Last year has been amazing travel wise. It brought so many wonderful opportunities that we just couldn’t miss. And Switzerland was just one of those. My best friend from third grade got married (YAY!) and we couldn’t be more happy to witness the happy event. She’s always said I had to visit but there’s always been something else interfering. This time there was nothing that could stop me from going 🙂
It took me some time to get to writing about beautiful Switzerland. But I recently saw Bohemian Rhapsody – I am obsessed! And I just had to write about it. I’ve never been a fan of Queen or Freddie Mercury. But after seeing the movie I am in love with him – and them. I only wished I had visited Montreux – the place where he recorded and lived for a while – after seeing the movie. So that I could have a better appreciation of him. But I will this fall when I go back.
Until then I want to tell you a bit about what I saw and loved in Switzerland. Ever since we arrived my first feeling was of a very cosmeticised beauty. In the sense that the grass is the same height everywhere. Everything is in line and in order. I love that, my boyfriend prefers thing wilder. It’s also one of the places where I felt the safest and calmest.
Aubonne
My friend picked us up at the airport and since we arrived early we had time for a pit stop in Aubonne. For us, Romanians, the small town has a special significance. It’s where our former king, Mihai, lived in exile and died last year. He was beloved by Romanians and I was kind of curious to see where he lived.
We didn’t have a lot of time to spend here, but I loved the little old town feeling. I also adored the fountains with crystal blue water. Some had water that was good to drink and some not. But there was always a plaque indicating that – so no room for mistakes. I would have loved to spend more time here, but it was time to get settled and ready for the big day.
Vallee de Jour
We stayed in Vallee de Jour because that’s where my friend lives and we wanted to be close. The area is dreamy. With green hills, forest and adorable houses – it felt like part of a fairytale. The village she lives in is small and so quiet – we both loved that.
We found and AirBnb in the next village (10 minutes away) and were so lucky to have a gorgeous view of the lake. There were no shops nearby so we had to take the train to a bigger village. But that didn’t really bother us. There was a small pizzeria right next to our house in case we were really hungry.
The market we found was in Le Pont and we spent one morning just walking around, admiring the houses and the lake. Another day we spent hiking with the bride’s and groom’s parents. The area is perfect for that. I bet there are many places you can hike during summer and the temperature is great in September. We even got a sight of Mont Blanc mountain!
Vevey
The day before the wedding we got to spend on our own. My boyfriend really wanted to find an outlet and we did in Aubonne. However prices were still big, but I appreciated the Lindt shop and all the chocolate. From there we decided to visit Vevey and we loved it!
Of course we didn’t have a lot of time, but the lake is breathtaking and the flowers are a dream! I was pleasantly surprised to find a Mihai Eminescu bust standing proudly on the seafront. He is Romania’s grates poet and another source of great pride for Romanians.
We wanted to visit the Charlie Chaplin museum but we also wanted to make it to Montreux and we were already short on time, but next time for sure!
Montreux
I saved the best for last 🙂 We arrived in Montreux tired from taking the train from Vallee to Aubonne (3 stops) and then Vevey and Montreux. But I really wanted to see the seafront and Freddie Mercury’s statue. And I wasn’t disappointed. The walk in front of the lake has such an exotic feeling. It’s lush with colorful vegetation and the sun reflecting on the lake makes it that more special.
As I was saying in the beginning, I have never been a fan of Freddie Mercury’s. But I still wanted to see his statue on the shore of the lake. We must have waited 20 minutes to be able to take a photo with it without a woman between his legs or someone posing with their fist in the air. I just couldn’t understand… I mean I knew he was huge, but still.
And then I saw Bohemian Rhapsody and I got it! I want to go back and take that shot with my fist in the air 🙂 And to visit the Queen museum and learn more about his work and genius. It’s weird how although he spent most of his life in London, it’s Montreux where it feels like he is most celebrated.
I can’t imagine what must be going on around the statue these days after all the hype created by the movie. I bet there’s never been that many women between poor Freddie’s legs as after Bohemian Rhapsody (the movie) was launched.
This year we are visiting my friend again and I have a better list of things I want to check. I want to learn more about their cuisine and visit a couple of museums. But until then I leave you with these beautiful photos of charming Switzerland.
