF admission was waived using our Swiss Pass. We did not get the audioguide; we found the English leaflet more than adequate. On this grey day, the view from the prison where Francois Bonivard was locked up in was particularly gloomy.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6103.jpg
Even though the chateau didn't look that big from the outside, we spent over 90 minutes touring the interior. We could easily spend more time here, however our schedule was tight and we had to return to Montreux for our onward journey.
We caught the No. 1 bus (stop located across the street) back to Montreux. The bus runs every 10 minutes and the ride takes 10 minutes. We had limited time for lunch, so we grabbed some sandwiches from a kiosk inside the train station (34 CHF). We then retrieved our luggage and boarded the 1:45pm <b>GoldenPass line</b> to Interlaken.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/default.asp?OrgID=6
The trip is divided into 2 segments. The first segment is on a narrow gauge train which goes from <b>Montreux to Zweisimmen</b>. This is the more scenic segment and all carriages are panorama cars with large windows.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/CMS/default.asp?ID=407
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6107.jpg
Last view of Lac Léman/Lake Geneva before the train enters the tunnel and continue Eastward:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6111.jpg
The second segment from <b>Zweisimmen to Interlaken</b> is on standard gauge train.
http://www.goldenpass.ch/CMS/default.asp?ID=371
The entire trip from Montreux to Interlaken-West takes 3 hours, with a 4-min transfer time in Zweisimmen. What strikes me most with the scenery is how lush green Switzerland is.
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6112.jpg
[Transport tech info:
<i>8:36-9:39 IR 1719 Genève to Montreux (SBB, standard gauge)
Regional train from Geneva Airport to Brig, but newer equipment and fewer stops then the IR 1422 previous day.
10:40-10:55 "Ville-de-Geneve" ferry from Montreux to Chateau de Chillon
Bus No. 1 from Chateau de Chillon to Montreux train station
13:45-15:32 D 3126 Montreux to Zweisimmen (MOB, meter-gauge)
First part of the GoldenPass line, panorama cars with huge windows even in 2nd class.
15:36-16:45 RE 3126 Zweisimmen to Interlaken West (BLS, standard gauge)
Switch cross platform to standard gauge, non-panorama cars. Train continues one more stop to Interlaken Ost.</i>]
Oct 6th, 2010, 08:53 AM
#33
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I was just wondering if you went to Chateau de Chillon, I'm glad to see you did. Very nice indeed.
Now if you'll please excuse me, I'm off to Central Market to get my Swiss chocolates and cheese.
Now if you'll please excuse me, I'm off to Central Market to get my Swiss chocolates and cheese.
Oct 6th, 2010, 09:10 AM
#34
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<b>CHAPTER 4 - <I>Willkommen in Interlaken</i> (and beyond)
Day 3 continued</b>
We arrived on the GoldenPass train at Interlaken-West station just before 5pm. To our delight, Veronica, the owner of Swiss Inn, was awaiting us at the station with her van. We very much appreciated this nice gesture, even though we could have easily walked the short distance with our luggage (5-min walk).
<b>Hotel</b>
We booked a 2BR/2BA apartment at Swiss Inn. It turned out to be quite wonderful, and it looks better than the photos posted on the hotel's website. The kitchen is very well-equipped so we had no trouble making breakfasts and cooking dinners there. Our apartment is in a separate building from the main Inn, so it is very quiet and we weren't disturbed by other guests. In the basement of the main building are coin-op washers and dryers which we used to do laundry during our stay.
Sitting area: http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6116.jpg
Dining area + kitchenette:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6117.jpg
The 2 bedrooms:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6118.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6119.jpg
One of the 2 bathrooms:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6120.jpg
Exterior of the main Inn:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6123.jpg
OUR apt is in a separate building "The Bungalow"
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6124.jpg
Swiss Inn
http://www.swiss-inn.ch/index.htm
General Guisanstrasse 23 Interlaken
Tel: +41 33 822 3626
As mentioned above, the Inn is a 5-min walk from Interlaken-West train station. Across the station is a large Migros supermarket. We thought the Inn is ideal for us as we planned to make several day trips during our stay.
