Day Eight

Switzerland

On Sunday morning we had some free time. They opened the bank specially for us so that we could change money. Some friends and I went for a walk out of town and into the residential area--sort of like a hike, except we were pretty much stuck on the roads. There was no place to walk through fields that wasn't part of somebody's property. Once we were out of the big cities, they let us wander around in groups by ourselves, because the worst thing that could happen would be getting lost, and we couldn't even get that lost.

Just after lunch we got on the buses and drove down to Montreux. We took a tour of the Château de Chillon, a castle set right on the edge of Lake Geneva. The château was begun in the 11th or 12th century, and was never besieged. The dungeon has a place where Lord Byron carved his name in the stone; he was inspired to write the poem "The Prisoner of Chillon" after a visit there. The great hall is decorated with the coats of arms of all the families who controlled the castle.


We had some free time in Montreux after our tour, and most of us went souvenir shopping. Montreux is the home of the world-famous jazz festival, which was going on while we were there. Just walking around town we heard some of the bands playing. People bought cuckoo clocks, Swiss army knives, watches, and music boxes. I bought a little cowbell painted with flowers and "Montreux." For some reason I did not take a picture of the statue of Freddie Mercury of Queen in Montreux. I must've either been out of film or really dumb.

Back in Champéry we had our concert at the Centre Sportif. There was another band and choir performing, and our band was on last. The concert must have been long for the people listening, but they seemed to be in really good spirits, and they were appreciative of our efforts. When we played the "Radetzky March," which is like the "Stars and Stripes Forever" of Europe, the crowd were on their feet clapping. Some of the brass players from the other band joined us on our last song, making it even louder and more fantastic. It was exciting; that was the only concert where I've really felt that vibrant connection between performer and audience that you always hear about.

I walked back up the hill alone, at nearly midnight, with my heart blazing. It was not quite truly sublime, but right up there with the best moments of my life so far.

Since love is lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

Tomorrow: Zermatt and the theoretical Matterhorn, and a polka party