4. Ascension Day in Switzerland

A perfect day for a winery

05.05.2016 - 05.05.2016

Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
Thursday, May 5, 2016

It is Ascension Day in Switzerland and all the shops are closed. Christians celebrate Ascension Day, also known by some as Holy Thursday, as anniversary of the bodily ascension of Jesus into Heaven. My sister wives are devastated at the lack of available shopping while I could not manage to care less. As they attempt how to spend their time (while their spouses celebrate what will be a day of under-used credit cards) I set off to
achieve 20,000 steps. I head down the hill to the shore of Lake Geneva, I follow the twists and turns that rain water makes until I am at the shore line. The path was anything but straight and the streets, given the holiday, are eerily deserted which makes my walk that much easier. Turning left I walk east past the Olympic Museum until my path is blocked by a marina, a distance of four miles or so. Turning around I retrace my steps now watching boats on my left which had an hour before been on my right. The day is sunny and warm and the path, while narrow, is flat. At least, it is flat until I reach my starting point where I turn to head up, up and up back to The Palace.

All of us, wives and board members alike, are to meet at the hotel lobby at four for a coach ride to a local winery. La Baronnie Du Dezaley produces quite nice whites. Were I you, I would pass on the reds.

Back to the hotel, we have just a bit of time to freshen up before we are whisked off to Lausanne's other five star hotel, the Hotel Beau-Rivage, which I had passed on this morning’s walk. Here cocktails are had on the lawn where after we retire to the Palace Salon for dinner. Fine conversation ensues as the meetings have ended and we will all make our ways to subsequent destinations in the morning.

Some are heading home, others are river cruising or otherwise touring to take advantage of the fact that the meeting was held here.