Cheese, Chocolate and Christmas!!

This past Saturday we arrived back in Dublin after spending a week traveling around Switzerland.  I can't even begin to explain to you what a beautiful country it is!!!

We flew into Geneva and hopped on a train to Montreux (our first stop).  We had bought a Swiss Pass which let us use the train as much as we wanted.  Now of course we didn't by the first class pass....I mean who needs to be in first class on a train right.  Well we got on our train, found a seat and were thinking we were pretty savvy travelers.  That was until the ticket checker guy came around and informed us we were sitting in first class, ha!  I did snag this pick of Chad in the "nice" seats before we moved to the "less nice" seats.  Second class was just fine and we had a good laugh about it.

You're always first class to me Chad!

When we arrived in Montreaux it was after dark so we checked into the hotel, grabbed some dinner and went to bed.  Well, the best surprise in the morning....waking up to this view over Lake Geneva!!  Because it had been so dark when we checked in, we had no idea the mountains and lake were just our our window.

Lake Geneva

Eden Palace, our hotel.

After breakfast in the hotel we walked along the lake to Chillon Castle.  There was a small amount of snow on the ground and the mountains were white capped.  All of the plants an flowers that were still blooming amazed me....why do all my plants die after the first freeze?

How are these still alive!!

Boats on the Lake

All over town there were sculptures made out of Evergreen branches.  We spotted this fox as well as a dinosaur, whale, chess pieces, and a lion. 

 And look what else we found strolling along the water.  He wouldn't stop long enough to get a shot of his cute little bully face!  He had more important things to do...like make yellow snow. 

Grape vines

As we came around the curve in the lake we spotted Chillon Castle against the mountains.  The castle was built in the 11th century and has been beautifully restored.  For Christmas they were having a medieval festival with food, singing and period dressed characters. 

Crossing the mote to enter the castle

When we entered the courtyard they had a huge tree, carolers singing and small pen that housed the goats and donkeys.  They had fires burning all over that made the entire castle smell so good!  We wandered around taking in the sights and truly felt like we were in another time period...or maybe a Disney movie.

Chad made a new friend!

Practicing her archery

Ladies cooking in the kitchen

This guy and his chicken...maybe lunch?

Doesn't that ham look SO YUMMY!?!

After the castle we walked back along the lake and headed for the Christmas Market.  I just couldn't take enough photos of the view and none of them did it any justice!!!!!

The Christmas Market was sooo much fun!  The lights, decorations, yummy food, things to buy and people to watch made for one excellent afternoon.  Now I have to apologize for the photo dump below but I just couldn't cut any of them out.  Trust me you want to see them all : )

Pretty star lights

Scarfs and blankets

Soaps and candles

Chocolate : )

Homemade sausage

Chestnuts roasting on an open fire!!!

Hand blown glass ornaments

Candy

 

 

The market was also on the edge of the lake.  The whole thing was just AMAZING!  Really, if you can, just go!

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This guy was too funny

...and his little dog too!

Our last stop at the market was the waffle stand.  This might be the best chocolate chip waffle I have eaten.  The dough looked like bread dough and they "smush" it into the waffle iron then give it to you hot in a little paper holder.  I would go back to Montreux just for another waffle.

After our snack we went back to the hotel to rest before checking out the Christmas lights that night.  Stay tuned for the market after dark and all the beautiful decorations.