Chateau Chillon

Tyler had given us every Friday afternoon off because he knew we wanted to do some travelling on the weekends.  A day pass for public transport for the extended region of Lausanne included trains and buses, and reached all the way to Chillon on the east side of Lake Geneva.  Glorious sunshine beckoned as we quickly ate lunch and set off down the hill towards the Lausanne Gare. 
Walking along the lake at Veytaux-Chillon, where we were told to get off the train, we caught our first glimpse of the imposing structure built at the waterline.

For the next two and a half hours we explored the castle with the help of an English brochure explaining every highlight.  This medieval castle is similar to one we had seen in the Czech Republic, but larger.  The English poet, Byron, wrote the narrative poem, ""The Prisoner of Chillon" after visiting the castle in 1816.  I vaguely remembered this poem from my school years.  Byron was inspired to write his narrative after hearing the story of the revolutionary Bonivard, who in 1530 had been shackled to a pillar in the dungeon for 6 years.

 The poet signed his name in one of the pillars in the great, vaulted room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Escape was possible through this grilled window to a waiting boat below when the enemy threatened.

A large fireplace for roasting meat for huge banquets.

 

 

The furniture pieces were reproductions, but added to the wonderful atmosphere of days gone by. Above this buffet (?) the wall is covered with escutcheons of the Bernese bailiffs. 

Fall colours in summer sunshine

Relaxing on the beach before catching the train to Vevey, on the route back.  After a false attempt in the wrong direction, and help from several people, we found the funicular station and rode up about 1000 metres to Mont Pelerin, just in time to view the fading sunset. At the chalet restaurant at the top we tried a Swiss-German specialty, rosti. (there are two little dots on the "o") 
Shredded potatoes, covered with cheese, mushrooms, bacon, and tomatoes; a fried egg adorned the top.

 

Delicious, but we wisely ate only half of it, as it had been cooked with butter and there was a fair bit of  bacon. The waiter was a bit surprised at our request to "emballer" the rest, but it came in handy as a meal for our next day's adventure.  A wonderful day!

 

The end of the day on Lake Geneva

Who can tell me how to add the text beside the pictures?  Or move the pictures once they're in place, without deleting them and starting again?