Will the Cherry Blossoms Last a While?
 

I understand the cherry blossoms are blooming in Washington D.C. already. Do you think they will still be around in two weeks? Are all the varieties blooming now or are some still budding? <BR> <BR>Thanks.

Unfortunately, the cherry blossoms are now in full bloom and, due to recent rains, the U.S. Parks Department is predicting that they will not be in bloom during the Cherry Blossom Festival. Sorry.

I assume that you mean the Tidal Basin blossoms. They will all be in full bloom from yesterday through Saturday the 25th. The blooms are expected to last from 10 to 14 days. Check out www.gwjapan.com/cherryblossom for more info.

<BR>Thanks for the report. I wish cherry blossoms would not have bloomed so early, was really looking forward to touring around D.C. amongst them. Will have a good time anyway. I'm planning to attend the parade on April 8th. I ordered the grandstand seats about eight weeks ago, sent in a personal check, which has been cashed, and have not heard anymore about it. Shouldn't I have received my tickets by now? Have called the Downtown Jaycees and left message, but no reply. Does anyone know if when I receive the tickets will they be for specific seats or is it general admission type seating? <BR> <BR>Sandi

<BR>Hope our 3-30/4-4 dates will see some blossoms.We are seniors looking for B&B in safe area downtown DC.Any suggestions would be appreciiated.Thank you Joe

I just returned Sunday from 10 days in Vevey and Montreux. I was visiting a friend so she showed me how the trains and busses worked, then I used them frequently on my own. They are very efficient and easy to understand (and I speak no French).

When you enter a bus you get your own ticket by putting coins into the machine at the back and pressing a few choices. The charge is by how many zones you will go thru and there is a map above the machine. The routes are on the front of the bus, and the next stop flashes on a sign overhead inside. Each bus stop is marked with a name. Sometimes there will be a spot check to see your ticket, but most often not.

Train stations also have machines that take credit cards or cash, or you can go to a ticket window with a person selling them. The machines are a bit more complicated (than the bus) only in that there are more choices of where you will go, class of ticket, 1 way or round-trip, etc. The machine shows how much to put in once you enter your destination. On each train there are 1st class and 2nd class cars and smoking and non-smoking (there are signs on the outside of each car showing this). In a pinch you can jump on the train and pay the conductor when he/she comes thru, it will cost a bit more but might be worth it in some circumstances. A conductor will come thru and punch tickets somewhere along the line.

For excursions from Lausanne I highly recommend Vevey and Montreux! They are only a few minutes away. I found Geneva to be a huge, world-class city, but without much &quot;soul&quot; compared to the lovely areas around it. I would personally be much more intimidated there (not for safety reasons, although there are a few rough parts of town I hear, but by shear size more confusing).

Personally I would not bother to print train schedules ahead of time. Unless perhaps for getting to the airport on time, or something like that. If you are traveling around Lac Leman it's pretty straight-forward, I can't imagine how you would get lost. Even if you miss your stop or fall asleep the worst that could happen is you'd have to get off at a train station and take the train back the other way.

Go to the Saturday early morning market in Vevey!!! Thru the end of August is Marche Folklorique. Besides all the usual vendors and fabulous food and flowers, there is a wine tasting, and various live music, some people in traditional costumes. This is a well-loved local event, not just a tourist deal. It is a 3 min. walk from the train station to the town square.

I hope this isn't too much detail and that at least some of it is helpful. My trip is so fresh in my mind, it's hard for me not to go on &amp; on...

Thank you so much, Suze! I will print all this out. PLEASE go on and on! What all did you do? What was your favorite town, experience, etc. etc?

Suze, I just got home a few hours ago from my Swiss adventure, and thanks to your suggestion, I went to Vevey on Saturday, Aug. 14 and drank wine in the morning!! I kept looking around for someone who fits my mental picture of you and sounds like she is from Seattle. Of course I never found you, but I wanted you to know I was there when you were, and thanks for the suggestion. That was good wine!!

To the original poster, I felt very safe in Lausanne even at night. In fact, I felt very safe everywhere in Switzerland except in Geneva near the train station at night. I left this morning around 5am for the airport and I had planned to walk to the station, but there was so much commotion last night from drunks that I took a taxi. I know the train would have been a heck of a lot cheaper, but as a female travelling alone, you cannot put a price on safety and some of those characters around my hotel seemed scary. Besides, I was able to share a cab with another hotel guest so it wasn't too costly.

I plan to post a trip report sometime this weekend, but right now I am reeling from jet lag and I could fall asleep right here and now, so I will tell you all about it soon.

