Mark took these pictures of the heavy snow that fell all day Wednesday
Our very own winter wonderland!
A crazy snowstorm hit Lausanne this week! It stranded buses, trains and shut down Geneva Airport. Everyone had a tough time getting home, including me! Here's my story:
I took the train into work on Wednesday to avoid the roads, which was definitely a good idea! However, heavy snow was still falling when I got back to Lausanne on Wednesday evening. My bus on the #1 line only made it 3 stops before it got stuck behind a line of other buses that were stranded! The bus driver told everyone "Descendre" (get off)!! After checking in with Mark to see if the other line was still running, I headed for the #3 bus, but stopped when I saw that another bus at the front of the stranded row was starting up again, woohoo! The bus driver made an announcement that he was driving an abbreviated route, but I lucked out that my stop was included. Unfortunately, that luck didn't last too long! The bus made it one stop and then got stranded trying to pull away from the curb on a hill! At that point, I was out of options (it was the same route as the #3) and so I started walking!
It was an eerie scene as I climbed up the two (steep) hills to home! I probably saw at least 1/2 a dozen buses stranded on the road and mobs of people were walking, since they also had to get off their buses! It was somewhat chaotic, and yet calm at the same time. I was very thankful to make it home that evening, having had a 2 1/2 hour commute! According to Internet statistics, Lausanne only gets that much snow about once every 5 years. It will be interesting to see if that was our "bi-decade" storm or if this winter will bring more snow like it! At least I really can say that I have "walked home 5 miles in the snow, uphill, barefoot"....okay, so I didn't have to walk as far as five miles and I wasn't barefoot (thank goodness), but it's a good story. :) I'll keep you posted on our winter weather!
Wow! Glad you made it home safe!! Definitely keep the updates on the snow coming! I am a SoCal girl moving to Switzerland (Lausanne too!) in January. I have never lived in snow and only experience it when I go to Mammoth, Big Bear or Tahoe to ski. I hope the bad storm is over though I have always wanted to wake up to a winter wonderland :)
ReplyDeleteStay warm!
How exciting! Thanks for following my blog. If you have any questions about Lausanne or Swiss life in general, feel free to ask. Good luck with the move!
ReplyDeleteAnd too think I got excited when it started to sprinkle here. I will defiantly keep my European travels to Spring and Summer!
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't find an email to contact to you so I am hoping you are checking this. I am a San Diego girl (been living in LA for the last 5 years) and have never owned proper shoes for winter weather. I have a pair of snow boots for when I go to the mountains but I was wondering what you recommend for everyday use? I will be walking 10 or so minutes to the train everyday and going to class. They told me its "smart casual" attire for class so I don't want to look like I'm about to go skiing. Any tips on what to wear to keep warm (keeping with the dress code) and what kind of shoes to bring?? It looks like its going to be a cold winter so I want to be prepared (I leave in less than 3 weeks).
Thanks!
(cali2swiss@gmail.com)