JustJess
November hasn’t started exactly the best way. The Czech Republic was drowning itself in thousands of covid-possitive cases a day and Switzerland decided to follow. As the situation got worse with every day, new restrictions followed and before I knew it museums, galleries and all free time activities for adults were closed down. The long winter was about to come. So I took every single opportunity to get out of my flat, while it was still possible.
In the first week of November I was lucky to have a sunny day on my day off and I quickly headed out to enjoy at least the last bits of the strength sun rays could have given me. I again headed to Lavaux, to take another part of the vineyard trail.
This time I took a train to Cully and headed back in the direction of Vevey, to a village called Rivaz. It is an easy track, not even 6 kilometers long. But because I headed out quite late, it turned out to be a race with the sun. And because I headed east, unlike the sun, the sun was constantly winning.
Funny thing is, that a month ago, when I was in the vineyards for the first time, I was almost too soon to see it in gold and red colors. This time, I was for a change… too late. All leaves from the vine were long gone and terraced structures stayed naked and exposed. But definitely not less impressive. I might be repeating myself when I say that Lavaux is really worth visiting – vine leaves on or not.
This time, I also noticed something I didn’t see on my first Lavaux promenade. The vineyards are interwoven with a network of small cogwheel cars. It makes a lot of sense, given the nature of the terrain – these small cars can help get tools up the hills and the crosp down. I have never seen a system like this before and I am always fascinated with how inventive people can be.
As November went on, my birthday was approaching. I am a proud child of November although I am not much into birthday celebrations. The older I get, the less happy about my birthday I am – so I saw no big reason to let anyone know about my upcoming 29th birthday. But by chance a few days before, I was sitting with my host family by the table and they were discussing who wants what for their birthday and logically, when will that be. So it came out that my birthday was just behind the door. And my host mum, being the legend she is, threw me a party! Father of the family made home-made pizza, the kids made birthday cards for me, while my host mum baked me a cake! It even had candles! It may sound trivial but when you are thousand kilometers away from home and people who are practically your employers are doing these things to make you feel like home, it is magical. At that moment, I was really really happy that my birthday came out. Because these people, my host-family, managed to make me really feel like I was home. And for that, I am unbelievably grateful.
For the weekend of my birthday I was also very lucky with the weather. It was once again nice and me and my Au-pair friend Jo headed out for another small trip. This time, we chose the mountain Mont Pèlerin which is above Vevey. Mont Pèlerin is “only” 1,079 m high, so after our climb to Rochers de Naye, we took it as a relaxing walk for Sunday afternoon.
First we headed to the funicular in Vevey, which leads straight up to Mont Pèlerin. The funicular was constructed in 1899 and is 1584 meters long. The line is fully automated today and the journey to the top in 804 meters takes only 10 minutes. But those 10 minutes are full of amazing views over vineyards, Vevey and Lac Léman. Also the angle in which the funicular ascends made me a bit nauseous. Its maximal gradient is 54%. Not that the number would tell something to me or you, but I can tell you that the angle looks dangerous. Very dangerous.
At the top we only went a few meters before we found a bench with an amazing view and decided to stop for a snack. Because that’s what we do. We go out, we enjoy the view and we eat. The bench we found was just above Chapelle St.-Joseph du Mont Pèlerin. There is a small view point over the area and it shows a really wonderful view. I must say it really took my heart because I wasn’t expecting much. After climbing Rochers de Naye, I could hardly imagine there being a competitive view from a smaller mountain. I was wrong. Mont Pèlerin offers a completely different perspective on the area and I must say I fell in love with it.
With full bellies we followed the signs and headed up the mountain. Once we turned between the houses and the main road disappeared, we found ourselves in an idyllic land full of green meadows and cows’ pastures.
We were not the only ones there to enjoy the sun. Many people had the same idea for a walk. But we were quite surprised to meet a buddhist monk on the way. I later learned that there is actually a buddhist temple with an international school for Tibetian-buddhist studies. It was a few steps above our bench and we didn’t notice. We were too busy watching the landscape.
Our goal for that day was a tower Tour Plein Ciel which sits on the top of Mont Pèlerin. It is a telecom tower with a lift to 1080 meters that offers amazing panoramic views. Unfortunately we also knew it was gonna be closed because of covid. It didn’t matter, we just wanted to go have some direction.
Once we reached the tower we turned around and headed back. We took our time, we were enjoying views over the landscape, we were taking crazy pictures and fooling around. I also got a gift from Jo. It was a written poem. I think I didn’t mention it, but my friend writes poems in English and Polish. Some of her poems are even printed in a poems collection book in Poland. And from this amazing talented young author, I got my own poem. And she was so kind as to let me share it with you.
I had to wait for you
Two months
It’s not much but believe me
That with loneliness it tastes like eternity
My cheeks flowed salty because
I had to wait for you
Two months
Dear!
I had lost my way many times then
I was looking for meaning – with no result
And all I had to do was
Waiting for you
Your words have given me hope
And your support – confidence
I needed a pair of eyes that
Would understand
Thank you
Because with you time is leaking
Through my fingers
And joy rustles in the leaves
We bathe our bodies in the sun
On conquered peaks
Dear!
You look beautiful with a smile
You should know
that no necklace will adorn you like that.
This was one of the important moments in my life. Because if my life would end the next day, I would know I did not live in vain. For a moment, I was there for someone who needed me. Even when I didn’t realize until that day how important our time together was for my friend. And I only started realizing how important it was to me. How much I’ve been missing a friend like her in my life. Don’t get me wrong – back home I have amazing friends. We go out for lunch, a coffee and we talk about hard topics. But I suddenly realized I didn’t have a friend to do stupidities with. That I really missed someone I can be a complete idiot around. Someone who will not judge me for my stupid ideas, the opposite – who will encourage them. And this kind of a friend, I found in Jo.
So, what else can I say? I turned 29 in Switzerland. Far away from my family and yet I didn’t feel alone. The very opposite. I felt loved, needed and appreciated. All thanks to the amazing people I met here, in Switzerland.
