The rain caught up with us today in a big way. It poured “chats et chiens” and the wind howled. It didn’t take long for my cute compact umbrella to succumb to a greater force. Fortunately, I had learned a lesson in Florence last year about the importance of waterproof footwear and my hiking shoes kept my feet dry – the only part of me that stayed dry! Nevertheless, we headed out for our guided walk of the old city.

Lausanne is known as the city on three hills, so our walk was up and down with the inevitable stairs to climb. Also, an FYI, it was too rainy to use my camera so all of my photos today are iPhone photos.

Our entertaining local guide began his usual tour with stops here and explanations there while we took in fountains and statues and buildings but at last, looking at his drenched followers, decided that we should head right for the Palace and then for the Cathedral so we could take shelter while he told us his stories. Never say Road Scholars are not game!

Our first stop was the Palais de Rumine funded by the Russian aristocrat Gabriel de Rumine’s legacy to the city of Lausanne. It was built over 12 years in the late 19th century and now houses various small museums.

The Lausanne Cathedral was built in the 12th and 13th centuries. It was initially Catholic, but during the Protestant reformation a lot of the frescos were painted over and statues removed, etc. It remains a pretty impressive Cathedral with an organ built in the last 20 years or so in Boston which is apparently known for great organs.

The rain took a quick break while we were inside, so we were able to look at the city from the Cathedral, which is on the top of one of the three hills. Lake Geneva is in the distance.

After purchasing a new umbrella and chowing down on a bit of lunch, I wandered out to the Lausanne History Museum, which is next door to the Cathedral. I found it interesting but not compelling. My main memory is all the stairs I had to climb again to get there. As you can tell, since Saltzberg I have become obsessed with stairs.

I Googled a nice restaurant to treat myself to not-Swiss-food for dinner. 🤪 (I am finding the Austrian/Swiss food quite heavy and typically short on vegetables.) My map app said the restaurant was a five minute walk away and that there was a moderate hill. AND the stairs icon appeared after I was underway! In fact, there were 158 stairs as the restaurant is next door to the Cathedral. When I got there, they were full, so I trekked down the 158 stairs and ended up at the same restaurant I was at last night. I was seated at a common table with a very nice South African young man, and had a very enjoyable dining experience.

Demain, direction Basel. À bientôt !