The owners, JP & Veronica, are wonderful hosts. They are helpful when needed, but they aren't in-your-face friendly.
After we settled in, we headed back out to stretch our legs a bit in town, then went grocery shopping at Migros to stock up on food for the next 4 days.
Day 3 continued</b>
We arrived on the GoldenPass train at Interlaken-West station just before 5pm. To our delight, Veronica, the owner of Swiss Inn, was awaiting us at the station with her van. We very much appreciated this nice gesture, even though we could have easily walked the short distance with our luggage (5-min walk).
<b>Hotel</b>
We booked a 2BR/2BA apartment at Swiss Inn. It turned out to be quite wonderful, and it looks better than the photos posted on the hotel's website. The kitchen is very well-equipped so we had no trouble making breakfasts and cooking dinners there. Our apartment is in a separate building from the main Inn, so it is very quiet and we weren't disturbed by other guests. In the basement of the main building are coin-op washers and dryers which we used to do laundry during our stay.
Sitting area: http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6116.jpg
Dining area + kitchenette:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6117.jpg
The 2 bedrooms:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6118.jpg
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6119.jpg
One of the 2 bathrooms:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6120.jpg
Exterior of the main Inn:
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6123.jpg
OUR apt is in a separate building "The Bungalow"
http://i406.photobucket.com/albums/p...0/IMG_6124.jpg
Swiss Inn
http://www.swiss-inn.ch/index.htm
General Guisanstrasse 23 Interlaken
Tel: +41 33 822 3626
As mentioned above, the Inn is a 5-min walk from Interlaken-West train station. Across the station is a large Migros supermarket. We thought the Inn is ideal for us as we planned to make several day trips during our stay.
The owners, JP & Veronica, are wonderful hosts. They are helpful when needed, but they aren't in-your-face friendly.
After we settled in, we headed back out to stretch our legs a bit in town, then went grocery shopping at Migros to stock up on food for the next 4 days.
Oct 6th, 2010, 09:47 AM
#37
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Thanks, yk, I commented on the opera thread.
LOL, I *did* spend more than 90 minutes in castle Chillon! I just love these authentic medieval castles. I, too, took the leaflet and skipped the audio guide.
Glad to see you had such fabulous weather.
Oh, and the Swiss Inn in Interlaken looks really good!
I.
LOL, I *did* spend more than 90 minutes in castle Chillon! I just love these authentic medieval castles. I, too, took the leaflet and skipped the audio guide.
Glad to see you had such fabulous weather.
Oh, and the Swiss Inn in Interlaken looks really good!
I.
Oct 6th, 2010, 11:00 AM
#39
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Thanks again for all your continued interests in this trip report.
amyb, it's hard not to love Switzerland; just be sure to bring a fat wallet.
MarthaT, I too had previously stayed at Leoneck in 2003. I'd recommend it with some reservations after our most recent stay.
amyb, it's hard not to love Switzerland; just be sure to bring a fat wallet.
MarthaT, I too had previously stayed at Leoneck in 2003. I'd recommend it with some reservations after our most recent stay.
Oct 6th, 2010, 11:24 AM
#40
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Hi there yk and rk!!
Enjoying your double reporting. And how fun to have the opportunity to take your parents on a trip with you both. We did the same sort of thing a few years back with my folks, and to this day, my dad (now 85) still talks about it being the best days of his life! Good times for sure.
yk, I'll be interested to read if you took/enjoyed your walk from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen. I checked out part of the trail when we were there a couple weeks ago, and it certainly looked walkable.
And as for you my dear P_M - there's a bar of Swiss chocolate in my cupboard just for you! Let's have lunch before I eat it all myself!!
Happy travels!
Enjoying your double reporting. And how fun to have the opportunity to take your parents on a trip with you both. We did the same sort of thing a few years back with my folks, and to this day, my dad (now 85) still talks about it being the best days of his life! Good times for sure.
yk, I'll be interested to read if you took/enjoyed your walk from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen. I checked out part of the trail when we were there a couple weeks ago, and it certainly looked walkable.
And as for you my dear P_M - there's a bar of Swiss chocolate in my cupboard just for you! Let's have lunch before I eat it all myself!!
Happy travels!
