Désalpe 27 September 2014 Les Charbonnières

IMG 0666  Cowbells out for the désalpe DSCN2396  Barn décor IMG 0668  The désalpe coincided with the festival of Mont d'Or DSCN2398  If Norman Rockwell had been Swiss..
IMG 0669  he would've painted this! IMG 0670  Swiss identity on parade DSCN2401  along with the cows... IMG 0673  and the headdresses..
DSCN2403  again! IMG 0676  and horses and wagons. DSCN2405  Didn't quite get the Roman connection. IMG 0677  Caramel!
DSCN2406  and of course cheeses of many kinds! IMG 0678  Mont d'Or of course IMG 0680  with its inimitable wooden case IMG 0681  There were many kinds of Mont d'Or
DSCN2408  The thing itself DSCN2423  Demonstrating how the boxes are made DSCN2424  A staple gun machine IMG 0683  A view of the four seasons above...
DSCN2409  a crew of girls IMG 0685  willing to sell you IMG 0686  a slab of cheese, bread, IMG 0684  and of course, wine!
DSCN2411  It's always good to know where the facilities are, in this case, in the fallout shelter! DSCN2412  Christine and the Croix Blanche DSCN2415  Eye candy I IMG 0688  Eye candy II
DSCN2420  The Eye Candy got even better! DSCN2418  Other rural products DSCN2416  like charcuterie or DSCN2417  tartes!
DSCN2427  of many flavors! DSCN2421  To express solidarity IMG 0693  and Swiss identity IMG 0694  starting at a young age
DSCN2425  More goodies to eat! IMG 0692  A short exit out of the commercial zone DSCN2430  Flowers DSCN2432  More flowers
DSCN2433  The Good Life-version Vallée de Joux IMG 0695  Of course, there were more cows IMG 0697  of different races IMG 0699  Current issue: do bells deafen the cows?
IMG 0700  Back to tasting: sausages IMG 0701  More Mont d'Or IMG 0704  More Mont d'Or DSCN2436  But then some Tête de Moine
IMG 0703  It was excellent! DSCN2437  Onions DSCN2438  Garlic DSCN2439  and of course more cows!
DSCN2443  With older folks DSCN2444  and some younger folks DSCN2445  Spices DSCN2447  and dried fruits
IMG 0705  Walking uphill out of town DSCN2450  A gorgeous vine IMG 0706  whose name escapes me IMG 0708  Back in the center, formalites..
DSCN2453  The Master of Ceremonies DSCN2452  prepares the crowd DSCN2455  for the inevitabe "discours" IMG 0709  Meanwhile, the staff prepares bread and cheese
DSCN2454  Some of them get a head start! DSCN2458  AFter leaving the town we strolled along the lake DSCN2459  Bench and flower box - Lac de Joux DSCN2460  Then we went back to Vevey
DSCN2461  beneath our Rochers de Naye DSCN2462  and on the shores of our lake! DSCN2466  There we met Chris and Robin DSCN2465  Greg tries to orient Robin
DSCN2468  Local avifauna DSCN2470  paddling about DSCN2463  Looking up Léman