Saturday, May 27

 Saturday, May 27th

Today was undoubtedly the most scenic day we've had! There were stunning mountaintop views as well as beautiful Swiss scenery from the lakefront. 

We began our day at the Swiss Wine Hotel breakfast buffet where we quickly fueled up and headed out to catch the 10:00 AM train from Lausanne to Montreux. Along the ride, we had fantastic views of Lake Geneva, or Lac Léman as the Swiss call it, and the surrounding Alps. We also were able to see the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a UNESCO world heritage site. Everyone was in awe of the rows and rows of grapevines that seemingly stacked vertically into the Alps. 

Before arriving in Montreux we got off a few stops early in the town of Vevey where we had an opportunity to stop by a local farmers market. The market was located on the lakeside and was filled with a diverse aroma of different meats, cheeses, and chocolates. After wandering the rows of stands I sat on a bench at the lakefront and took in the view. 

Upon arrival in Montreux, we quickly ran across the platform to catch the train going up into the mountains. The 20-minute winding ride allowed us to progressively see more and more of the eastern edge of Lake Geneva. When we arrived the sun’s warm rays were beating down and we were ready for yet another railed ride, this time up the funicular. The steep sloped rail ride slowly brought us to the top of the mountain where we were able to begin our 2-hour hike. 

The hike brought us along a muddy path that winded through the forest atop the mountain. Throughout the beginning of the walk, you could barely see the other mountains through the trees in the thick of the forest. As we moved farther up the forest we came across several clearings where there were stunning views of not only the lake and the mountains but also the towns below. As you can see in the pictures, the panoramic of from the mountaintop was breathtaking. However, these pictures don’t do the view justice as the perspective in person was unbelievable. 

As we continued through the trail we entered a more open area where we were faced with a major uphill climb. We powered through as a group thanks to the bravery and leadership of Josh and were rewarded at the top with some Swiss cows. After nearly 3 miles of hiking (According to the health app) we returned to the train station. 

Back on the lakefront in Montreux, we had an opportunity to take in the lakefront and have lunch. We then checked out a Queen museum, which featured a Freddie Mercury statue as well as the original recording studio where Queen recorded many of their songs. 

After returning to Lausanne we capped off the night with a group dinner at a fondue place called Chalet Suisse. The fondue featured different flavors such as garlic, truffle, and pepper. It was also accompanied by bread, prosciutto, and potatoes. It was a great end to an exciting day.