Well maybe god was fed up with punishing me, as this morning went by without a hitch!!! I got up early and had breakfast, which was included; another bonus over Paris. To be fair the majority of places I was staying did not have breakfast included. Anyway I was up early this morning as my train left Lausanne at 12pm, and I really wanted to have another look around before I left. I wish, in hindsight, I had booked two nights in Lausanne. I headed back down to the lake again, taking photos as I went. When I arrived at the lake the morning sun was shinning brightly on the lake and the setting was beautiful, as I sat on the rocks watching and listening to the world go by.
As I sat there I saw a very strange site, there was what looked like a nun fishing off the pier. I thought my eyes were deceiving me, but they were not. Standing on the end of the pier not more than 50 yards away from me was a middle aged woman with a full nun's outfit on, flicking her fishing rod up and down, the back of her head piece, billowing in the light breeze. Now I don't know about you guys, but I thought this was somewhat unfair. A nun fishing should not be allowed, as she has an advantage over us normal folk, she has divine intervention on her side. And so this seemed to be the case as in the 20 minutes I sat watching her she caught about three fish, whilst the gentleman next to her caught nothing!!!!! Now that seemed like cheating to me. lol
Anyway I eventually tore my eyes away from this site and moved on. With a someone sad feel, it was time to leave, I walked back to the hotel and checked out and made my way to the train station. It was time to move onto the beautiful Zermatt. It was approximately 4 hours to Zermatt, with one change at a place called Visp. My rail pass covered the journey to Visp, but the Visp to Zermatt track is privately owned so I had to pay for that part of the journey. The train journey to Visp was stunning, there was rolling hills, packed with trees and there was snow capped mountains and cascading waterfalls, very picturesque indeed. I arrived in Visp and decided to grab a sandwich before my train to Zermatt arrived. There was a small co-op type shop located at the train station, and surprisingly it was called co-op. I picked a couple of items and went to pay. The woman scanned the items, until she came to my last item, which was an apple. She mumbled something to me, which I did not understand; I just shrugged my shoulders. Big mistake, very big mistake, because she then shouted quite loudly at me, I had to stand back for fear of being sprayed by her saliva. At this point, you guested it, I went for my one and only tactic 'Je ne comprends pas'. The woman let out a huge sigh and walked off, arms pumping, with my apple to the fruit section and stuck a label on the apple with a bar code on it and then came back and scanned it in. I said sorry in French as if that would cure everything, and she would smile understandingly, she didn't so I paid quickly and made for a sharp exit.
The rest of the journey past by without incident, the train journey from Visp to Zermatt was equally as stunning as the first part and I arrived in Zermatt and stood in awe of the beauty that surrounded me. I checked into my hotel, which was very nice and had a balcony with a stunning view. I then decided to have a walk around and get my bearings. I walked around some of the shops and took some photo's of the surrounding beauty, I really was in awe. This place was absolutely stunning. Zermatt itself is not very big, there are two train stations, one at either end of the town. One gives you access in and out of Zermatt, the other is a tourist train station that goes into the mountains and back. The whole of Zermatt was located at the bottom of a huge valley, with the Matterhorn and other mountains located all around. I was slap bang in the middle of nowhere, a thriving packed community in the middle of nowhere. The main event this place is geared up for is skiing of course, and there was no shortage of skiers here. I would love to try and learn to ski, but did not want a broken leg whilst carrying my rucksack for the rest of my holiday, so I thought I would give it a miss this time!!!
