Oh, Montreux: Château de Chillon
So, I’m currently sitting in the university library writing this blog post. I’m a little hungry, but satisfied because I’ve completed my first few assignments for my French subjects! Hooray!
You know, since Alexander Rybak won the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest for Norway, I’ve always had this belief that Norway was the most beautiful place on this planet. It is my dream to go to Lofoten Islands and breathe in the fresh Norwegian air whilst on a row boat surrounded by the ocean and rivers and of course the infamous fjords (it’s going to happen in August, just you wait). But hey, I shouldn’t get too ahead of myself.
On Sunday, I went to Montreux (less than 30 minutes from Lausanne) and as I walked along the lake towards Château de Chillon, I had a brief moment where I realized that my mind has been so occupied with the thoughts of “perfect” Norway, that I haven’t really appreciated Switzerland to its full extent.
Like, yeah sure, I’ll look out the train window and be like “WOW MOUNTAINS SO COOL WOW IT’S BEAUTIFUL”, but in the back of my mind I keep thinking to myself that I’ll experience better because I’ve hyped up Norway so much in my mind since 2009.
I think when it comes to things such as nature, it’s important to remember that everything in itself has a beauty of its own. Yeah, Switzerland is no Norway, but Switzerland is just as beautiful. Of course, I haven’t yet been to Norway so I can’t really say, but I think it’s time that I stop this idea of my “favourite country” or “ideal place” and just be content that I’m lucky enough to even experience the beauty of nature as it is.
Anyway, spring has most definitely sprung and the flowers are alive and blossoming; it’s such a beautiful sight and I still can’t believe how lucky I am to be here amongst the lakes and the snow-capped mountains.
Montreux is such a lovely place, there’s a statue of Freddie Mercury which I had to pose in front of because hey, it’s Freddie and Freddie’s the bomb.
I was really proud of myself because I plucked up the courage and managed to ask for directions in French, “bonjour, nous voudrions aller au Château de Chillon, mais je ne sais pas comment? Et, par bateau, où nous achetons une billet?” So I guess my confidence level has gone up a little when it comes to French (although, not by much but at least it’s an improvement).
Although we didn’t end up catching un bateau (a boat) to Château de Chillon, we did arrive there by walking 45 minutes along the lake. The castle is absolutely magnificent (at first I was a little underwhelmed because it looked so small from afar).
There was a moment where I absolutely freaked the shit out because we walked down the basement into a dungeon area, and when I turned to walk into another chamber, I saw, from the corner of my eye, a shadow of a man with a gun walking towards me. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY LIFE. I always said that if I were in a near-death situation involving zombies or tsunamis, I would just stand there, close my eyes and be all like, “TAKE ME! I SURRENDER!” but in this instance, I swore, pushed Daisy aside and ran for my life.
Turns out it was just a projector.
Anyway, I probably say this about every single place in Switzerland, but if you ever have the chance, you should definitely go to Montreux. It will blow your teeny little minds, especially if you’ve been sheltered your whole life in big skyscraper cities like Sydney where the only nature you’ll find is at Taronga Zoo.
Anyway, my next blog post will probably be about Sweden, because in 2 days I’m flying to SWEDEN! That’s right. It’s time to frolic in some Scandinavian snow and eat my weight in semla.
Here’s my vlog from Montreux:
Until next time!