Weekend trip to Lavaux & Montreux

So during my first week I was looking up where I should go traveling for the first legit weekend! Though I had a whole list of places of I want to go during my stay, I wanted to start from the closest places. While I was searching I saw a lot of recommendations about Lavaux, which is a region between Lausanne and Vevey/Montreux with endless vineyards, pretty little country villages, and of course, great wine.

On Saturday morning, I got up early, packed my lunch/dinner and headed to Lausanne Gare to take the train to Cully, which is only about ten minutes away from Lausanne. Because I didn't want to carry a heavy backpack while hiking through the vineyards, I packed two small but pretty solid B.L.E.T. (bacon, lettuce, egg, and tomato) sandwiches, a small pack of mini carrots, and a bottle of water.

As soon as I got to Cully, I started walking into the vineyards next to the village and became speechless by the beauty in front of me - the vineyards were spread all over the mountain, facing the mountains on the other side of the lake! Then I began to hike via Riex, Epesses, Le Dézaley, Rivaz, and eventually arrived in St. Saphorin. This hiking through endless vineyards was soooo refreshing, even though the weather was rather foggy and even rainy a bit. Instead, the rain and the cloudy weather blocked the sunlight, making the physically demanding hiking a lot easier than expected. 

According to Google maps the hike was supposed to take about an hour and a half, but I got lost a few times in the vineyards, sometimes wandered through small villages I arrive, and took frequent breaks to have lunch/enjoy the view, so it took about just a little less than three hours. And of course I did not forget to take a handful of grapes time to time ;) The photos below are from the hike! I hope you can feel the peacefulness and refreshment too.

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When I arrived in St. Saphorin, I had two choices: take the train to Vevey and hike again to Montreux, or go directly to Montreux and chill. But I was already pretty tired from the hike so took the second option. 

In fact, this wasn't my first time going to Montreux; I've been there two years ago, in summer, for my family trip. I really had good memories about Montreux because in 2010 the weather happened to be amazing and I remember taking great pictures there, thinking to myself "Will I ever have another chance to visit Montreux again?" hahaha.  This time the weather was cloudy in the region so I was worried if it would be as good as the last time I visited. But the weather became perfectly clear in the afternoon so I could enjoy the sunshine after a tiresome hike. I felt so blessed :)

Also since it was weekend, there were many people doing a lot of different things on the beach other than just taking a walk. I saw children playing roller skate hockey in a small arena, a bunch of  teenagers (maybe from boy scout of something?) trying to float a humongous raft, a brass band playing some tunes they practiced, people who are trying to recruit new members for their ski clubs, etc. I didn't regret bypassing Vevey and coming directly to Montreux because I could enjoy the view/people as much as I could!

These people were performing some African music..

Stunning view, isn't it? :)

These teenagers were all excited about floating this huge raft, probably made by themselves. But they didn't really spend much time on the raft nor went further into the lake though. Maybe they were just trying to see if it floats? 

Members from a local fencing club performing their moves. Watching them perform reminded me Korea's accomplishments in fencing in the Olympic Games this year! :)

I named these myself  - Crazy bird sculptures! haha

And, of course, Freddie Mercury.

At the beach I spent time reading books, listening to music, watching people walk around, enjoying the view, and finishing the last portion of my sandwich until I decided I should head back around six. Before I got back I dropped by at Migros to buy some sugar for my fig preserves.

Though this was my first weekend trip totally planned on my own, I think I had a quite successful trip! Next weekend people from church are going for a picnic together so I can't plan another one, but I think next time I visit Montreux will be near Christmas when there's Christmas market open at night; I'm also going to take the train to Rochers-de-Naye and enjoy a birds eye view over Lac du Léman. I hope it's going to snow then!

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Today I went to church again in Genève and was glad again to listen to great sermon and get to know people of God better. It's always nice to experience the unchanging grace of God no matter where I go;  nothing else fulfills me more than God's words and His love. But I sometimes forget the fact that He has a lot more planned for me than I imagine and get all anxious about my course of life, trying to grasp everything with my own hands. Today I was again reminded that God definitely has a plan for sending me here and making me meet people from the most unexpected places, and that I should devote more time to Him during my stay here rather than focusing on myself.

Things in the first week were rather confusing and hectic, but I believe it's going to get better as time passes. I'm really excited for things coming up next, places I will get to see, and people I will meet.