For scheraulei~ I am incredibly fortunate to have dear friends who live in Montreux. So most of my experiences are around dinner parties, BBQ's, shopping at the market, getting invited places. Having said that I LOVE the castle at Chateau de Chillon (it's OLD), the Vevey Saturday market as mentioned above, walking along the quai (lakeside promonade) anywhere in Lausanne, Vevey, Montreux. I hear great things about Morges, but haven't been yet. Don't miss the amazing pastries and bakeries everywhere. The scenic tram Roches de Naye is good (leaves from the Montreux train station but from a separate ticket office) and goes straight UP the mountain overlooking Montreux. The town &amp; castle at Gruyeres was lovely, but we went by car so am not sure the logistics of getting there on your own. There are various boat rides available along the lake.

scheraulei,
You shouldn't be afraid of the neighbourhood you stay in in Lausanne, no problem.
In every train station, you'll find an electronic board, mostly blue, indicating all the destinations with mayor intermediate stops and the platform of departure. Besides these, in the corridors you'll find yellow posters with the daily schedules/destinations/platforms. (The white ones are the arrival schedules).
And, on the ticket counter in Lausanne, you should find a little booklet, the size somewhat bigger than a credit card with all destinations from Lausanne. These are free of charge. If you don't see them, just ask for 'le carnet des horaires'.

As for the busses in Lausanne and Geneva, there should be some info-boot in or in front of the station where they have a small plan. Look in Lausanne fo TL (Transports Lausannois) and TPG (Transport Publics Genevois).

Excursions.
Previous posters have indicated quite a few. Vevey market on Saurday morning is a must. I'm quite sure you can also go from Ouchy to Vevey by boat. Ask at the hotel. (Ouchy is lakeside Lausanne).

Lausanne is the home of Switzerland's largest university so you may see a lot of college-age kids out and about at all hours. Their presence makes for a pretty lively scene in a city that has been known for eons for its rather un-Swiss &quot;liberal&quot; attitude about life.

I think you have very little to worry about after dark and I honestly think that the above poster's experience in Geneva is a rare one..the Swiss love to party but they can also be quite reserved when they wish to be. The usual precautions are probably warranted but I think you'll come back to tell us you ended up having few, if any, security worries.

As another possible excursion (and I very heartily recommend a boat trip to the lake towns as well as a visit to Chillon) you might consider taking the train from Montreux up to Rochers de Naye. The views from the top (if you get there on a clear day) out over the lake are more spectacular than you are likely to see anywhere else...just the trip itself is kinda fun.

Have a great adventure!

Hi scheraulei,

I don't have much to add to these GREAT suggestions you're getting (and loving the few vicarious moments in Vevey thanks to suze and P_M -- looking forward to that trip report, by the way!).

But I do want to say, contrary to what many have said here, that you may want to print out some of your train schedules ahead of time (or print them onto a 3x5 card, as I do). I only do it because I don't like arriving at the gare at 9.10 to see that my train left at 9.07 or something like that. Alternately, find the small booklet with local schedules. Simply as a matter of convenience. But then I tend to obsess over these planning things . . .

Hope this helps.

s

TopMan, just for your info...
The Federal Polytechnic School in Lausanne is on #3 while the University of Lausanne is #7 for the total surface they occupy.
The FPS is #8 and the UNIL is #5 for the number of students and personnel.
Even combined, they still are way back behind Zurich University and FPS-Zurich.
This student population is hardly visible in town, firstly because the main sites are out of town, secondly because the semester starts in mid-october.

PalQ - thanks for the reassurance!

Kappa - I am staying at Hotel Elite. I plan to walk to St. Saphorin since it's only 3 miles from Ouchy and hopefully take in a free concert at the church there. I do plan to visit Vevey at least once, since it sounds relaxing and pretty, and then take the boat back at sunset, which is supposed to be just glorious. I just hope it doesn't rain! Thanks for answering!
:(

P M - Thank you so much for the reassurance about Lausanne safety especially since I forgot to mention that I also plan to hang out at caf&eacute;s in Flon and &quot;Sainf&quot; at night. I was even toying with the idea of going dancing by myself (I'm pretty independent and just love to shake my tail feather!) I like being in the midst of people and action. I LOVE Vegas and feel very comfortable walking up and down the Strip at all hours of the night. However, I've heard mixed things about Flon at night. Are there too many drunks and druggies? I do know you have to avoid the Jet d'Eau in Geneva at night. Thanks for the warning about the train station. I assume you're speaking of Cornavin as opposed to Cointrin. I can't wait to read that trip report. What will the thread name be if you don't post it in here?

scheraulei (in the &quot;small world&quot; category)... Hotel Elite is where I planned to stay 2 nights at the beginning of my last trip. Dates changed and I was able to go direct to friend's house instead. Long story shorter the hotel looked lovely to me on the website, I liked that it was near the train station, and would love to hear how it works out for you.

