The girls go to Switzerland June 17-20, 2009

We arrived in Morges, near Lausanne, about 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17th. My longtime friend, Cathy, was waiting for us in the train station and, even after 32 years, we knew each other right away! It was a great reunion after such a long time! We spent two nights at her house in Clarmont, above Morges, and got reacquainted with her husband, Jean-Pierre, as well met her two lovely daughters, Tanya and Jessica. What a treat to see them all again! Here we all are at dinner on the first night, out on their patio: Jen, Lou, Steph, J-P and Cathy. We were enjoying their own homemade wine from the vineyards surrounding their house!














Thursday, June 18th: from our bedroom, the Imesch Vineyards!















After breakfast, we set out to explore Preverenges where I had lived with my mother and cousin, Beth, in 1968-69. The Hotel by the lake has expanded and is as popular as ever. Jen, Lou, Steph and Cathy.














There never used to be a beach along Lac Leman in Preverenges, but some years ago sand was brought in and the area is also now designated as a bird sanctuary. There is also a ban on traffic (except for the locals) along the beach road.















Our old house at Chemin du Sout 11...needs a coat of paint but otherwise looks much the same. Beth and I shared a bedroom on the bottom right side. Our kitchen window looked out the back.















After a pleasant morning walk along the lake, Cathy drove us into Lausanne and we parked at Ouchy, taking the new Metro uptown. It was sunny and hot, about 28-30C during the afternoon. It was lovely to see the old parts of the city-they haven't changed much! Below the front entrance of the school Beth and I attended: College Secondaire du Belvedere.




















The beautiful Cathedral de Lausanne-as impressive as ever!















My one request for dinner was a cheese fondue so we got a reservation up in the Jura, not too far from Clarmont and what a view! Steph and Lou are at 1600 m overlooking Lac Leman, the Alps and the Jura Mountains!




















Jean-Pierre, Cathy and Lou enjoying fondue! Yum!















Friday, June 19th: Kathie and Cathy in Morges by the Lake















In the alpine village of Leysin, Jen, Steph and Lou.















At the Hotel La Tour d'Ai in Leysin, waiting for raclette! Jen, Steph and Lou. http://www.hoteltourdai.ch/cadreen.html















Jean-Philippe (hotelier) and Jen serving up the raclette!















Saturday, June 20th: Steph and Lou overlooking the Alps from above Leysin.




















Getting ready to return to Paris: Jen, Kathie and Steph.
















A month after this quick visit back to Switzerland, I still smile just thinking about it and looking at the pictures again! What a treat to see Cathy and J-P again, to have a REAL fondue and raclette back-to-back, and to see all my old haunts! The outskirts of Morges and Lausanne have greatly grown up and changed but the old city downtown still looks the same! Thanks for the memories! I hope to be back again soon!

A bientot...

The girls meet in Paris June 14-21, 2009

Steph had just written her Step 1 exam in New Orleans and had a week off. With no "home" to go to in her part of the world, Pat suggested she pick somewhere in Europe where she could meet me for a holiday. After some deliberation (Croatia, Greece...), she settled on Paris as it was relatively easy to get to and not too expensive! A phone call to Jen brought her into the planning and a three-way G-chat conversation at Easter had us settle on a hotel downtown for three nights then a train trip to Lausanne to my old haunting ground from 1968-69. It was a go! We stayed at the very nice and central Hotel Duquesne-Eiffel near the Ecole Militaire Metro stop and within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides. We found good restaurants for dinner and wonderful patisseries nearby for our morning croissants. Check out their website: http://www.duquesneeiffel-paris-hotel.com/en_hotel1.htm

Arrival day Sunday June 14th: lunching in a cafe near the hotel and watching the locals. We decided that on Sundays, all Parisien Dads walk the babies in the strollers/carriages. Maman walks behind with the older children!















A visit to Napoleon's tomb at Les Invalides.















We marvelled at the Eiffel Tower and rode the elevator to the top that evening after dinner. The girls literally had to prop me up to keep me from falling asleep on my feet (jet-lag, not wine!).




















Day 2 (Monday, June 15th): Rain didn't stop us from taking the Metro to Montmartre and exploring Eglise Sacre Coeur as well as the neighbourhood. Jen and Kathie below.




















Always take time to smell the bags of roses, especially in Paris!















Try not to order quite so much for your first lunch...although the deli items were divine!















Jen and Steph by the Louvre...although we didn't line up to go in.















Day 3 (June 16th): Jen did a day-trip by train to visit the Cathedral at Chartres while Steph and I stayed in the city to do more sight-seeing. We climbed to the top of the Arc de Triomphe for some wonderful views of the city, then we strolled down the Champs-Elysees.


































Below we had lunch at Cafe Marie-Stuart near Les Halles.




















Across the street a beautiful fruit market with seasonal strawberries and cherries from Provence!















A brief visit to Musee d'Orsay late in the afternoon (price reduction after 4 p.m.) but the Water Lily pictures we'd wanted to see were out on display elsewhere!




















Day 4 (June 17th): Late morning coffee before taking the train to Lausanne, Switzerland.















Lunch in the TGV train Paris to Lausanne: On to La Suisse!