Lausanne, Switzerland

 I always thought there could never be a place more higgeldy piggeldy than Amsterdam, but I’ve found one. Medieval, old, charismatic and cultural Lausanne! 

Airbnbs in this part of Switzerland are the most expensive I’ve ever booked in my 10 years of using them. This time I was 10 mins from the old Centre and it was a big clean room but nothing but a wardrobe, mountain and lake view of course, a big bed and fan! Hilarious. Anyway, one mainly sleeps and rests only in your place while on holiday. It’s about a place to keep your stuff! :) A few nights here to check out the historical district and it was worth it. A short time on the lake as there are many sights to see. 

The cathedral area is splendid at dusk which is 17-21pm. You need that long to walk around the area and visit a little cafe, most of which seem to be in secret garden areas, hidden away in shady spots. 

This pic shows the layers of height in the city. Cathedral area is above the tram around the corner and up from the bridge. There are about three layers to the lake. Plenty of stairs everywhere which for walking downhill are fine. Way up, better to take the clean and efficient metro which barely runs underground. Lausanne was built on top of a hill overlooking the lake. 

Much of the old part still has wooden stairs and side cobblestone pathways next to it, for the medieval horses time! 

The cathedral is pretty with lots of detail close up. 

Wooden stairways walking away from the cathedral on the other side. Cobblestone on the left (underneath)

Views over the hill and city. So adorable! And not only is it winding avenues everywhere but also up and down! You have to be fit to live here and the cyclists get tour de France practice daily. Rather them than me! 

The road goes downhill steeply around the corner. Lovely Swiss old architecture here too. 

Cooling off at the lake! Loads of rocks and all well forested for shaded walks. 

Saw some amazing trees! Ancient… 

Visited the Olympic museum where a flame burns and everyone stands on the winning stands for a gold, silver or bronze medal. Naturally,  everyone wants their pic on the gold! The gardens are lovely. Alas the horizontal climbing rose gardens along the park road beside the lake were all bloomed out. You can see the metal bar therefore. 

Walking towards the museum on the right the parks and the left lake Geneva

These meet you after your stair climb from the lake, on which, famous Olympians names are engraved. The detail is lovely. 

Lausanne also hosts a lovely Thai temple in a park where you walk from to Quai D’Ouchy with this hotel and water sports. The museum is about 500 metres away. You can also swim and or take an outside shower. Little fish literally nibble you and the water is clear and lovely and cold! 

From the old centre to the Thai temple (separate blog ) it’s about a 30 min walk but downhill. You can bus it, but walking always better for detours, stops and orientation. 

Main hotel is lovely old stone architecture. Lausanne is fairly small with a small population, so harbour area is small too. 

The flower clock at Quai D’Ouchy below you can see from afar. Its hands are on a sloped lawn with these flowers around it. Up close I couldn’t take a shot as it was directly into the sun. At Douchy you can take different boats around the lake. 

                   The little harbour 

   These boats can take you to other places along the huge Geneva lake. 

Another church in the old centre. Another main area, placa La Palud is cobblestoned with a monumental little water fountain to fill your bottle (all over actually). Cafes and shops with old architecture in traditional Swiss style. 

Love the dragons on the edge. Was glad I bought my Samsung zoom for certain shots. 

Parks in Lausanne are beautiful. Everyone picnics here at all hours. Only thing I didn’t like was that the parrot and bird aviary was too small and low for them. One also seemed to have a feather disorder. 

Thai Temple, a gift to Lausanne from the late Thai King. 

And a Synagogue! Long live European free and open democracies!! We need more peaceful Buddhist temples! 

That’s all about Lausanne, just one funny fact  

Lausanne and Montreux both have dog poop bags everywhere on dustbins. So if you forget…. They are so cheap so maybe a good idea for other EU countries.  Keeps it clean. No excuse if you left them at home! Europeans are really fanatic about walking their dogs!