Bern and Lausanne, two great Swiss cities

This weekend, to escape intense work and tremendous ennui, I decided to embark on a solitary journey for a treatment of Switzerland's linguistic diversity. Thanks to Switzerland's highly-developed train system, I was able to travel to French-speaking Laussane and German-speaking Swiss capital of Berne last Sunday.

Here is Lausanne station. I already arrived almost midday as the trip has been hastily planned.

First impressions of Lausanne - pretty much like Geneva but a lot cleaner!

Strolling by the city, I saw a bookshop catering to vintage magazines and novels which at first thought was for teenagers and kids... wait until I got to see the display on the left....

Hmm, maybe I was wrong then. The Swiss sure do know how to have a good combination - vintage novels and and.... :)

As always, I am soo impressed with the Swiss transportation system. Buses in Lausanne are a little bit different as they come with two separate cars and run on electricity.

I walked a little bit off town and saw a park. Unfortunately, the weather did not seem to co-operate as it was raining cats and dogs... 5 minutes later comes the sunshine, then 3 mins comes rain...

Further into the city is Lac Leman where at this time of the year, nobody is swimming... Lots of joggers though.

Manna from heaven???? I wish!!! (or better yet Swiss francs from heaven with this country's uncomprehensively high prices)

I don't want to post gross pictures here but I can't really help posting this one. It just stirs my curiosity. I saw this one on the shower-room/washroom 'WC' as they call it here and it actually reminds me of the squat-type toilet in Japan... Every minute or so, the flush is triggered automatically...

The mountains on the back and the ever-clean Swiss landscape.... Lovely isn't it?

I saw this one on my stroll in the city... I posted this picture because I really thought that with the growing secularism in Switzerland and in Europe, religion practice has already been dying... I have been asked for quite a couple of times of my religion which I always answer as 'Catholic.' However, people who ask me always have a follow-up question wheter I am 'practicing' or 'non-practicing' which I haven't experienced before.

Lausanne is the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. Right outside the station (gare), you will right away notice it.

Some Lausanne city-sights... Impressive indeed!

At this part of my stroll, my stomach was already grumbling and is waiting to be fed with lunch. I went to the town plaza in search of something affordable to eat... Here's what I saw..

I miss North garden!

Now, it's time to move on to another city.... back to the train again:

I love Swiss trains... They're the best mode of travel in Switzerland... They are prompt, efficient and affordable.

Looking by my train window....

You're jealous eh?

At about half past three (as my British seatmate would have told it), I arrived in the German-speaking city of Bern, Switzerland's capital city.

Bern's train station. Somebody actually told me (and confirmed by Lonely Planet) that the station is infamous for its drug problem and 'anarchic' people... I didn't seem to notice that when I was there. The station was awesome, high-tech and the most modern Swiss train station I have seen thus far.

Some impressions:

Strolling by the city, I get to pass by a watch store. Switzerland is famous for manufacturing and marketing its top-of-the-line luxury watches. With my humongously high intern salary, I can really afford to buy say all of them!!!!!

I went further to stroll and enjoy Bern's cityscape. Unfortunately, the weather is very unco-operative. Fortunately, I got my Philippine-made umbrella (costs only US$ 2!) and am really proud of it!!!! Here are additional impressions.

And here's Switzerland's central bank, where all the decisions about the over-valued Swiss franc are made.

Unfortunately, I was not able to see the Swiss Parliament as the building is currently full of scafoldings for its renovation. I am greeted by signs in German, French and Italian that tours would be available only come summer, 2008.

The day went by fast and I could not really control my stomach's urge to eat. I was deciding wheter to purchase McDonalds (the most affordable by Swiss standard) or have something different. Well, since we are travelling and I haven't been able to eat asian food for quite some time, lets try something new. Why not eat some chinese food tonight? Back in Canada, chinese food is the most affordable and plentiful meal when it comes to an empty stomach... Why not give it a try in Bern station?

Well, I was definitely wrong... For CHF 15 (CAD 14.05), you'll get half a serving Chinese food... It could have been better if they would have more rice. As I have been walking for almost half a day, I was looking for something that would fill my stomach... Lesson learnt.. Chinese cuisine is a luxury in Switzerland probably because of the enchantment it brings.... Perhaps I would go stick it out with Uncle Ronald next time around!

Despite that, it has been an excellent day for a hastily planned day... I arrived back in Geneva 10:30 and achieved my mission of having an excursion for under CHF 45... Stop for next week.... Basel and the bilingual town of Bielle??? Goal: under CHF 75... achievable???? Dunno! Stay tuned!