Monday, Day 3 in Switzerland

I had a pretty specific agenda for the Swiss adventure. We were sidetracked by Martigny and the Combat des Reines, but on Monday we got back on track with a trip to Chillon Castle, as planned. We got up, had our morning croissants with espresso, and headed toward Montreux in our Nissan Micra.

Morning cafe and croissants in the Swiss sunshine--a real pleasure.

We ate at a touristy cafe directly across from the Castle, called Cafe de Chillon or something similar. The food was surprisingly good, but yes, expensive. Boyfriend, not usually the one to worry about money, didn't want to order one of the specialites de la maison. I said, come on, we're on vacation. Get the steak if you want. I don't remember what he got, actually, but I had duck breast with fig sauce, sauteed seasonal vegetables, and spatzle (I am inspired to make spatzle now). We also drank a Swiss soda called Rivella which is actually made from dairy whey, though you'd never guess so. 

Chillon Castle is really something else. You can imagine what the hubbub of the place must have been like. It's bigger on the inside than you think it will be. There were actually dungeons, and you can just imagine how miserable they were. There were a lot of descriptive signs and smaller exhibits, as in every museum. I mean, I never felt like I was anywhere other than in a museum. But it was pretty damn neat. There were about a dozen beautiful little courtyards. They were my favorite thing.

Chillon from outside.

A dungeon/storage space.

Beautiful views of the shores of Lake Geneva from inside the castle.

More beautiful views.

The Judgement Room.

One of the many courtyards.

We were still very tired on Monday. We went home and ate prepared refrigerated meals that we bought at a grocery store called Coop. I had delicious gnochi. Boyfriend had some kind of chicken and spatzle meal. They were delicious. All food, even the food that isn't supposed to be that good, the stuff you find in grocery store fridges and on gas station shelves, is delicious in Switzerland. I don't know how they're all so fit. Lots of outdoorsy stuff, I guess. So after our microwaved meals were eaten, we fells asleep while watching international television. And that was Monday.