Other posts from the On a visit to.. series:
- On a visit to… Katie aka The travelling light, Brisbane (Australia)
- On a visit to… Krystal Lynn, Albuquerque (NM, USA)
- On a visit to… Ali Kamenova LA (California, USA)
Until now, I knew Lausanne only as a historic city, where at the beginning of the 20th century the important conference took place, followed by the signing of the Lausanne Treaty after the First World War, which governs relations between the Ottoman Empire and the victorious states.
Today, Elitsa from the LifeTasting Blog will present the touristic side of the Swiss city. The charm of Switzerland manages to catch us even while reading the lines below. At the beginning of the week, I think that everyone needs to recharge themselves with something positive. Let’s see what Elitsa’s favorite places are and where this virtual interview will take us.
How do you imagine the perfect “om trip”?
I love traveling and I believe any trip is an “om trip” – traveling for me is not just visiting new places, but also discovering how do you connect to the new surroundings. In a new place, you meet a different side of yourself. Some places resonate with you very nicely and smoothly- Italy and Bally are such places for me. Others kick you beyond your limits and push you to reconsider the way you think and see the world. Jordan and Peru had those effects on me.
Is it possible to take an “om trip” to Lausanne?
Definitely yes! Lausanne is a place with an “om charm”. It has a romantic old town and a beautiful lake with one of the most impressive lake promenades I have seen in Switzerland. It is calm and safe as a typical Swiss city, however, it is a vibrant city with a young, modern, and artistic spirit.
Three things which we have to take with us when we travel to this part of the world.
Traveling to Europe is so easy and natural for all of us living in this part of the world, so there is no need for special preparation. However, if you travel to Switzerland you definitely need your camera ready to catch all the postcard views on your way, you need hiking shoes if you want to explore the Swiss Alps as a Swiss, and your bank account ready to reach its bottom:)
How to look like the locals?
Simplicity is the key! Flat shoes, nice jeans, sporty dresses. Simple, not too extravagant but good quality (you don’t want to look “too cheap” in one of the richest countries in the world;) And a canvas bag!
What should we try when we’re in Lausanne?
Swiss classics – Fondue, Raclette, and all the Swiss Chocolate (start with Läderach).
Where would you take us to have a cup of coffee/or tea?
Coffee Page for a nice coffee and my favorite Loxton for brunch. Switzerland is not famous for fancy and modern restaurants (this is not a material part of the culture here), however, in Lausanne, you may find quite a big variety of modern places (the other such cities are probably only Zurich and Geneva).
A special place in Lausanne you’d like to share with us.
The long alley by the lake from Lausanne to Lutry (direction Montreux) hides many charming small beaches and spots with incredible views of Lavaux vineyards.
We can’t travel around without stopping by some galleries and museums. Tell us which are your favorite ones.
Lausanne is itself a jewel in the crown of Swiss culture and has many nice museums. The Olympic museum is a must (Lausanne is the Olympic city) and the new art district Platform 10. Here I am sharing a link with more ideas. Several museums offer free entries every first Saturday of the month!
Which book do you think is best for our trip to Lausanne?
This is a difficult question… Switzerland is not like Italy inspiring many novels and movies. “Swiss democracy in a nutshell” is a nice book on the Swiss political system which is quite unique – one country, 4 languages, 26 cantons, and 7.5 million people (but only 75% of them Swiss) – there’s nowhere else in Europe like it. I read good recommendations about “Swiss Watching” if you want to learn more about the land of watches, cheese, and chocolate.
Do you practice yoga? Where would you take us for a yoga practice in Lausanne? Where can we practice yoga outdoors?
You can practice yoga outside in all the parks and by the lake. Here I discovered the unique and friendly Brunch Club of Victoria Sardain. She is organizing events (in English) starting with a nice yoga flow, followed by a panel discussion with interesting people on interesting sustainable topics, and ending with a great healthy brunch. I am addicted to these events and I really miss them during the lockdowns. Victoria has also nice events online and a podcast in English that I can recommend no matter where are you located at this moment.
Where do you find inspiration and what makes you happy? Tell us about your recipe for happiness.
I am most happy when traveling when I am by the water and when I am with my family. Choosing a city by the lake was the best choice I did when moving to Switzerland!
You travel a lot. Tell us about your healthy routines on the road.
The honest answer is that for me is super difficult to keep my routines when I travel. However, isn’t this the purpose of each trip – to shake our routines and to get us out of our comfort zone?
Where should we go after visiting Lausanne?
Next destination – Lavaux vineyards! This wine area protected by UNESCO is well known for its beautiful scenery, whatever the season. Lavaux is my happy place in Switzerland. Just in a few minutes from Lausanne, all along the trail from Lausanne to Montreux, you can enjoy the unique beauty of the vineyards going from one village to another.
Who is Elitsa?
Elitsa is one of the authors behind Life Tasting Blog. The blog is a project of the two sisters – Elitsa and Valentina, where they share stories about wine, travel, photography, and sustainable lifestyle. Elitsa is a lawyer by education and profession, and by heart – a traveler and photographer. Since 2019 Elitsa is on a Swiss exact adventure living in Lausanne.
P.S. All pictures are kindly provided by Elitsa.