Anyway I just chilled out for the rest of the evening, sipping a beer and having a bite to eat, whilst soaking up the beauty of this wonderful place. This was heaven I thought, and maybe, just maybe that is why god did not punish me today. lol
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Friday, 3 September 2010
September 2nd - The beauty of Lausanne
Right well it was time to say goodbye to Paris. However, I still had to check out, and that involved getting past the thick, French guy at reception. He actually looked like the French equivalent of the legendary big fat Barry White, to be fair he even had the deep voice to complete the picture. Anyway I handed him the key and he told me to wait one moment. After about 10 minutes, at which point my shoulders were killing as I had my ten ton rucksack on, he informed me that he did not have a reservation on the computer for me. I just looked at him as if he had just crawled from under a rock. To be fair with all the messing around with the room change the previous day, I was not really in the mood, I just wanted to get my train and move on. So at this point I was tempted to say 'No Shit, really, well why the fuck am I standing here and have slept here for two nights', but I resisted. Lol
After asking me my reservation number and name five times, he just sighed and told me it was ok and I could go. To be fair if he had asked me my name a sixth time I might have started to wonder, if he was mentally insane, and had escaped from a nearby asylum!!!
Anyway, I finally left the mad house and headed to the train station, the Gare de lyon. Now I had two hours to wait for my train, so I though I would put my bags in a locker and chill for a bit and maybe go for a bite to eat. Now in theory this was a sensible idea, if the signs for the locker area all pointed in the same direction, they didn't. After about 30 minutes I managed to find the locker area, it was situated in what can only be described as the basement of the train station. Anyway I paid my money and locked my rucksack away, and visibly grew a couple of inches in height!!!
Right time to chill, well no not exactly, this is me we are talking about. No sooner had I returned to the ground floor of the train station, I was set upon by some French homeless guy. Now there is one major difference between British homeless people and French homeless people. French homeless people dress better and look slightly less scruffy!!!
Anyway this guy came up to me waving a French paper at me and slabbering pish in French. I tried my usual tactic of 'je ne comprends pas', but it didn't work, he just started slabbering pish in English instead. One thing even worse than a homeless person, a smart homeless person!!!
Anyway after a few arm waves and a side step or two and a sprint to the opposite end of the train station I managed to lose him.
After the eventful morning I was feeling a bit hungry, so I decided to go for a bite to eat before the train arrived. Good idea, yes!!!!! Erm no!!!!!
The moment I sat down, a young gentleman asked if he could share my table. He looked normal, so I said yes. At last I thought, a normal person. We exchanged pleasantries and he asked what I did for a living, I told him I was a research chemist and tried as much as possible to indicate that it was boring and could we move onto a different subject. However, as soon as I mentioned chemist his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He blurted out that he was doing a PhD in chemistry. Oh no, I thought, I don't want to talk work, I am on holiday. In hindsight, I should of guested he was a bit of a geek. For starters he had the glasses and he nodded his head rather too intently for my liking!!!
Well during the next 2 minutes I ate a rather large tuna baguette, ramming it into my mouth as fast as humanly possible as he talked at me about his project. I nodded my head between mouthfuls of baguette and after gulping down my bottle of water, I stood up and told him it was nice to meet him and good luck with the PhD, but I was really sorry I could not stay any longer as I had to catch my train.
At last the train arrived, ten minutes early, I might add. I boarded and slumped into my chair, relieved to be on my own again. The train speed off to Lausanne and as I sat in my chair I wondered to myself, 'Is god punishing me for having this great holiday, by giving me shit mornings, followed by great afternoons and evenings!!!'
During the journey to Lausanne the train was delayed by 20 minutes (groan I hear you say, its just like Britain). However, once the train was delayed the conductor came around everybody and asked people if they had a connection in Lausanne. He then phoned ahead to make other arrangements for them or they got a partial refund!!!!! (Cameron, take note you idiot)
Anyway, finally arrived in Lausanne and checked into my hotel, what a contrast from the mad house in Paris. The reception lady was very welcoming, and gave me a free bus and metro pass and gave me the password to the free wi-fi. The room was really nice and the setting was good, I smiled, this is more like it I thought.
It is safe to say that I loved Lausanne as soon as I arrived. You know when you go somewhere and you just get a good feeling and take an instant like to the place? Well that is what it was like with Lausanne.
Once I checked in (about 5pm) I decided to head down to lake Geneva and have a look around. The lake was a 30 minute walk from the hotel, but it was mainly downhill. As I walked down to the lake I encountered some typical shopping areas and areas that were undergoing renovation. Some parts even reminded me of Durham with the cobbled streets. However, every now and again you would turn a corner and see a stunning building or church or cathedral, even the hotels looked like something out of the sound of music!!!
