Along with the excitement of Geneva, going along around the lake brings you to Montreux , world famous for among other things, the annual Jazz festival. And since 2003 the annual Freddy Mercury Montreux Memorial Day the first weekend in September. The celebration centers around the giant statue of Freddie along the shore, near where he had a lake house.
But Freddy is but one of the famous commemorated in the city. Many more famous musicians rise from the ground to be commemorated in metal, including bluesman B.B. King.
Ella Fitzgerald
Ray Charles
and Vladimir Nabakov.
Wait, wait. He's not a musician. That's O.K. I guess, NOT's no Lolita.
Besides it's not only musicians who are here. There's also intricate topiary. And keeping to the classic roots, they celebrate famous film stars. In this case the lovable characters of Ice Age 2.
NOT found a fellow Yank there too - Bruiser the dog from Alabama.
After hobnobbing with so many famous friends, it's time to take a few minutes to contemplate nature at Lake Geneva.
O.K. that's enough. Let's head to the casino!
While usually avoiding deep s**t, here NOT found himself in Deep Purple.
In December 1971 the band Deep Purple was in Monteux to record their new album using a mobile studio from the Rolling Stones at the Montreux Casino entertainment complex. On the night of December 4th Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention were giving a concert in the casino's theater. During the performance, someone fired a flare gun into the ceiling, setting the rattan covering on fire. The spreading fire destroyed the casino complex. The members of Deep Purple watched the fire from their hotel across the lake watching the smoke from the flames spreading out over Lake Geneva. From this fire came the famous rock song "Smoke on the Water" with many of the lyrics referring to the event.
No smoke this time for NOT to deal with at least. But it left NOT parched, so it was time to try out some of that Swiss beer. It's Europe, they didn't even ID NOT.
NOT spent a while checking out his pedigree and roots among the ducks of Europe.
Looming in the neighborhood is Chateau de Chillon, or Chillon Castle. Famous as the subject of Lord Byron's poem The Prisoner of Chillon. the castle began as a conglomeration of dozens of buildings, with the oldest parts dating back to the 12th century.
The basement is a hub of family fun.
With torture chambers to escape from.
And artwork left behind by previous "guests."
The kids can spend time admiring the view from strategically placed arrow slits.
Explore the world of heavy explosive weaponry with ancient cannons.
And learn to appreciate mom's home cooking all the more since it's not done on ancient stoves.
Worse comes to worse, ask the kids if they know the definition of defenestration.