Suze - Thanks for reminding me about Roches de Naye! Do you know if that little train is covered by the Swiss Pass? I went to Gruy&egrave;res many years ago on my first Swiss trip, but as I am not that much into cheese, it didn't really excite me. However, Ch&acirc;teau d'Oex had more charm and we found this little place where they had to-die-for Fraises aux Cr&egrave;me. Them strawberries be calling my name and I plan to also check out the chocolate situation at the Caillers factory in Broc. I am partial to Cr&egrave;mant myself and plan to bring back a 2 kg bar if I can find one (and keep from eating it before I leave town).

Baldrick - Thank you so much for your help especially with giving me the specific names of these books to ask for if I don't see them. That is truly helpful! You guys are making Vevey a done deal. I was lukewarm on it before posting here. :)

Suze - Absolutely I'll do a mini-review of everything. I've heard nothing but good things so far and they are recommended in several travel guides. I talked to the owner and another guy on the phone and they were very nice. You reminded me - I have to e-mail them and remind them I'm comng!

swandav,
your fraises &agrave; la cr&egrave;me de gruy&egrave;re is made of 2 things; cream, which is available all year long, and strawberries, which are a trifle out-of-season in december...
but this shouldn't prevent you from coming to Chateau-d'Oex!!!

baldrick,

Oops. Sometimes I get soooo excited . . .

In May, I cycled to Chateau d'Oex from Saanen and really enjoyed the area. Those beautiful, endless rolling hills really won over my heart! So I'm looking forward to spending more time there in Dec, even if I have to forgo the berries!

s

Kappa - Thanks for the good wishes! I got a better deal pricewise at Hotel Elite - 132 CHF/night for staying for 8 nights straight. But I read Alpha-Palmiers is really fabulous since their big renovation. I am bigtime into modern architecture and will definitely drop by to check it out.

Aw, Swandav, you are so sweet :)! If people take the time to answer, it's only polite to thank them. I met a guy in the Starbucks I hang out in who had lived in Berne and Neuchatel for a year and I picked his brain as much as I could in that encounter, but I haven't seen him since, and I don't know anyone else around here who knows anything about Switzerland, so...you guys are a tremendous help. By the way, to all planners reading this, he begged me to make Neuchatel my base. He insists Neuchatel has it all and if you are really into wine, to visit nearby Cordaillaud (? - I'll have to look it up and post it later). As far as the little Chateau d'Oex caf&eacute;, I can't remember the name but I will try to do a little research and see if I can figure it out. All I can remember is that we were upstairs and sat by a window overlooking the town square, which was full of flower- bedecked chalets, and I took a picture of some Swiss girl scouts who were so cute. It was all so sunny and beautiful. Definitely, I will try to find that caf&eacute; again and I'll be sure and write it down. Anyway, thanks much for the good wishes. I may as well share my tentative itinerary:
Fri 9/3 eve. - arrive at GVA and check into the Moevenpick. Try to stay awake long enough to lose money in their slot machines.
Sat - explore Cointrin area, Pal&eacute;o Exhibit Hall, grocery shop at Carrefours, train to Lausanne and Hotel Elite, explore and hang out in Old Town.
Sun AM - maybe church in Cressiers if I can figure out how to get there. Then train to La Chaux de Fonds to see the clock museum, then to Neuchatel to see the museum (Mus&eacute;e des Beaux Arts?)where the lifesize automata do their little show. Back to Lausanne/Ouchy/St. Sapphorin.
Mon - Berne
Tues - Villeneuve/Lausanne/Flon/Ouchy
Wed - Geneva and Carouge
Thurs - Lucerne or Geneva/Lausanne
Fri - Chateau d'Oex/Broc/Les Diablerets
Sat - Carouge/Yvoire/Vevey/Ouchy

Hey I need another week! Alas, no
moo-lah.
:(

WOW that's quite the itinerary. I won't try to talk you out of it because we all travel different, but my 10 days spent only in Vevey &amp; Montreux was fabulous. Any day with 4 cities seems a bit on the crazy side to me, you'll be rushing up and down the lake instead of sitting in a cafe or strolling the quai.

