From Austria to Switzerland

Friday 9 September at Geneve gare.

Finally time to pause for breath with a whole hour to wait for the train to Montpellier in France. I have come through the customs, a whole lot of people standing around waiting for something or someone exciting to pass through. I didn't realise there is just a bare waiting room and toilets. Would have stayed out in the sun if I had known.
I am early because I caught a direct train from Vevey through Lausanne. Much easier than having yet another change of trains. The TGV is direct from here to Montpellier, so I can relax once I am on it.
Switzerland was a bit disappointing. (Or what I saw of it). In fact Austria is more pristine and seems less crowded.
Coming through the region to the far west of Austria was stunning and through high mountain passes into Switzerland. The grass and no fences makes Austria look like one big green park. I managed to take some photos through the train window and with the help of Picasa they came out surprisingly good.
The train from Innsbruck left eleven minutes late and by the time we got to Zurich it was 45 minutes late. Thank goodness I had allowed plenty of time to change trains in Zurich and was left with 20 minutes, instead of over an hour. Not much to see though as all train stations look the same after a while.
The journey was bit nerve wracking though, as we got later and later as the journey went on. They had a screen for information like a flight information screen on the airplane, and my heart sank each time we slowed to a crawl.
All around the lake at Zurich was built up. Much more than I would have expected. In fact Switzerland seems quite crowded. Eight million people and growing. There was a poster in Vevey, no more immigration! That would make you feel really welcome! We might think it in NZ but we don't put it on a poster.

I managed to change trains easily in Lausanne and soon found myself in Palezieux.
At five pm after leaving at 8.36 am. Rather exhausting. With the help of a young man in the station shop I phoned Tiddo and he came to pick me up. I was very relieved to be there and to be made so welcome. Their lovely home is in the country above the village of Jongny, which is on the slopes of Mt Pelerin. Perched high above Vevey, and Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman), and looking towards the Alps and East towards Montreux.