When I finally reached the lake, I was immediately blown away. Absolutely beautiful, mountains all around. It was very picturesque, with the sun slowly setting. I took a few pictures and then had a choc crepe and sipped a pint of beer as I sat on the waterfront.
Maybe god was punishing me, by giving me shit mornings, followed by great afternoons and evenings I though as I sat there sipping my beer. I was grinning like a Cheshire cat and I chuckled to myself.
'This is worth the morning punishment' I thought.
Stunning, absolutely stunning. I had arrived in Switzerland, and it is safe to say I had fallen in love with it straight away!!!!
After asking me my reservation number and name five times, he just sighed and told me it was ok and I could go. To be fair if he had asked me my name a sixth time I might have started to wonder, if he was mentally insane, and had escaped from a nearby asylum!!!
Anyway, I finally left the mad house and headed to the train station, the Gare de lyon. Now I had two hours to wait for my train, so I though I would put my bags in a locker and chill for a bit and maybe go for a bite to eat. Now in theory this was a sensible idea, if the signs for the locker area all pointed in the same direction, they didn't. After about 30 minutes I managed to find the locker area, it was situated in what can only be described as the basement of the train station. Anyway I paid my money and locked my rucksack away, and visibly grew a couple of inches in height!!!
Right time to chill, well no not exactly, this is me we are talking about. No sooner had I returned to the ground floor of the train station, I was set upon by some French homeless guy. Now there is one major difference between British homeless people and French homeless people. French homeless people dress better and look slightly less scruffy!!!
Anyway this guy came up to me waving a French paper at me and slabbering pish in French. I tried my usual tactic of 'je ne comprends pas', but it didn't work, he just started slabbering pish in English instead. One thing even worse than a homeless person, a smart homeless person!!!
Anyway after a few arm waves and a side step or two and a sprint to the opposite end of the train station I managed to lose him.
After the eventful morning I was feeling a bit hungry, so I decided to go for a bite to eat before the train arrived. Good idea, yes!!!!! Erm no!!!!!
The moment I sat down, a young gentleman asked if he could share my table. He looked normal, so I said yes. At last I thought, a normal person. We exchanged pleasantries and he asked what I did for a living, I told him I was a research chemist and tried as much as possible to indicate that it was boring and could we move onto a different subject. However, as soon as I mentioned chemist his eyes lit up like a Christmas tree. He blurted out that he was doing a PhD in chemistry. Oh no, I thought, I don't want to talk work, I am on holiday. In hindsight, I should of guested he was a bit of a geek. For starters he had the glasses and he nodded his head rather too intently for my liking!!!
Well during the next 2 minutes I ate a rather large tuna baguette, ramming it into my mouth as fast as humanly possible as he talked at me about his project. I nodded my head between mouthfuls of baguette and after gulping down my bottle of water, I stood up and told him it was nice to meet him and good luck with the PhD, but I was really sorry I could not stay any longer as I had to catch my train.
At last the train arrived, ten minutes early, I might add. I boarded and slumped into my chair, relieved to be on my own again. The train speed off to Lausanne and as I sat in my chair I wondered to myself, 'Is god punishing me for having this great holiday, by giving me shit mornings, followed by great afternoons and evenings!!!'
During the journey to Lausanne the train was delayed by 20 minutes (groan I hear you say, its just like Britain). However, once the train was delayed the conductor came around everybody and asked people if they had a connection in Lausanne. He then phoned ahead to make other arrangements for them or they got a partial refund!!!!! (Cameron, take note you idiot)
Anyway, finally arrived in Lausanne and checked into my hotel, what a contrast from the mad house in Paris. The reception lady was very welcoming, and gave me a free bus and metro pass and gave me the password to the free wi-fi. The room was really nice and the setting was good, I smiled, this is more like it I thought.
It is safe to say that I loved Lausanne as soon as I arrived. You know when you go somewhere and you just get a good feeling and take an instant like to the place? Well that is what it was like with Lausanne.
