Neuchatel, Switzerland (Part 2)

 

I'm still making my way around Lake Neuchatel, the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland. This is Colombier Castle which dates back to the 1500's. Located in Colombier (population 5,000), it's still used as a federal military training center.

A view of the entrance into Colombier Castle.

That's Lake Neuchatel with vineyards. Switzerland produces quite a bit of wine. Why don't you ever hear about Swiss wine? Not much is exported as the Swiss drink most of it. 

Cycling though farming villages I unexpectedly come across this complex of new buildings in the outskirts of Boudry (population 6,000). It's a new campus for Bristol Myers Squibb, the big American pharmaceutical company ($47 billion in revenues, 34,000 employees). 

To the right of the Bristol Myers Squibb buildings in the previous photo are two new company buildings rising up. Wow, I corner a woman coming out of the main building and learn the whole complex is a global product supply function/administrative/manufacturing facility with several thousand employees. 

Surrounded by farmland, this is a view of the backside of the Bristol Myers Squibb campus. 

The main street running through Grandson (population 3,300) takes you past medieval Grandson Castle.

Grandson Castle dates back to the 11th century. 

These crazy looking rocks reside on the side of the road as you leave Grandson. 

Neuchatel, Switzerland (Part 1)

 

Neuchatel (population 33,000) has some impressive fountains in the city center/old town area.  That's a lion atop. 

As I've mentioned many times, besides being a place to get drinking water, wash clothes and socialize (gossip)--these colorful fountains were a way for a town to show off its wealth during medieval times. 

Neuchatel fronts Lake Neuchatel and in the background you can see the start of the Jura Mountains. 

Harbor view.

I like this knight. These fountains are great for filling up my water bottles. 

This fountain dates back to 1548. 

Occupying prime lakefront properties are multiple buildings own by Philip Morris International, the big cigarette company. Cycling past, the smell of tobacco is in the air. About 3,000 employees work here. The black-glassed building closest is a research facility with about 600 employees. What the heck are they researching? How to make cancer causing smelly cigarettes less dangerous? The other buildings are tobacco manufacturing facilities.

Philip Morris International has the rights to sell Marlboro cigarettes anywhere OUTSIDE the United States. The company has over 82,000 employees, revenues last year of $35 billion and sell their cancer sticks in 180 countries. 

Though Philip Morris International has their corporate headquarters in Stamford, CT, their CEO hangs his hat in operational headquarters located in Lausanne, Switzerland (where I live). 

Why do the big cigarette companies like Philip Morris International, BAT (British American Tobacco) and Japan Tobacco have their European headquarters in Switzerland?  If you said for tax purposes you maybe partly right. In the USA lawsuits are quite common. Well, it's very hard filing lawsuits in Switzerland.  

I enjoy living in Switzerland but, if I had to name the biggest negative: the high number of smokers!  They say 24% of the population smokes but, I say it's much higher--closer to 40-45%.

Spotted Vaumarcus Castle cycling through the village of Vaumarcus (population 253). 

Dating back to 1476, Vaumarcus Castle is owned by the village and rented out for weddings and conferences. 

Vineyards and Lake Neuchatel way in the distance.

Cycled through a little village and here's another "blind justice or justice is blind"water fountain. 

This "blind justice or justice is blind" fountain has been here since 1628!

Lugano, Ascona and, Bellinzona, Switzerland

This is the customs/border crossing in Chiasso, Switzerland. It's about three miles across the border to Como, Italy. I've cycled to Como from here and the road is busy with trucks. So, behind the brown building on the right is Chiasso's train station. 

I get on the train with my bike for the five minute journey and also getting aboard is this skinny tiny woman (maybe 5 feet tall). She's looks Italian, in her 30's, Dolly Parton-size breasts, big lips laden with Botox, four-inch high heel shoes and wearing gigantic sunglasses covering much of her face. She brings aboard a small suitcase and a large duffel bag. As usual at these border crossings the Swiss Federal police do a walk-through sweep of the train carriages looking for who-knows-what. After they pass I see something I've not seen before: three Swiss Federal police officers wearing yellow vests stamped "Finance Police". As they come down the aisle the Finance police are eyeing everyone AND eyeballing everyone's luggage. Passing the tiny woman the police stop and asks her several questions. Next thing I know she's being escorted off the train with the officers lugging her suitcase and duffel bag. 

It's well-known that Italians bring huge amounts of money into Switzerland to avoid paying taxes. I'd have loved to be in the inspection room to see what they found. Was she a mule---someone who is paid to smuggle contraband? If she was a mule--she's an idiot--aren't you supposed to blend-in and not stand out? 

