H to L and in between

Dear peeps,  and apologies for the delay in posting but the battery on my lap top passed away and who knew it, Switzerland has yet another type of electric socket, so we had to purchase yet another adapter. Personally I believe that this is taking Swiss neutrality too far. Yes electrical pun intended.

Bags packed, apartment tidied and we are off the the airport using Helsinki public transport like a well oiled Swiss watch - off the Finnish variety. Tram to the station and then train to the airport - something to be said about the convivence of it all. Helsinki airport is lovely and has escalators to rival those in Singapore for depth and steepness with the  Swan Lake projected onto the back wall for your entertainment. This did require adept timing so that you leave the escalator elegantly without tripping over your feet as you are so engrossed in the ballet - whip lash is involved.

So the workers of the world have been uniting with strikes by the Finn Air ground crew and French railway personnel. We have managed to avoid both to a major degree - so all strength to them.

We arrived at Geneva airport with a very full flight, and just putting it out there, Geneva isn't one of the world's loveliest airports BUT as the train runs from there all is forgiven. We made it to Lausanne and up, and I mean up on the metro to our stop - this metro line has a 12 degree incline, and it is slightly disconcerting to be waiting for your train on a lean. Then this is where where Google Maps and I part company, mind you it would help if I fully read the host's instructions. But after wander past it a couple of times we made it to the flat, our home base for the next two weeks.

We are based near the old town which is nice but like their vineyards Swiss towns are also built as terraces running across the slope. This is Ok if you want to walk along the terrace, so to speak, but any other direction requires the stamina of Heidi. Again not sure why I find this surprising as an avid Heidi reader in my youth I should've expected this. It's Saturday night in the old town and everyone is out and about including Lausanne's Joan Butcher - and thinking of Joan I hope she found the peace in the hereafter that was denied her in the here and now. 

In many ways Helsinki and Lausanne are not dissimilar are they are both melting pots of people although poverty is far more apparent in Lausanne and the smoking takes a bit of getting used to.

So as we are in the French speaking part of Switzerland - three years of high school French and 679 Duolingo lessons - don't let me down now.