Hi, Suze-- LOL - I am a bit on the crazy side, huh. But actually, the day with 4 stops is just to pick up a Bally's outlet wallet for a friend real fast in Villeneuve, spend the rest of the day in Vevey, then go back to Lausanne via the infamous sunset cruise. Ouchy and Flon are just &quot;districts&quot; in Lausanne. Ouchy is the beach, hang out place; Flon - the club/coffeehouse scene. Carouge is a suburb of Geneva, so it is right there. Yvoire is a quick trip across the lake to France, maybe stay an hour, tops. So a lot of my multiple places aren't much distance between at all. Lucerne in one day sounds insane, but I only want to catch a free concert at the festival, mebbe, get on a boat for awhile, then walk under that covered bridge. The one that ends in Les Diablerets, now that will be a workout! On that one, I am truly nuts. I am very energetic, but, believe you me, I promise I will relax plenty. I work very hard and boy do I need it! :)

Suze - Whoops! I mixed Tuesday with Saturday. LOL! Well it should all work out. If not I'll just have to sleep when I get home. :)

Hi Folks,

Well this is turning into a nice chat!

I took a loot at Au Montagnard, and it does look sweet! I must admit I also looked at the Chalet-Fromagerie and I may spend an afternoon there in Dec. Wow, I am really getting to like this region of Switzerland -- the Pays d'Enhaut and the Saanenland.

scheraulei, I didn't much care for Neuchatel when I whizzed through it in May when I went to the museum/exhibition Latenium. I was underwhelmed -- primarily because the mountains are more distant and not as majestic as around Lac Leman. Also, I found the lakeside not well developed for strolling; while there is a nice lakeside path, it is not enhanced with cafes, flowers, etc. The main port is developed with some restaurants and cafes and a large central plaza that seems to draw street performers, etc, but it wasn't enough to make me want to go back. The city itself seems to be cool -- a real city, not a made-for-tourists resort like one gets at Montreux's lakeside (which I love!!!).

I have some friends who continue to encourage me to spend more time getting to know the subtle beauties of the Jura, and I probably will. Eventually.

Thanks also for the hint on Cortaillod, which I'll keep for my return visit! I've heard of the vineyards around Lake Biel (www.bielerseewein.ch) and Lake Morat (www.levully.ch), but not Neuchatel.

I can't wait for your trip report -- and photos! I've been debating an excursion to Carouge for about a year now, but because I don't like big cities, I usually decide not to go. So maybe you'll change my mind!

Are you packing yet!

s

This is the most enthusiastic thread I've read in months! I'm sorry I have to miss out during the week. Scheraulei, your plans sound great and the input you've received is terrific. When I read your daily plans, though, it sure seems like your days will be very busy.

What can I add? Not much, except there is wonderful folk art museum in Chateau d'Oex and a small restaurant where you can watch the owner make cheese just feet away from where you are eating raclette and drinking beer.

Do find the time to walk the vineyard trails of the lavaux. It's a treat. St. Saphorin (if you're talking about the village between Rivaz and Vevey?) is more than three miles from Ouchy (at least on my map). It's a quick train ride from Lausanne, though. Later, y'all. J.

Swandav - From what I've read Carouge sounds cool. I like mellow, artsy villages with great caf&eacute;s with serious peoplewatching, reasonably priced restaurants and interesting shops. That is the picture I've been given of Carouge. I am very fortunate to live near Ventura Boulevard in the LA area and that's what it's like, that's what I'm used to and I'll probably get homesick. LOL. But I will be in another country, so it should add that extra spice. Yes I am packed, just a couple more things to buy. One is a plug adaptor, which I am terrified to buy. I just know I'll get the wrong thing and blow up my hotel...

JMW -
Thank you so much for your kind words!
This time next Saturday I'll be gone so it is nice to have &quot;caught&quot; you before I left! I, too, marvel at how nice everyone is. I only frequent one other forum (24 -the TV show)and it can get a little intense at times. This is nice and light and very informative. Re: the raclette restaurant - raclette is a little too rich for my tastes, but watching someone make cheese directly in front of you sounds awfully interesting. If they serve a nice glass of Riesling, perhaps I'll take a peek.:) If St. Saphorin is not that much farther, I'll still walk it. I need the workout after all the chocolate I plan to eat...

re St. Saphorin, you could compromise and take the train or boat to Cully and walk the vineyard trail from there. Do you have a map of the trails? (rather than the highway route along the lakeside) The tourist office in the Lausanne train station will have one for you, I'm sure. Bon Voyage. J.