Visit to Vevey, remembering Dad

We walked into Montreux this morning, and took the paddle ship 'La Suisse' to Vevey. The weather was perfect for the twenty minute journey there. Built in 1910, this was originally a paddle steamer, but I believe has since been converted to diesel-electric power. Passing along the main ship to reach the front deck you're greeted by the sight of the massive crankshafts which drive the paddles. 

While were in port, there were two 'grease monkeys' inspecting and topping up lubricant pots above each gleaming crankshaft. The engine room interior was immaculately clean, and a sight which took me back to travelling on the paddle steamer plying back and forth over the Severn Estuary between Weston super Mare and Cardiff. I recall standing in wonder, aged seven, alongside my Dad, staring through an internal viewing window at similar engine at work on a coal powered paddle ship. It was quicker and more exciting to reach Weston for the annual Miners' Fortnight holiday this way than to go by train, needing to change, and lug cases from platform to platform in Bristol Temple Meads. It was a busy time, demand for the ship was high, so we weren't always successful. 

Gazing into the engine room well with delight, I felt from a moment as if Dad was still stood beside me. Co-incidentally, tomorrow would have been his 113th birthday, but he died 45 years ago. Being a mine transport engineer, he had a great love of heavy machinery of all kinds, and took pleasure in sharing them with me. I wonder what he'd have made of the mechanical world of nowadays? I'm so glad he lived to see a man walk on the moon.

We had a leisurely walk around Vevey's old town, and its bustling Saturday market in the Place du Marché. A silver band was ready to play in the shelter of the covered market hall, and outside there was an unusual marching band of a dozen wearing local folk costumes, with an assortment of brass instruments and several drummers. They made a loud raucous sound, and their repertoire was of carnival music with jazz-rock flavour. There's another smaller square at the heart of the Old Town, which was also crowded with stalls, and a third wind band was playing here, more sedately. Quite an unexpected outdoor treat, but for what reason it was happening, we didn't find out.

We returned to the Nestlé Alimentarium, discovered last summer, for lunch, this time on the terrace overlooking the lake. After another walk along the lakeside promenade, we caught the passle ship back to Montreux, this time aboard the 'Montreux'. Launched in 1904 this is the eldest of the CGN operational fleet, and despite its traditional means of propulsion it now enjoys the latest hi-tech steering gear, as a result of its last re-fit. After more than a century, these beautiful craft still give pleasure to hundreds of thousands of visitors, and to some regular commuters along, or across Lac Léman.

Looking forward to making the trip again with Rhiannon, when she joins us at the end of the month.