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You are here: Home / All Aboard! / Spoilt by Spring in Switzerland!

Spoilt by Spring in Switzerland!

April 20, 2014 By Erica Hargreave 21 Comments

I love living in a country with four seasons, and of all the seasons Spring and Autumn are my favourites.  I even love winter with it’s beautiful snow covered silence and sceneries. It is for that reason (and time with family) that I often leave Vancouver every winter in search of snowier vistas in Ontario.  That said, this winter in Canada seems to have been a particularly long one.

As I packed for Europe a month and a half ago, I expected much the same.  Both the long johns and heavy winter coat were in the packing pile, at least they were until I saw a status update on facebook, that made me think, maybe I should actually check the weather in Poland and Switzerland.  My eyes nearly popped out of my head – it was in the double digits!!!  Sitting at around 13 degrees Celsius in Warsaw and 17 degrees Celsius in Zürich that first week of my trip in early March!  While still deciding to pack a scarf, toque and mitts, as they were costume pieces for one of my talks, the winter coat was substituted out in lieu of a raincoat and the long johns were moved into the no longer taking pile!  So very satisfying!

As I awoke that first morning to the sun shining in my window in Warsaw, I glanced outside to see GREEN GRASS!!!  Oh how I’d missed thee!

 

Enjoying the sun and green grass in Warsaw

I was not the only one soaking in the sun and enjoying the green grass in Warsaw!

 

People looked at me crazily that first European day, as I wandered around Warsaw, practicing my TEDxWarsaw talk in a short sleeve top.  I looked at them crazily, that they would still be bundled up in their winter wear.

Well, Poland had nothing on Switzerland.  While Spring was just trying to sprout up on my arrival in Poland, it was in full bloom in Switzerland!  Nothing better to cure the psyche, after a particularly long and blistery winter.

 

A warm spring day in Zurich

This could have been a summers day, relaxing by the lake in Zurich!

 

I like to think that by sharing the following images, I am not taunting those of you in Canada and the northern US, but giving you a sense of hope that the Spring is not that far off.  And if you just can’t handle the current post winter ‘blah’ any longer, last I checked, flights were quite reasonable to Geneva, and only a wee bit higher to Zürich from North America.

 

Late March scene in Geneva, Switzerland

The scene in late March in Geneva!

 

So!!! What you’ve all been waiting for!  Spring in Switzerland!!!

 

Spring in Switzerland

Blooming Zurich!

 

Zürich

My first destination was Zürich!  Here is my first look down upon this fair land:

 

Landing in Zurich, Switzerland

Just like I remember images of Switzerland from picture books in my childhood!

 

And before I even found my hotel, I found a sunny outdoor patio, thanks to Aurelia, and got my first taste of Switzerland!

 

First Taste of Switzerland on a Zurich patio.

My first tastes of Switzerland ~ local wine and a chocolate kiss!

 

The frustrating thing about Zürich was that there were just too many lovely outdoor patios waiting to be enjoyed, and not nearly enough time.

 

Markthalle Patio by the Viadukt in West Zurich

Wish I’d enjoyed a drink or a bite here by the Zurcih West Markthalle and the Viadukt.

 

Have to admit it was good seeing cherry blossoms too, as I was afraid I’d missed them in Vancouver.

They even had patios that turned into community growing spaces every Spring, like here in Frau Gerolds Garten in Zürich West!

 

Frau Gerolds Garten in Zurich West, Switzerland

This quirky community garden in Zurich West very much made me smile.

 

Even the Spring Bunnies were out in Zürich West, as the weather was so great!

 

Spring Bunnies in Zurich West, Switzerland

Definitely my kind of bunnies from St. Jakob Beck in Zurich West.

 

And who needs a patio, when this could be the view for your lakeside picnic in Zürich, our favourite lunch spot!

 

Beautiful Spring day, lakeside in Zurich, Switzerland

*sigh* Miss our lunches here!

 

Just look at how this spot made Emme and Dirk feel!

 

Emme Rogers and Dirk Neumann lakeside in Zurich

Emme and Dirk soaking in the sun, lakeside in Zurich!

 

Somewhere on the Road to Lucerne

Despite it being sad leaving Zürich, I could not think of a better way to have left than on a beautiful day for a road trip with two good friends from Zürich to Bern, taking the scenic route via Lucerne.  I mean, just check out this view!

 

Outside of Lucerne, Switzerland

How beautiful is this!

 

Couldn’t resist not stomping with our roamancing red boots through these beautiful waters!

 

A swiss dip in a lake near Lucerne.

Seems I wasn’t the only one that couldn’t resist the water, and there were some far braver soles than I!

