Train to Montreux Boat to Lausanne

A short trip out to Montreux, famous for a Rolling Stones jam session and Freddie Mercury. The latter had a holiday home here, and with Queen also recorded 6 albums here. The most telling rock reference is Deep Purple and Smoke on the Water as this is based on a true story of their experience in Montreux. Although I am sure this isn't Montreux only claim to fame as it also had a casino - the scene of the event that gave us Smoke on the Water, but then who doesn't these days.  There is a lovely promenade along the lake with a view up to the lake's  head which we passed on the way to Zermatt earlier. We also visited the old village where there were plant stalls, however shopping was not engaged in due to luggage and biosecurity constraints. We were treated to a couple of lovely operatic arias. Sight seeing completed we opted to get a boat back to Lausanne, yes another lake trip surprisingly. The surprise was that it was on a paddle steamer. It was also very popular and as we sailed along on the first class top deck (discounted with our Euro rail pass) in the lovely spring sun - well I could feel like a 1960s movie star even if I didn't look like one. Some lovely holiday homes along the lake side as well as terraced vineyards. Only slightly disconcerting moment was on the metro, yes it is working again - thankfully, was when a women about the same age as me gave up her seat for me! In my defense she did say that she was getting off at the railway station 3 stops away, but then when I offered it to an elderly gentleman - who was quite elderly, he declined. So I'm just going with the flow. 

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