Sunday Oct 26 Paris

I got to my hotel in Paris late yesterday afternoon, got settled, then had a bite to eat. I researched options for what to do today but went to bed undecided. This morning it was clear to me: to use the rail pass I bought ( which was good for 7 days of travel but I'd only used it for 4 ).  I could travel freely with it so I decided to go to Versailles. Unfortunately the entire population of the north of France  also decided to go there today!  Mon dieu!  I found it would be an absolute pain to fight the crowds inside the palace, so I decided to just get the ticket for the gardens. ( I've seen the inside several times before so this was Ok). It was a good way to spend a few hours of a Sunday afternoon. I wanted to beat the din of people getting back into Paris, so I left early and returned to the Latin quarter to have a late lunch --or early dinner of raclette!  From there I walked back to "my" neighborhood by the Gare de Lyon via the promenade along the Seine river. There were the booksellers etc along the sidewalk, reminding me I was in Paris, then at one point I walked down to the riverside where there was an area of sculptures en plein air.  Suddenly I heard music and saw a group of people gathered next to the river , and they were dancing the tango!  I recall that Joan, Jolene & I saw this in the south of France before: some locals get together on Sunday afternoons to practice their tango. It was wonderful-- the highlight of my day.

I returned to my hotel, turned on the tv & found a concert with French classical music ( Ravel & Bizet) so I got a private concert to accompany my writing .😊

The clocks changed here today so it got dark an hour earlier, but that was ok. I walked all day except for the train time, so returning to my room was fine.  

Tomorrow afternoon I'll go to the airport Sheraton where I'll stay tomorrow night, so my trip is almost over.  I've packed a lot in and feel very satisfied with all I got to do. And it will be good to get home again to see my Swedie and puppy!  

This is probably my last posting from my trip to France & Switzerland.  Thanks for letting me share it with you.  😊

Jane 

Friday Oct 24 in Switzerland

Well, it's Friday evening & I'm back at my hotel in Lausanne after a very scenic & busy 2 days. Yesterday morning I took a train from Lausanne to Fribourg, Switzerland. It's the closest station to my friend Jane's chalet in Charmey. Jane & her friend Ella picked me up at the station and gave me a city tour of Fribourg. It's a very nice city with an old town & new, as you' d expect. The cathedral was especially beautiful. After touring the city & stopping by Ella's main home in Fribourg, they drove us into the "pre alps" ---which was still mountains to me!  We went to Gruyere--- a place Roger & I visited before & loved for the cheese, cream, etc.  The day was gorgeous and there were not many tourists there so it was a lovely walking tour of the town before a big lunch of fondue! 😀
The foudue here was special and certainly the best I've ever had except for in Switzerland before.  Yummy!!  The restaurant had an idyllic Swiss ambience.
 
Driving through the mountains I was overwhelmed with the beauty: GREEN like Californians haven't  seen in a very long time; cows grazing, and, well, the alps!

We drove to their village of Charmey and stopped at the local cheese shop & ordered Gruyere and raclette for me to pick up the next day ( vacuum packed). Then we went to their co- owned chalet ( had for 30 years). The views from their windows and balconies were million dollar views!  Next to their property the cows grazed & I got a video complete with bell sounds!  I have lots of pix to share after I get home.

This morning we found a very cold car and I was told the temp last night was likely -2C. Brrrr!  Glad I had sweater, coat, gloves which I did not need in the south of France where it was hot!

We picked up my cheese and started a beautiful drive through the countryside: via Gruyere, Chateau-d'Oex, Saanen and finally Gstaad-- now in the German part of Switzerland.  Suddenly the signs were in German.  ( crossed the River Sarine or Saane).

In Gstaad I got a quick sandwich and boarded the panoramic train to take me back to Lac Leman ( which some people call Lake Geneva but it's not its real name). The train walls were mostly glass & the panorama was spectacular:  trees turning color, cows & their paths on the slopes, snow capped mountains, GREEN, tunnels.
I had to change trains in Montreux, which looks to be a popular, ritzy spot on the lake.  Returned to Lausanne, dropped off bag at hotel & took the metro down to lakeside to enjoy the views.  I would've loved to take the boat across the lake to Evian- les- Bains---- for old time's sake, but the day wasn't long enough.

Whew!  A very fun detour to Switzerland. Tomorrow I'll train back to Paris where I'll stay till I come home Tuesday.
I have no more room in my suitcase and feel I should probably throw something out, in order to close it to go home!  I'm not good at packing light 😉
I'll say night night now and may write one more time from Paris.
J

Wed Oct 22. En route to Switzerland

I had to say adieu to Joni, Tom & Montpellier today. I had a wonderful visit in the south of France. Of course it was too short, but I'll have to return.
Got on train from Montpellier to Switzerland. Unfortunately the train was late getting to Lyon so I missed my connecting train to Geneva. Had to wait 2 hours for next train.

