2013 - TRAINS AROUND SWITZERLAND - GENEVA TO INTERLAKEN

SWITZERLAND

IT DOES NOT HAVE A COASTLINE, SO I HAD NOT THOUGHT OF IT TOO SERIOUSLY AS A DESTINATION.

UNTIL, ON A RECENT CRUISE I MET A CROATIAN LADY WHO RAVED ABOUT IT.

THERE ARE SEVERAL PANORAMIC TRAINS CRISS-CROSSING THE ENTIRE COUNTRY. I WROTE MY TRAVEL AGENT THE ROUTE I EXPECTED TO TAKE & THE NUMBER OF DAYS IN EACH TOWN & LEFT THE REST UP TO HER.

WITH HER SWISS CONNECTION SHE SET ME UP WITH A SWISS PASS, TRAIN RESERVATIONS & HOTELS. I COLLECTED ALL THE DOCUMENTS AT GENEVA AIRPORT.

FIRST LEG IS GENEVA TO INTERLAKEN VIA MONTREUX

SETTING OUT FOR A WALK BY A LAKE GENEVA THAT IS MINUS THE FAMOUS FOUNTAIN. I WAS TOO EARLY IN THE DAY FOR THAT.

I ASKED A PASSING MAN WHERE IT WAS & AS IF BY MAGIC IT POPPED UP

THE JET DE EAU

THE WEATHER WAS GLORIOUS & I HAD A NICE STROLL ALONG THE LAKE & AROUND TOWN.

AND BACK TO THE HOTEL...

NEXT DAY I TOOK THE REGULAR TRAIN TO THE BEAUTIFUL LAKE SIDE TOWN OF MONTREUX, AT THE OTHER END OF LAKE GENEVA, FAMOUS FOR IT'S JAZZ FESTIVAL...

THE SWISS PASS GIVES ACCESS TO A FERRY BOAT SO I WENT FOR A NICE LITTLE RIDE AROUND & MAY HAVE TOUCHED FRANCE ON THE OPPOSITE BANK.

PALM TREES! IN SWITZERLAND!!

THIS IS THE BOAT...OR ONE LIKE IT...

NOW I AM IN THE FIRST PANORAMIC TRAIN TO LUCERNE.. THE GOLDEN PASS LINE..

CLIMBING HIGH ABOVE MONTREUX...

& I HAVE A SEAT RIGHT AT THE FRONT. THE DRIVER IS ABOVE ME. FOR 300 SOME DOLLARS I COULD HAVE DRIVEN THE TRAIN.

THAT WAS A BIT CLOSE...