INTERLAKEN

Montreux - Zweisimmen - Interlaken - Jungfraujoch

The trip between Montreux and Interlaken stopping in Zweisimmen is part of the touristic scenic train line called Golden Pass. It connects Geneva to Zurich.

Very nice train of the "train du Chocolat" line. It seems like an old train that took part of a "Pimp my Train" show.

From Montreux to Zweisimmen the train goes between the hills making it a very pleasant trip. Green and relaxing.

The small city or village of Zweisimmen seems at the first sight a desert place with nothing to do and see. With some patience it`s possible to see very beautiful houses with colorful flowers, cute shops selling clothes and souvenirs and restaurants where the workers know most of their customers name and family. A village where time seems to pass very slowly with some adventurous hikers or cyclists passing by from time to time.

The way from Zweisimmen to Interlaken changes considerably going through between the lake Geneva and grapes barriers covering all over the hill.

Interlaken is a very tourist city, during the winter it is a popular destination for winter sports, during the summer outdoor sports are also a highlight, you can try hiking, cycling, swimming, rafting, paragliding and even sailing.

Winter or summer the main tourist attraction to Interlaken is the Jungfraujoch. Often called as `Top of Europe` the train station located between the Mönch and Jungfrau mountains at 3,454 meters above sea level is the highest train station in Europe.

From there you can reach a platform called Sphinx at 3,571 meters for a 360° view of the Bernese Alps.

Piece of bread left at the Top of Europe.

A very interesting sight in the complex is the Crystal Palace, a gallery of ice from the ground to the roof making it like an ice cave with some statues and art works made with guess what? Ice and more ice. If you are interested in a cold experience, this is the place to go.

The beauty of the eternal snow and ice at the top of the mountain is incredibly impressive as is the effect of altitude over the human body. The feel of lacking of air, dizziness was a complete madness. Because at the same time the beauty of the top of the mountain and snow attract you more and more to stay there, the beauty of nature keeps you there and the nature effect of high altitude make it completely uncomfortable, sick. Like an alert from nature that this is not your place to be. A nature trap.

Still a very memorable experience and impressive views.

MONTREUX - The hills are alive, with the sound of music

 

Located between a hill and a lake Montreux is part of the West Switzerland where people speak French. Swiss are world famous for their engineering skills, mainly the railways that became one of the main attractions of this small country located in the Alps. At Montreux it's possible to see a bit of this hability. All the way up the hill, in a very degree inclination it is filled with houses, roads, pedestrian paths and a funicular.

It is difficult to understand how is everyday life in a place like this. Expressions like 'go to the other side of the city', 'walk some blocks' doesn't apply for this town, but expressions like 'all the way up' or 'all the way down' seems to fit better.

A magical place where the road circumvent to turn over the inclined rock that seems that something will fall down at anytime.

A house fits exactly the space between the rock and the road. 'Technically' a house inside the rock.

And believe or not, in the so called world famous banking country, some Swiss people do live under the bridge! Not like in other places in the world.

Furthermore Montreux is famous for Freddy Mercury statue looking to the lake Geneva, the graveyard of Charlin Chaplin and the Château de Chillon, which is an incredible castle built in a strategic place between the lake and the cliff with the purpose to toll people and goods passing through there on the way between Italy and the rest of Europe.

The beautiful and colorful flowers spread everywhere, even at the graffiti at the dump.

 The water that comes down from the top of the mountain.

And the sun light that somehow managed to hit the lake Geneva in a rainy and cloudy day to show that there is life and make the most beautiful sundown I have ever seen. Montreux is the city where the hills are alive. 

PARIS DÉJÀ VU!

Playing on Paris:

Coeur de pirate - Comme des enfants
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaUI6Tvd1sA


Joyce Jonathan - Pas besoin de toi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNc-ONPvohU


Christophe Maé - Je me lânche
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg0jsc1lcB4

Second time in Paris definitely wasn't so special as the first time when everything was brand new and surprising.

French people are still very polite and friendly, French woman are still very charm and with a unique female style, homeless people increased but they still spend their time sitting at some bench in random streets and the bagette is still the most popular food within people from Paris.

It is like a city frozen in time, it gives a sensation of a travel to the past. Because it is so filled with history from medieval times, past decades, past centuries, bohemians, French revolution, liberty, equality, fraternity, painting, sculpture, monuments to remember about wars, glory, history and culture in every step you take in every corner of the so called 'city of lights'.

Cinemas are spread all over town making French people one of those that most watch movies in the world.

The glory from the past very live at the Chateau de Versailles with it's enormous gardens, shinny palace and impressive channel.

 

Old cars gathering at the Concorde square in a Sunday morning to make nostalgics very happy.

Paris is still there, still the same after 2 years, somethings did changed, but the essence is there... still. Still the same lovely and beautiful city.

About people I met. There is a French restaurant called La Table de Marquis, I do recommend it. Location: 3, rue Beccaria - 75012 Paris. It is between stations Gare de Lyon and Reuilly Diderot. You find rue Beccaria walking by Boulevard Diderot.

It is one small and cosy Parisian restaurant far from any tourist crowd and the kind of place only locals know. It is run by a very nice and young couple, they are the special people of this chapter. The wife take the orders, delivers the food and keep things running, the husband is the man in charge of the kitchen. The food is good, the price is fare (like most restaurants in Paris lunch is much cheaper than dinner) and the experience to eat in something local, not tourist or mass produced food, is a great experience.

The picture? I forgot the camera at the hotel, so maybe on my next time at Paris.