Soon after Lyon we began getting into the Alps & it started getting colder & looking like the Alps. In Geneva I had to buy next legs of train tix--- first for Lausanne, which was my destination for today. Tomorrow I'll train on to Fribourg where I'll be met by my friend (also named Jane).

Ok, so here' s how this happened.  Jane lives near me at home and we became friends walking our dogs.  She has a chalet in Switzerland and our timing coincided --- she is in Switzerland while I was in France-- so she invited me to visit the chalet.  Besides that being interesting in itself, across the lake ( Geneva) from Lausanne is Evian where I spent 3 weeks one summer in high school. So this region has special memories for me.  I decided to go to Switzerland instead of touring more in France.
I need to explain why I am more chatty in this message that I was in France. It's because when I was in France, I was with Joni & Tom & we were constantly busy so I had no time to write. Here I am alone.
So tomorrow it's off to the chalet in the Alps in a village called Charmey.
I likely will not have Internet again till late Friday when I return to Lausanne.
Bon nuit!
J

Tues Oct 21

We have been very busy. Today we drove to Provence again to see Arles, a charming town with excellent Roman ruins. That was very special for me to see-- especially cuz I had hoped to go to Italy this fall!  Again it was wonderful weather too.  I took a lot of pix I'll share when I can.
It's my last day with Joni & Tom. They have been wonderful and I'm really happy I got to come here.
Tomorrow I'm off to Switzerland. I hope to be able to write more tomorrow night & explain why I'm going to Switzerland. Fun!

Somewhere in the south of France...

It's Sunday Oct 19. The weather has been fabulous the whole time here which is perfect because we are doing lots of outdoor activities. Today we drove to Provence-- to les Baux de Provence to see the medieval chateau and quarry nearby. The chateau had beautiful views of the valley & mountains as well as artifacts like catapults-- showing some aspects of their lives. The quarry was a most unusual place as they put on an amazing visual presentation of art on all the walls of this indoor quarry. I cannot explain it well. . . Just very unique.
I got a taste of Provence on this lovely drive. (Montpellier is not in Provence so the drive took us east into this different region. ) I got a feel of how much more touristy Provence is and the landscape is quite different. It really did feel like what I expected Provence would be--- just a taste of it in one day of course. Really picturesque. Tomorrow we are going to take it easy as we've been going at a high speed so far..
JP

Day 4 ( ish)

It's just after midnight Sat ( really Sunday). I didn't think it would be this hard to write updates but I've had precious little time with wi fi. I arrived in Montpellier yesterday afternoon and it's been a whirlwind since then. Joni & Tom have a wonderful apartment & because they've come here 7 times before, they know the region & people. So last night we went out w an Irish couple they're friends with. Very fun & entertaining. Today we began by going to the local marche ( farmer's market). Then we went in a 3 hour walking city tour which was wonderful. The city has a 1000 year history & architecture. Most interesting. Then after a dinner of crepes, we met some French friends for a movie--- Ben Affleck's Gone Girl in English, followed by drinks. Both nights we didn't get home till after 11:00. So I've just not been able to write here!  I'd thought the train yesterday for 3 hours might have wi fi but it didn't so I wasn't  able to research & write as I'd hoped.
Joni & Tom are perfect hosts & I could not feel more welcomed. I'm still not certain when I'll leave here-- Tues or Wed-- nor where I'll go next but I'm narrowing the choices & am not stressed about not knowing. It's all unfolding beautifully.
I hope to be able to write more tomorrow but no guarantees.😊. It's a wonderful trip!  Very glad I came!
Jane

Oct 16. La France day 1

Bonjour from Paris!
I arrived yesterday after a not-as-bad-as-I- expected flight!  The cheap seat section 😊 was 1/3 full so I got 2 seats separate from anyone else. And I didn't even get sick!
My hotel room is perfect & is actually one shown in their website.  I feel very comfortable --- with the lovely hotel & the neighborhood.
Visited Notre Dame ---across the street 😊 and walked around Isle St Louis & Latin Quarter. For dinner I had raclette  & a Stella!  Quel surprise!
At each turn I recall my past trips here with Roger, Jackie, Michelle, Joan & Jolene & high school classmates.  Beaucoup de souvenirs/ memories.
I managed to sleep 10 hours last night and am amazed at how easy the adjustment is this time.(I guess 10 hours of sleep helps. )  Today I Decided to visit Musee d'Orsay again cuz I just love the impressionists.
Tomorrow morning I'll take the train 3.5 hours to Montpellier and Joni's.  Le voyage commence!
Jane