12 Sep 1985, Posted by Scott An Chora in Travelogue, No Comments.

09/12 Lausanne, Switzerland

I enjoyed traveling on trains through the darkness of those mountains.  When there was nothing else to do and I was tired of writing, I just stared at the passing shadows from the darkness of my compartment.  I reached Lausanne early in the morning and walked into some confusion.  Apparently the airport in Paris was on strike and that had a domino effect across Europe.  Every form of information service had a line leading out its door.  I noticed a young Finnish girl waiting in one of those lines.  She had an interesting combination of beauty, an innocent type of shyness she wore and a smile in her eyes that only raised questions.  It appeared she was looking for a place to stay.  With my usual grace I suggested we could assist one another in that trek.  I was sure we would find the hostel together.  A short bus ride and a short walk and we managed.  It was nice to have somebody to talk with along the way.  While we checked into the hostel the receptionist made it a point, actually mentioning it three times, that we should watch our belongings because there had been a number of thefts.  When I entered the room they had assigned me there was a young man who wandered up and mentioned it again.  His eyes told me he was the guilty one and perhaps this was his way of justifying his actions; I was warned.  I looked him straight in the eye and told him that if somebody wanted to steal my shit they’d have to wash it, maybe twice and you’d still might not get the smell out of them.  Once we settled in my lady friend and I met up out front.  We took a walk along the garden and ended up alongside some tennis courts where we talked into the night.  It was interesting comparing our different paths in life and what brought us both to the same bench looking across the same setoff tennis courts.

We decided to explore the city together.  After a relaxing cup of coffee the two of us started the day by climbing to the top of the cathedral.  From that vantage point we identified a lovely park that we earmarked for that afternoon’s picnic.  We wandered about the city checked out a few of the shops and eventually ended the day in the Del’ Ara Brut, an art museum for the mentally handicapped.  That was an enjoyable surprise.  I just wished there had been more commentary on the artists, like what made them crazy?  We spent the evening meandering along the water’s edge.  It was just an evening of relaxation.

We got another early start and took the first train into Geneva.  Across the bridge and past the white swans we found a nice outdoor café.  I had a nice glass of wine and enjoyed the shade of the trees.  The train ride was not too long and I thought that living in Lausanne and working in Geneva would not be a bad plan for an international banker.  I attempted to place a call home and was surprised when it only took a minute or two to make the connection.  Half the places I had tried took practically a half a day or failed while trying.  We headed back so that I could check in before curfew.  My lady friend was heading home and needed to gather up her things and make her train.  Our extra day together had cut into her time to get home and had left her with only two days to make it back to work.  A kiss goodbye and again I was alone sitting in a dining room staring at a blank sheet of paper.  Then I heard a woman’s voice, “Can you help me open a bottle wine”.  Things always turn up positive for the optimistic, for a smile.  Along the river I have learned that no matter how dark things may seems if you are optimistic the light will eventually find you.  Almost everybody is looking to involve themselves in that light as if it could rub off on them.