Once I checked in (about 5pm) I decided to head down to lake Geneva and have a look around. The lake was a 30 minute walk from the hotel, but it was mainly downhill. As I walked down to the lake I encountered some typical shopping areas and areas that were undergoing renovation. Some parts even reminded me of Durham with the cobbled streets. However, every now and again you would turn a corner and see a stunning building or church or cathedral, even the hotels looked like something out of the sound of music!!!
When I finally reached the lake, I was immediately blown away. Absolutely beautiful, mountains all around. It was very picturesque, with the sun slowly setting. I took a few pictures and then had a choc crepe and sipped a pint of beer as I sat on the waterfront.
Maybe god was punishing me, by giving me shit mornings, followed by great afternoons and evenings I though as I sat there sipping my beer. I was grinning like a Cheshire cat and I chuckled to myself.
'This is worth the morning punishment' I thought.
Stunning, absolutely stunning. I had arrived in Switzerland, and it is safe to say I had fallen in love with it straight away!!!!
Thursday, 2 September 2010
September 1st - The sights of Paris
What is it with me and mornings!!!! I was told this morning that I had been booked into the wrong room and that I would have to move rooms for the second night of my stay in Paris. I must admit I was thinking that it was too good to be true, when I checked in and I was put in a twin room with a shower, when originally I had booked a single with a shared shower. Oh well nevermind.
However, the fun did not stop there, as my new room was located on the fourth floor. Now this would have been fine had there been a lift or normal safe stairs. However, this hotel had the most creaky and dodgy spiral staircase you have ever seen. Also, coupled with the fact that only somebody as skinny as Kate Moss could have fit up these stairs, it did not bode well for somebody with a huge rucksack and a bad sense of balance. Nevertheless I did manage it, puffing and panting I collapsed into my new room. I have to say I actually thought this new room was better than the previous, so called more expensive one, but nevermind!!!!
Right with that out of the way, I was ready to take on Paris. Firstly I decided to go to the Eiffel Tower. I walked along the river front, enjoying the sights as I went, and of course taking lots of photo's. I arrived at the Eiffel Tower about 10am, and was immediately attacked by what must have been clones of the same person, either that, or this big dark skinned guy had six identical brothers. They were all trying to sell me miniature gold, authentic (fell off the back of a lorry) Eiffel Towers. I dashed out of the way mumbling 'je ne comprends pas' and made for the queue. I must admit if anybody is thinking of going to the Eiffel tower, then go in the morning. The queue was very small and I did not have to wait long before I was in the lift shooting up to the top. The views were magnificent, the pictures don't do it justice. After a few hundred snaps, I headed back down to the first floor and had a vin Rouge and a Pain Au Chocolat, divine!!!!
After reaching ground level again I had a walk around some of the many gardens in Paris, just chilling out and taking in the scenery, also sitting on the grass and listening to some music, watching the world go by. Eventually I moved on and set off to the Arc De Triomphe, which I have to say was also very impressive, I spent sometime there before moving on down Avenue des Champs Elysees and doing a bit of window shopping. At the end of the Champs Elysees was the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries, which is part of the musee du louvre. I walked/sat around the gardens for awhile before heading off for some grub. Now I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to seafood, but I was brave and I tried some mussels in a very good cafe bar, that also had 200 different beers. Unfortunately I did not have time to try them all, I only managed 2!!!! However, the mussels were very good.
Next I went inside the Musee du louvre to see the Mona Lisa painting. It was amazing, and as you can imagine, there were lots of snap happy people all fighting to take a photo. As with the Eiffel tower, the pictures don't do it justice. To be fair the rest of the museum was amazing, with so much to see. The museum is that big you could spend a whole weekend in there, but I am not that sad, so I left after an hour!!!
By this time it was about 8pm. I headed back to the hotel, but not before I took a few last pictures of the Notre Dame Cathedral as I walked back. I then got changed went for a bite to eat and a few beers and collapsed in bed after a very busy day.
The time went so quickly, and tomorrow it was time to move onto Switzerland and the beautiful Lausanne.