The border crossing town of Chiasso, Switzerland (population 8,000). Not surprising quite a few banks have branches within walking distance. 

This is Lake Lugano. I'm making my way to Lugano (population 63,000). It's a large picturesque lake but don't try going for a swim as it's not allowed thanks to being polluted. Swimming in Lake Como, Italy is also prohibited except for a few areas. Why? They say the lake's currents are unpredictable. 

This is the lakefront promenade in Lugano. Been here numerous times but, not a favorite of mine as there's no "old town" area. Lugano is Switzerland third largest financial center after Zurich and Geneva. Italians are loathe to declare money and this is where they stash their cash--many in secret numbered Swiss bank accounts. 

I've mentioned this before but, Switzerland, with a population of almost nine million, is 10 times SMALLER than the state of California. About 62% of Swiss speak German, 23% speak French and roughly 9% speak Italian. 

The northern part of Switzerland is German-speaking, the south French speaking and the southeast part Italian-speaking. This area is big with tourists from the rest of Switzerland and all over the world. Why? It's 5 to 10 degrees warmer than the rest of Switzerland. Also, you can have the Italian experience without going to sometimes chaotic Italy. 

Back in 2015 I posted photos of Ascona (population 6,000) on my blog of nearby Locarno (population 16,000). Ascona is an upscale picturesque little enclave. Passing through again I snap more photos.

Ascona hugs the shoreline of Lake Maggiore.

Hmm, during my last visit in 2015 I remember several of these "frozen" statues and wonder if this guy was here but in a different get-up. 

Pedestrian walkway in Ascona. Though small (6,000 inhabitants), the town has 34 hotels. 

These "I love" signs seems to be mandatory everywhere I travel in Europe. 

I've passed through Bellinzona (population 43,000) before and posted photos. Bellinzona has a beautiful old town. I never get tired of seeing the three medieval castles stretched across the narrow valley. This is a view up to Castelgrande from the city center/old town below.

I snapped this from Castelgrande ramparts (walls). You can see Castello Montebello in this distance.  The two castles were connected by ramparts, parts of which are still visible. Way, way up the hill you can see Sasso Corbaro, the third medieval castle. The three castles, as well as the medieval ramparts and parts of Bellizona's old town are UNECSO World Heritage sites. 

Como, Italy

I visited Como (population 84,000) about 10 years ago and remember not being too impressed. The lakefront area was rundown and there wasn't much of an old town area in the city center. Of course I had to check out the area because celebrities like George Clooney and Madonna bought villas on the lake. 

Since that first visit I'd read many articles talking about the beauty of the place and how many people placed Como/Lake Como on their "bucket" lists.  Could I have been mistaken in brushing off the place?  I'm back for a second visit. My verdict?  Still way overrated.  

They're finally working on renovating the rundown lakefront promenade.    

This tower and section of wall is all that remains of the Como' medieval past.

During my visit 10 years ago I partially cycled around the lake (the third largest in Italy) to Bellagio (about 20 miles), then hopped on a ferry to the other side the lake and cycled another 20 miles to Lugano (population 63,000) in Switzerland. I remember the two lane road snaking around the lake on the Como side had potholes and you couldn't see any of the fancy villas due to high walls and shrubbery. The best way to see the villas would be to hop on the many ferries plying the lake.

I think Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore, both bigger than Lake Como and not that far away, are more picturesque. 

This is a rear view of Como Cathedral. 

It's early morning (8AM) and the sun isn't all the way up in Como.

This is the main entry into Como Cathedral. There's no square out front so you can't stand back and snap a full photo view. 

Shopping street in Como city center

View down the street from Como Cathedral.

Arras and Laon, France

Arras (population 42,000) lies 115 miles north of Paris. This is Le Grand Place, the main square in the city center. Those Flemish-Baroque-style townhouses date back to the 16th and 17th centuries. 

This is why I'm in Arras---to see Vauban Citadel. Built 1667-1672, the fortress is of course named after one of the most famous military engineer's of all time: Sebastian Le Prestre Vauban (1633-1707).    

A moat surrounds the citadel. During World War ll the Germans occupied the place and 218 French Resistance fighters were shot and dumped in the ditch.

Jeez, it's hard to see what the inside of the citadel looks like as a huge grandstand is being built for an upcoming music festival.  

Laon (population 25,000) 85 miles north of Paris wasn't on my radar but, ended up having a nice old town area. See way up on the hill? That's the old town.

Shopping street in old town area of Laon.

Like what they did with the umbrellas.

Laon's cathedral. 

See the brown metal tracks? Until 2016, there was a funicular ferrying people from the valley floor below to the old town. 

It's quite a hike getting up to the old town.