 

May have driven Dirk nuts sharing my desire to find a barn like this one, only with cows near by.  Sadly he had a deadline … so I’d have to wait for Gruyère.

 

Barn outside of Lucerne, Switzerland

Wanted to do a Swiss Red Boot Stomp with such a barn and Swiss cows!

 

We did, however, take the time to wander around Lucerne.  Such a beautiful day!

 

Erica Hargreave in Lucerne

*Sigh!* Such a beautiful day! Emme even lent me her boots, after I waterlogged our Roamancing Red Boots.

 

Bern

After all that sun, I have to admit a few Spring showers while wandering through the Saturday markets in Bern, created a bit of comfy, cheshire cat feeling in me.

 

Spring Showers in Bern, Switzerland

Spring flowers, rain, and red wellies … all the comforts of home.

 

Fribourg & Gruyère

Sun, rain … Spring really could not be complete without a bit of snow … and Fribourg, and more specifically Gruyère gave me just that.

 

Fribourg, Switzerland

You can’t quite tell from this photo, but along with it came beautiful falling snow.

 

Beautiful Old Town Fribourg scenery, shot through a snowflake dotted lens.

 

Clock Tower in Fribourg, Switzerland

A snowy Spring day in Fribourg

 

And with the arrival of Spring, of course, so too comes the kids …

 

 

… and for me a few new Swiss friends of the variety that you meet on a Gruyère Dairy Farm.

 

Gruyere Dairy calf.

A very affectionate Swiss gal!

 

And with Spring in the air, Spring Fever did get the better of me, when it came to one Swiss chocolatey beauty!

 

Chocolatey Love in Switzerland

Certainly one of my tastier kisses.

 

Nothing like waking up to freshly falling snow in Gruyère.

 

 

Even better … flowers and freshly falling snow …

 

Snow Flowers in Old Town Gruyere, Switzerland

Beauty coating beauty in Gruyere’s Old Town

 

Nests built, awaiting a Spring brood!

 

Birds nest in Gruere Castle, Switzerland

Would love to know whose young will be starting out life in Gruyere Castle soon.

 

And with the warm sun shining down on us, the snow soon began to melt.

 

 

Hard to compare all the beauty that overwhelmed us in Switzerland, but this was certainly one of the more beautiful days!

 

Lavaux

Now the problem with Switzerland is that you just don’t want to leave any one place, but then when you get to the next place, you simply wished you had more time there, and if any place in Switzerland that that was most true for for me, this past trip, it was Lavaux.

I may have been arriving early in the grape growing season, but I still found it to be simply beautiful!

 

Vineyards on Lake Geneva, Switzerland

My first view of Lavaux and Lake Geneva from the train. Would love to see this view again in early Autumn.

 

Everywhere I looked in the Montreux Region, I was rewarded with sights of the beginnings of Spring!  Including from my home at the Grand Hôtel du Lac in Vevey!

 

Grand Hotel du Lac in Vevey, Switzerland

This was a very difficult room to leave! So comfortably luxurious!

 

And it wasn’t just my room that sported beautiful Spring views.  Here is the view from the other side of the Hotel du Lac:

 

Hotel du Lac in Vevey, Switzerland

I believe those are the French Alps in the background.

 

Really these were just a tease of what the region had to offer though, as look what awaited me in Chexbres and Rivaz, as we wandered in and out of the vineyards at the Lavaux UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Chemin de la Dame!

 

Rivaz, Switzerland

Such a beautiful day! I know I am saying that a lot, but that’s what I kept thinking.

 

How does one tear themselves away from all of this?!?

 

Rivaz, Switzerland

Could have spent hours wandering here. (Well … actually I did spend hours wandering, just not as many hours as I would have liked.)

 

It was hard, let me tell you, but Spring in Geneva was beckoning and an old friend was waiting for me, so depart I did.

 

Geneva

The weather and fresh blooms in Geneva certainly did not disappoint!

 

Spring in Switzerland

Just what the doctor ordered to cure the psyche from a long hard winter.

 

It seems that the rest of Geneva had been waiting for this weather too, as the Geneva waterfront struck me as one giant living room!

 

Lake Geneva, Switzerland

Was very tempted to sit down behind this pair and listen to what they were playing.

 

Was flabbergasted by how hopping les Bains des Paquis was!

 

Les Bain des Paquis in Geneva, Switzerland

There were actually people swimming around the corner from here!

 

Yet, the locals still knew where to find some solitude, a short stones throw away, if so desired.

 

Spring in Switzerland

This pair seemed to know where to go for a bit of peace and quiet.

