Riviera Rock

Nearly two weeks ago, I was delighted to welcome some visitors from my home state of Montana who spent a couple days with me.  They arrived by TGV from Paris, where they had visited another transplanted Montanan.  They left from here, also by TGV, bound for Florence and thence to Rome.  They have since returned to Big Sky Country, probably still bowled over by some of the European "sticker shock" caused in part by the decline of the USD's purchasing power in recent years.

This meant that I was able to spend time not only in catching up generally with these long-time family friends, but in doing some touring myself, as I chauffeured them to see a few sights in the area.  Because their time here was short and also because the United Nations in Geneva happened to be closed to visitors - exceptionally - for most of the time they were here, they did not tour that institution.  But we did visit nearby Gruyeres, always a popular sight with the "ambiance" that visitors anticipate when they think of Switzerland: small Heidi-like hamlets surrounded by Alpine pastures, with lots of cows, leather, wooden handicrafts and cheese.  Of course.  They duly toured the cheese factory near the village.  Inspired by their factory visit, nothing would do but to purchase the most aged and smelliest version of cheese.  The cheese accompanied them on their trip to Italy.  Together with a fresh baguette, smoked sausage and beer, it served as lunch for them on the train journey.  I am sure that the pungent aroma remained with them for some time after that.

On the return trip from Gruyeres, we decided to stop in Montreux for a short stroll along the lakefront of this lovely part of the beautiful Swiss "Riviera."  After purchasing sandwiches, beverages and snacks at a local grocery store, we stopped to have a picnic lunch near the three-meter high statue erected to the memory of late rock music great Freddie Mercury in 1996.

Characterized by some as one of rock's greatest all-time entertainers, Mercury is remembered for his extraordinary vocal range, described by one biographer as "escalating within a few bars from a deep, throaty rock-growl to tender, vibrant tenor, then on to a high-pitched coloratura, pure and crystalline in the upper reaches."   From 2003 on, fans have been gathering from around the world to pay tribute to him as part of the "Freddie Mercury Montreux Memorial Day" usually held on the first weekend of September.  As we watched, small groups of visitors stopped to have their photographs taken in poses with the statue.  Some left memorial tributes as well.

Strolling along further, we met this more whimsical group, typical of the topiary one often finds along the Montreux lakefront, still perky, although showing some effects of the winter cold.

And yes, those are indeed palm trees behind the group.  My visitors were astounded to see them.  This may be Switzerland but our lake microclimates are conducive to the growth of palm trees.