LAZING 'ON THE WATER' IN MONTREUX, SWITZERLAND
In a previous 'Lazing' report, we visited Ch.Chillon near Montreux.
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In this mini-Lazing report, we look a little more at other attractions in Montreux.
Royal Plaza Welcome
This is the only 5-star luxury hotel on the waterfront in Montreux. There are other hotels on the lake shore but they are below 5-star rating. There are also other 5-star hotels but they are not on the lake shore. It is pedantic but a particular 'unique selling point' for the Royal Plaza!
After 17 hours journey by car, bus, aeroplane, taxi, train and taxi again; we needed this!
The way to a WFEDder's heart is chocolate...
They have a lot of chocolate in Canton Vaud as the World Headquarters of the food giant, Nestle, is in Vevey just down the road. They also have the best wines in Switzerland. Then, there's the lake - Lac Leman or Lake of Geneva.
The following three pictures are the 180 degrees panorama from my bedroom balcony at dawn; very fresh air after smoggy Tokyo:
Valais-side
France-side
Vaud-side
Swiss Public Transport is most excellent, efficient and relatively cheap.
Never use Swiss taxis unless you are a embarassingly wealthy; but then again, if you are wealthy, you would have a limousine and driver anyway, so there is no need to use taxis in any circumstance!
I had three things that were 'must-see' in my travel plans for Montreux:
* Ch.Chillon.
* Palais du Montreux and Casino of Deep Purple fame (Smoke on the Water).
* Freddie Mercury's statue with his 'trademark' bottomless microphone stand.
We had covered the first two in a previous Lazing report so here it is.....(drum roll) The Chief Queen himself:
Located right on the lakefront by the town market hall.
This Rock Immortal - 'Mercury' was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town, Zanzibar. His parents were Indian Parsi practising the ancient Zoroastrian religion. It must have been tough for a Parsi to 'come out' as a homosexual.
Farrokh was educated at St. Peter's boarding school near Bombay in India, where he was given the name Freddie. At school, he performed in a five-man band called 'The Hectics'. When he was 18 years old, the family fled to England from a revolution in Zanzibar (1964).
His voice was his fortune; with a recorded vocal range of nearly 4 octaves. Uniquely, he maintained excellent tone over at least 3 octaves, thus qualifying simultaneously as a baritone and a tenor. Combining vocal range with operatic style, he was one of the most technical pure singers in Pop music. My personal favourites are "Bohemian Rhapsody", "Crazy Little Thing Called Love", "Somebody to Love", "We Are the Champions" and "Killer Queen", probably in that order.
My dog and I miss him and his vocal range.
Chickens?
We were there just before the Christmas Fair 2005. Your guess is as good as mine as to the provenance and raison d'etre for these 'chickens'!
Pimms No.1 cocktail at the aptly named 'Sunset Bar' in the hotel.
This rounded off a most excellent tourist day in Montreux. The sunset over the lake, the love of my life and a dinner reservation at Pont de Brent only foretold more 'Lazing and Grazing' to come.......
CONCLUSION:
Montreux is not just for old fogeys and blue-rinse ladies. You'll be surprised.
Photos & Text Copyright Melvyn Teillol-Foo, 2005.