 

And as Emme gloated, it was even warm enough to frolic in your bra and underwear (which she demonstrated, to my great embarrassment, in front of CERN)!

 

A bare swim along les Bains des Paquis in Geneva, Switzerland

I’d say Emme was shown up by these British gals though! Much more daring!

 

So after all of that, you can image the trauma that hit me, when this was my first view on Canada again …

 

March in Montreal

Hello Montreal! Hello Winter!

 

After my initial shrieks of disbelieving terror, I am now looking at this as an opportunity to enjoy the beginnings of Spring all over again this year, and am readjusting my wardrobe accordingly and patiently. At least that’s what I keep trying to tell myself.

Filed Under: All Aboard!, Around the World, Erica Hargreave, Europe, Our Travelers, Switzerland, The Red Boot Diaries Tagged With: Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Gruyere, Lavaux, lucerne, Rivas, spring, Switzerland, Vevey, Zurich

Comments

  1. Megan @ Mapping Megan says

    April 22, 2014 at 9:06 am

    Gorgeous photos! I’ve been to Switzerland during winter but not during summer so missed the gorgeous greens and blues! Will have to head back!

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      April 23, 2014 at 4:26 pm

      Oh do Megan! I know I now want to go back in the summer, autumn and winter to get the whole four seasons perspective on Switzerland!

      Reply
  2. foongpc says

    April 23, 2014 at 11:01 am

    Lovely photos!! I love spring too! I wish to go Switzerland one day! 🙂

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      April 24, 2014 at 4:19 pm

      Thank you! Feel extra lucking this year, getting to see Spring begin in Poland, and then Switzerland, and finally Vancouver. Was especially beautiful in Switzerland.

      Reply
  3. Charli says

    May 16, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    There’s so much of Europe I’ve left to explore. Thanks for inspiring me to visit Switzerland!

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      May 17, 2014 at 4:11 pm

      Oh do Charli! It is both a beautiful and a healing country. Was exactly the adventure I needed this Spring!

      Reply
  4. Kelsey says

    August 4, 2014 at 11:42 am

    Amazing photos! Thanks for sharing them. It made me feel that I am in Switzerland. I sure hope to visit this beautiful country one day.

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      August 4, 2014 at 11:56 am

      Thanks Kelsey! I hope you get the opportunity to visit Switzerland too.

      Reply
  5. Kristen Bor (Bearfoot Theory) says

    November 24, 2014 at 6:54 pm

    Beautiful photos! I especially like the one of the sunbather. Classic! Makes me want to skip winter all together.

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      December 7, 2014 at 2:11 pm

      Yeah, made me smile, that’s for sure!

      Reply
  6. Natasha von Geldern says

    November 25, 2014 at 4:59 am

    Wow, great photos. I too love the seasons and Spring is a very exciting time of the year – I especially love the spring wildflowers.

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      December 7, 2014 at 2:10 pm

      Me too! Beauty for the eyes and nose!

      Reply
  7. Chan says

    November 25, 2014 at 11:20 am

    Beautiful…and really down to earth…I have only been to Zurich once for an overnight during a trip elsewhere and Love this inspiration to return to that area…Luv much

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      December 7, 2014 at 2:09 pm

      Oh do! It is a wonderful city to explore. If you can, get out to enjoy some of the eats in West Zurich.

      Reply
  8. A Cook Not Mad (Nat) says

    November 25, 2014 at 11:29 am

    What a great way to spend Spring. I myself would rather avoid winter all together but will be ending up in Ottawa for the end of it in March 🙂

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      December 7, 2014 at 2:08 pm

      I don’t know. I actually love a bit of winter each year. Makes the Spring that much more beautiful!

      Reply
  9. Gran says

    November 25, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    Being in the Canary Islands, we miss snow. Hoping for a White Christmas back in the UK. Love these photos.

    Reply
    • Erica Hargreave says

      December 7, 2014 at 2:07 pm

      Thanks! Switzerland is so picturesque, that it’s hard not to take a good photo.

      Reply
  10. Sam says

    April 16, 2015 at 4:15 am

    Amazing photos, it feels so good just by looking at those pictures I wonder how great it would feel when you are actually experiencing these moments, missing swiss choclate and music fest.

    Reply
  11. komal says

    December 5, 2015 at 2:04 am

    Switzerland doesn’t sound so daunting after reading your suggestions, although I had no idea meat was so expensive!

    Reply
  12. Matthew says

    September 27, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    These are amazing photos, it reminds me of my trip to Geneva in 2014! It feels really being able to remember those memories just by looking at those pictures.

    Reply

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