Montreux, Switzerland

We arrived in the mid afternoon.  The train station was not large.  We managed to get the luggage from the train down escalators and out to the street.  Di asked a cab driver how far the Majestic Grand Hotel was and he pointed across the street!  We had no more than 50 paces to the front door!  Our room was ready.  We unpacked once again.  Our room had a small lanai overlooking Lake Geneva.  We met our fellow travelers that evening at the cocktail and dinner party.  30 of us from all over the USA.  San Francisco, Seattle, Billings, Arizona were the folks that had the longest travel.  Although they shot up over the north pole and probably didn't have much greater distance than we did.

Since we arrived a day before many we were well rested for the evening.  We did stretch our legs in the afternoon and walked along the lake.  There was a sidewalk sale going on.  Vendors selling all sorts of native items.   My summation would be junk!  We walked for a mile or more and found a McDonalds.  Get this, a burger, fries & coke $18!  No wonder the Swiss are thin!!  Gas was a mere $8.50 a gallon.  Lunch cost close to $35 without wine!

Language has not been a problem.  All sales clerks speak fluent English.  Our room was large.  The only difference was height and comfort of the bed.  They must use a combination spring and mattress.  It was barely 20 inches from the floor.  When I sat down on the bed I wondered if I would have to roll out on my knees to standup!

Majestic Grand Hotel

We enjoyed a walk, weather was 78, mild breeze

Lake Geneva is very long.  We could see across the lake although it was hazy.

A view from our lanai of lake Geneva

Off to Gstaad via the golden Pass Panoramic Train - The Haley's

This is a hill side planted with grape vines.  If the hillside isn't a pasture it is a vineyard!  We marveled at how they would harvest their grapes.  Nearly all Switzerland wine is consumed locally.

Photo from the train shows the hill side

The rolling hills and green grass are a constant back drop.

The Alps are very rugged and have sharp pointed tops.  The altitude is not often above 7,000 feet at the summit.  Trees grow all the way to the top unless the rock is quartz or crystal so dense flora can't survive.  Only a few peaks sore higher than 10,000'.  If you visit the Colorado pictures you should easily see the difference.  The farmers have cattle - milk cows - mow their lawns.  The hill sides are so green a flowing.  Makes you wonder what they would look like if they were not pastures.

Gstaad

Gstaad, Switzerland a ski town.  It will be buzzing with activity in a month!

Steeples come in different sizes and shapes

This is a map of the ski slopes

Flowers are abundant

I love the architecture of the building on the hill.

Lamb take over the street as they head for greener pastures

This is a typical sight, buildings are so inviting and flowers are so brilliant.

Daises would make a nice addition to a porch

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