Au Revoir Paris
However, the fun did not stop there, as my new room was located on the fourth floor. Now this would have been fine had there been a lift or normal safe stairs. However, this hotel had the most creaky and dodgy spiral staircase you have ever seen. Also, coupled with the fact that only somebody as skinny as Kate Moss could have fit up these stairs, it did not bode well for somebody with a huge rucksack and a bad sense of balance. Nevertheless I did manage it, puffing and panting I collapsed into my new room. I have to say I actually thought this new room was better than the previous, so called more expensive one, but nevermind!!!!
Right with that out of the way, I was ready to take on Paris. Firstly I decided to go to the Eiffel Tower. I walked along the river front, enjoying the sights as I went, and of course taking lots of photo's. I arrived at the Eiffel Tower about 10am, and was immediately attacked by what must have been clones of the same person, either that, or this big dark skinned guy had six identical brothers. They were all trying to sell me miniature gold, authentic (fell off the back of a lorry) Eiffel Towers. I dashed out of the way mumbling 'je ne comprends pas' and made for the queue. I must admit if anybody is thinking of going to the Eiffel tower, then go in the morning. The queue was very small and I did not have to wait long before I was in the lift shooting up to the top. The views were magnificent, the pictures don't do it justice. After a few hundred snaps, I headed back down to the first floor and had a vin Rouge and a Pain Au Chocolat, divine!!!!
After reaching ground level again I had a walk around some of the many gardens in Paris, just chilling out and taking in the scenery, also sitting on the grass and listening to some music, watching the world go by. Eventually I moved on and set off to the Arc De Triomphe, which I have to say was also very impressive, I spent sometime there before moving on down Avenue des Champs Elysees and doing a bit of window shopping. At the end of the Champs Elysees was the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries, which is part of the musee du louvre. I walked/sat around the gardens for awhile before heading off for some grub. Now I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to seafood, but I was brave and I tried some mussels in a very good cafe bar, that also had 200 different beers. Unfortunately I did not have time to try them all, I only managed 2!!!! However, the mussels were very good.
Next I went inside the Musee du louvre to see the Mona Lisa painting. It was amazing, and as you can imagine, there were lots of snap happy people all fighting to take a photo. As with the Eiffel tower, the pictures don't do it justice. To be fair the rest of the museum was amazing, with so much to see. The museum is that big you could spend a whole weekend in there, but I am not that sad, so I left after an hour!!!
By this time it was about 8pm. I headed back to the hotel, but not before I took a few last pictures of the Notre Dame Cathedral as I walked back. I then got changed went for a bite to eat and a few beers and collapsed in bed after a very busy day.
The time went so quickly, and tomorrow it was time to move onto Switzerland and the beautiful Lausanne.
Au Revoir Paris
August 31st - Bonjour
Well the day had finally arrived, it was the 31st August 2010. Time for my adventure to begin. It all started so well, no last minute panics, nothing forgotten, everything was waiting packed at the bottom of the stairs for the taxi. The taxi arrived on time and I got to Durham train station with an hour to spare. I got my tickets, that I had pre-booked, from the ticket machine and proceeded onto the platform, giddy as a school kid. However, this is were the problems began and the giddiness turned into frustration. Firstly the train was 30 minutes late, what a surprise. Secondly, twenty minutes after collecting my tickets, I noticed that the return ticket from London to Durham was missing. I had 4 tickets, and apparently I was meant to have five. Here we go, I thought. Nothing ever goes smoothly for me. I went to the ticket counter and informed the woman I was one ticket light. After a heated debate for several minutes, I was told that there was nothing she could do. 'The tickets sometimes get stuck in the machine', she said. I would have to buy another ticket for the return journey, great I thought. At that point my delayed train to London arrived and I had to make a sharp exit.
