A long weekend with friends was ahead of me (the same group as for my trip to the Ruhrpott two years ago). This year the organization was in Swiss hands, so it was back to Switzerland, with Montreux and Lake Geneva being the destination.

I left home in Thursday morning, made it to the train station and after some changes of trains was finally getting a first glimpse of Lake Geneva and the vineyards on the Swiss side.

After a cordial welcome, we boarded the cog railway to make it up to Haut-de-Caux for an apéro with great lake and mountain views. This was followed by the traditional and inevitable Cheese Fondue dinner back in Montreux’s old town.

Friday saw us boarding the ferry from Montreux to Lausanne, a trip of about one and a half hours with great views along the way. After arrival in Lausanne we made our way to the Olympic Museum, and from here on into the old town for the cathedral and simply checking out town. We also had dinner in Lausanne’s old town.

Saturday was dedicated to the wines of the Lavaux region. We first made it over to Cully, where we boarded a sightseeing “train” (not a real train, but one of those train-shaped tractors pulling wagons) through the vineyards, eventually getting to the Grand Cru vineyard of Dézaley. Back to Cully, the group split – some going by train – others (including me) engaging into a short hike to Lutry (~5.3km, 130m up/ down) with great views along the way and – of course – the option to try the local Chasselas (aka. Fendant or Gutedel) in a winery. We met back with the others in Lutry – where we had a lake-side traditonal French-influenced dinner.

Sunday was departure day – after a morning walk along the lake shore at Montreux, it was good-bye and catching the train towards home after a great weekend with good food, good drinks, good company and weather much better than forecasted.