Sophanigans: Soph's Semi-solo Europe Adventure Begins

Bonjour loves. So I may have promised some people and myself that I'd do this blogging thing. And since I know myself a tad bit, I know I need to start asap and post a little bit at a time. Otherwise I will become overwhelmed and the blogging will never happen (see: New York). *Note: Don't. There are no NYC posts... see?

"Live, travel, adventure, bless, and don't be sorry."

- Jack Kerouac

Mini fast-forwarded intro... Chicago to Geneva (Switzerland) with a layover in Newark. Starbucks right across from my first gate? Okay. Lots of French-speaking toddlers on the next plane? We became friends immediately. Landed in Switzerland. No window seat. No view/pictures of the Alps during sunrise from thousands of feet in the air. (The fact that I even just said that here shows a teensy bit of regret, I know.) The Swiss man at customs saw that I was born in Lausanne, gradually realized I didn't speak French, and then began looking so disappointed/ashamed in me that I just smiled and quickly walked away. Oops.

Au revoir, Chiberia.

I left Chicago Thursday morning, arrived in Switzerland early Friday morning. Their time. So with the time change, it means I time traveled during my usual bedtime. On the plane, I read part of "The Book Thief", watched "Frozen", and slept at most an hour. No regrets. Zombie Sophie then went grocery shopping in France (almost everything in Switzerland is more expensive) before hibernating.

A Day of Lac Léman (3.9.14) // Vevey & Lausanne

Post-hibernation. Started off the day early and walked along Lac Léman (also called Lake Geneva) in Vevey, Switzerland. Vevey is home to Nestlé's world headquarters, Charlie Chaplin, and the invention of milk chocolate. It is also breathtaking. Analogy: mountains are to Switzerland as corn fields are to Illinois. The Swiss Alps just casually chill along the highways here and I can't stop staring at them. And taking pictures of them... some of these might seem repetitive but I'm just trying to present a well-rounded perspective alright.

Charlie Chaplin Statue

Guess who got everyone to move so she could take this picture? ..just kidding, shops are closed on Sunday.

The town itself is also lovely and, since it was a Sunday, pretty quiet. Everyone was down by the lake enjoying the 50 degree weather. I found an open cafe and managed to order a cappuccino from the waitress who knew absolutely no English and, therefore, couldn't give me directions to the train station.

Back in Lausanne, I subway-ed down to Ouchy (Lausanne's lakeside). Lausanne is the city I'm staying at and the city I was born in - this is my first time back since I left when I was a year old. No wonder I was such a chill and happy tot - I was pushed around in a stroller surrounded by a gorgeous lake and the Swiss Alps every weekend. Throwing bread crumbs to swans. Who would complain.

Lausanne is also recognized as the official Olympic Capital is headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. I walked along Lac Léman to Le Musée Olympique (The Olympic Museum) and spent about 3 hours there.