After major delays at Peterborough, due to overhead line failures, or some other bullshit excuse the train arrived in London about an hour and a half late, good job I knew how shit the trains were in Britain and booked the Eurostar for 4pm. When I arrived in London I managed to sort out another return train ticket back to Durham, but it cost me another £33!!! Not happy. Although at this point I did manage to let out some of that frustration, by bowling over innocent people passing by with my huge rucksack. I did get some stern looks, but I did not care at this point. lol
My excitement started to build once again as I checked in for the Eurostar, at this point I think it dawned on me what I was doing. 'Am I mad' I thought. (Don't answer that by the way folks).
Anyway I checked in early and had a beer and relaxed for an hour in St Pancreas International. I know this may sound a bit geeky, and no I am not a train-spotter before you ask, but the station was very impressive. It had more of an airport feel to it.
Anyway the journey to Paris took just over two hours, the channel tunnel part of the journey is only about 30-40 minutes, which I was surprised at. When I arrived in Paris, I got a taxi straight to my hotel. It is safe to say it was a 20 minute journey of heart stopping action!!!! The road system/regulations in Paris, if you can call it that, takes somewhat of a kamikaze approach. It is a case of every man for himself. Cars and motorbikes alike fight and jostle for supremacy. How the taxi I was in came away unscathed I will never know. There was French swearing (It's the only French I know) arm waving and all sorts going on, but this is an average day driving for a French person. I think the worst part was when the taxi and another car tried to fit through a miniature Arc de Triomphe, that was only wide enough for one car. It was a game of chicken, who would win, the taxi or the Renault!!!!
Anyway that's enough of that, I finally arrived safely at my hotel and checked in successfully, and breathed a sigh of relief. As it was quite late (8pm) I decided to just have a brief walk around. The hotel was situated in the Latin Quarter, not far from the Notre Dame Cathedral, so I set off to investigate. It was a beautiful evening as I arrived at the Cathedral. I stood in awe of this amazing creation, I took a few pictures, and sat and relaxed in the square directly next to the Cathedral. I sighed, a sigh of contentment, I had arrived, the journey had begun.
Bonjour everyone!!!
After major delays at Peterborough, due to overhead line failures, or some other bullshit excuse the train arrived in London about an hour and a half late, good job I knew how shit the trains were in Britain and booked the Eurostar for 4pm. When I arrived in London I managed to sort out another return train ticket back to Durham, but it cost me another £33!!! Not happy. Although at this point I did manage to let out some of that frustration, by bowling over innocent people passing by with my huge rucksack. I did get some stern looks, but I did not care at this point. lol
My excitement started to build once again as I checked in for the Eurostar, at this point I think it dawned on me what I was doing. 'Am I mad' I thought. (Don't answer that by the way folks).
Anyway I checked in early and had a beer and relaxed for an hour in St Pancreas International. I know this may sound a bit geeky, and no I am not a train-spotter before you ask, but the station was very impressive. It had more of an airport feel to it.
Anyway the journey to Paris took just over two hours, the channel tunnel part of the journey is only about 30-40 minutes, which I was surprised at. When I arrived in Paris, I got a taxi straight to my hotel. It is safe to say it was a 20 minute journey of heart stopping action!!!! The road system/regulations in Paris, if you can call it that, takes somewhat of a kamikaze approach. It is a case of every man for himself. Cars and motorbikes alike fight and jostle for supremacy. How the taxi I was in came away unscathed I will never know. There was French swearing (It's the only French I know) arm waving and all sorts going on, but this is an average day driving for a French person. I think the worst part was when the taxi and another car tried to fit through a miniature Arc de Triomphe, that was only wide enough for one car. It was a game of chicken, who would win, the taxi or the Renault!!!!
Anyway that's enough of that, I finally arrived safely at my hotel and checked in successfully, and breathed a sigh of relief. As it was quite late (8pm) I decided to just have a brief walk around. The hotel was situated in the Latin Quarter, not far from the Notre Dame Cathedral, so I set off to investigate. It was a beautiful evening as I arrived at the Cathedral. I stood in awe of this amazing creation, I took a few pictures, and sat and relaxed in the square directly next to the Cathedral. I sighed, a sigh of contentment, I had arrived, the journey had begun.
Bonjour everyone!!!
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