Rigi

When my human family told me that we are going to see the Rigi mountain, I was not excessively happy. After all, we have already been to Mount Pilatus less than two years ago. And Lake Lucerne is not my favourite lake on the planet. But since horse of value always overcome their fears, I decided to spend this lovely summer day with you in the Swiss canton of Schwyz and even get close to what was my most dreadful experience ever. First, we will take a cable car to arrive to Rigi Kaltbad, where people enjoy some mineral water spa with an amazing view.

From here, we will go further up with a cogway train, being the oldest mountain railway in Europe.

As we move up, you can notice this wooden platform. If you thought it is standing here because there will be a dancing party tonight, you definitely know little about the pre-Alpine folklore.

This is a platform prepared for Schwingen, a traditional Swiss wrestling contest. And if you think that Swiss people do not take it seriously because it is "only" folklore, watch that.

Finally, we arrive to the top of the Rigi Kulm.

One of the most amazing things about Rigi is that it is almost entirely surrounded by water. It has three lakes at its feet. The first is Lake Lucerne that we all know too well.

Then come Lake Zug which we have already seen in the city of Zug ...

... and just next to it Lake Lauerz.

Rigi is referred to sometime as the queen of mountains. To improve its status even more, it arranged to become a sister of a goddess. Or more precisely a sacred mountain, Mount Emei.

Let's jump on the train again and move down the Rigi mountain towards the shores of Lake Lucerne.

I love this sign towards sheep and goats.

As we approach the lake, I recalled why I always thought this is one of the nicest areas of Switzerland.

It almost makes me want to get closer. I am not yet ready to be in the lake. But why not trying to be on the lake?

Everyone on board!

Safety first so let's check the lifeboats.

The engines seem to work fine as well.

I am now reassured, we can sit on one of those nice benches.

The nice building in the back is a luxury hotel.

Have you noticed something special on the mountain? Yes! This is a huge Swiss flag over there!

Time to get off the ship and move towards new adventures. I hope that you have enjoyed the time we spent by the Regina montium. If you would like to see more, I truly recommend you to watch the panoramic views available under the link.

Montreux

Just half an hour from Lausanne lies a small and peaceful town called Montreux.

It does not have any amazing building and the landscapes do not differ from those we have seen in Lausanne. Yet, my human secretary has fiercely insisted on visiting it, be it for a moment. And to be honest she was not the only one to wish to come here. Poets, novelists, musicians, they all came here to benefit from the purest air and the amazingly appeasing view on the Alps.

Some of them loved this place so much that they decided to move here until death do them apart. Vladimir Vladimirovich Nabokov, a famous Russian writer was one of them. But my human secretary was brought by the memory of another famous person. To find out who it was, we need to walk down the lake side.

We need to arrive to this round-shape pier in the back.

 

On its edge, you will notice a telephone booth. A real London telephone booth. Well, almost. It is a kinetic sculpture dedicated to Claude Nobs, the founder of the world-famous Montreux Jazz Festival. It was made by a kinetic sculptor Pascal Bettex.

But the most important monument is on the other side of the sidewalk. Here he comes. The one and only. The immortal. His Supreme Royal Highness, Freddie Mercury, who lived and died here in 1991.

The view from his hospital window inspired him to write his last song - A Winter's Tale.

So quiet and peaceful

Tranquil and blissful

There's a kind of magic in the air

What a truly magnificent view 

A breathtaking scene 

With the dreams of the world in the palm of your hand

* * *

As I was writing this post, I have found out that actually there is another song that gave to Montreux an ever-lasting place in the history of the music. In 1971, Deep Purple were recording their album "Machine Head" in Montreux. One night, Frank Zappa was performing in the Montreux casino and one of his fans fired a flare into the building's roof. The casino burned down. Giving birth to "Smoke on the Water". 

Lausanne

The sun is shining, the soft breeze comes caressing your forehead. This is summer time at its top. No better place to enjoy it than the shores of Geneva Lake in the beautiful city of Lausanne.

Since Switzerland has a great railway network, we can arrive to Lausanne by train. The train station is lovely here.

But I propose that instead we take the boat to arrive directly to the port of Ouchy.

Actually, Ouchy is not a big haven. It is more a marina.

 Let's take a walk next to the lake. The area is filled with lots of sculptures of different sizes ...

... shapes ....

... and numbers.

If the sun starts shining too bright, there is also a small park where we can look for some shadow.

The park is decorated with flower carpets.

And fountains. This one is to commemorate the workers who were unloading goods from barges. I first thought these were three horses. But after a second look, I have realised these are actually donkeys!

I propose that we book now a room in one of the fancy hotels by the lake. The Beau Rivage Palace (owned by the superrich Swiss Sandoz family, founders of Sandoz AG, now Novartis) ...

 

 

 ... or the Château d'Ouchy which was constructed to be the residence of a bishop.

From here, we can admire the other side of the lake. I do not know if you realise but over there, it is already France!

Look, here comes the Tourist Information. Let's go inside and check if there is something more to see here.

Alright, they told me about the biggest attraction in town. But it is getting late so we will go there next time. Now we'd better go back to the lake do admire the sun falling slowly asleep.

But the shores of the lake do not sleep at all. Quite the opposite, they shine bright.

Or even better, they dance ...

Étang de la Gruère

Étang de la Gruère is a lake in the Swiss canton Jura.

 Together with the marshy area around it, it forms a natural reserve of around 1 sq. km.

Because the area around is a rural one, to protect the lake and its surroundings the commune has installed a very special device at the entry to the Reserve.

It can be easily passed by a human being in proper trekking shoes but it is very efficient in stopping the cows. And the ladies in high hills too, I guess (though officially it is only for the cows of course).

The only animals allowed are, no surprisingly, the horses.

Étang de la Gruère was formed in the 17th century, when a dam was built for a mill. Let's follow this path.

Étang de la Gruère is a great place for summer walks. The path is bordered with trees and bushes which protect visitors from sunshine.

Finally, we can spot the lake, partly hidden behind this lovely lawn. Do not get fooled by these innocent white flowers. What lies in front of your feet is a genuine swamp, do not try to step on it.

To make our walk safe enough, wooden platforms were built in the marsh.

From there we can see precisely the water flowing between the weeds.

Look, there is a bird over there! The water shines like precious gems.

There is a little bridge over the lake.

Is it a duck coming close to us? Looks like one.

Why don't we go up to the bridge and take a look at the lake. What a magnificent combination on blue sky and blue water.

On a sunny summer day like this the colours seem to be more vibrant than ever. The blue, the green, the white, the pink. What an amazing place to be.