2005 Holiday - Geneva

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This is the page covers a brief trip to Geneva between 22/07/2005 and 25/07/2005, taken with the aims of seeing the restored Simplon, and to pay a sad farewell to the Italie, due to be withdrawn at the end of the season.

Simplon returned to service in July following an engine-room accident in 2003, and to travel on Simplon was the main purpose of our visit to Geneva. Since she had been used mainly as reserve ship during our visits in the 1980s and 1990s, I had only ever travelled on her once before. It is wonderful that this magnificent steamer is back in regular peak season service.

Subsequent to my booking the trip, it was announced that Italie would be withdrawn at the end of this season, and so it became important that I paid farewell to one of my favourites. Our early holidays on Lake Geneva were at Montreux and Vevey, and we travelled on Italie a great deal since she took the first departure for Ouchy each day, and made the last return. Italie became a firm favourite in the CGN fleet, despite having a (very smooth) diesel engine rather than being steam. It is a tragedy that such a beautiful ship needs to be withdrawn for cost reasons. It is planned that Vevey will also be withdrawn at the end of the 2006 season, once Savoie has returned to service.

Sections on this Page:-

Day 1 - Friday 22nd July 2005 - Arrive in Geneva

Day 2 - Saturday 23rd July 2005 - Simplon and La Suisse

Day 3 - Sunday 24th July 2005 - La Suisse, Ville de Genève, Rhône, Italie, Montreux, Vevey

Day 4 - Monday 25th July 2005 - Vevey

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2005 Holiday - Geneva

Day 1 - Friday 22nd July 2005

We arrived at Geneva in the evening, but I managed a couple of photos of Simplon and Genève before the sun went down. We stayed at a hotel 100m from the lakeside near Mont-Blanc, which was very convenient for the steamers.

Simplon at Jardin Anglais, Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd July 2005.

Genève at Jardin Anglais, Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd July 2005.

New tram 866 in Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 22nd July 2005.

Day 2 - Saturday 23rd July 2005

Simplon: Geneva - Vevey

La Suisse: Vevey - Geneva

Our first full day was spent on a long trip from Geneva to Vevey on Simplon, returning on La Suisse. Simplon returned to service in July following an engine-room accident in 2003, and to travel on Simplon was the main purpose of our visit to Geneva. Since she had been used mainly as reserve ship during our visits in the 1980s and 1990s, I had only ever travelled on her once before. It is wonderful that this magnificent steamer is back in regular peak season service.

First we watched La Suisse leave Geneva Mont-Blanc, before boarding Simplon at Jardin-Anglais for the second Geneva departure. We passed Général Guisan near Nyon, Ville de Genève near Nernier and Italie between just before Rolle. At Ouchy, Simplon connected with Montreux and Rhône (3) before proceeding to Vevey where we disembarked. We then caught La Suisse all the way back to Geneva, passing Italie again between Ouchy and Evian, and Vevey (on her evening cruise) near Nyon. Rhône (3) was already at Geneva having finished her day's services.

Alastair & Margaret inspecting a bionic cow, one of many painted cows on the streets of Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Mouette and lighthouse at Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Société des Mouettes Genevoises

Sarcelle and cathedral at Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Société des Mouettes Genevoises

Mouette and cathedral at Geneva.

Vevey and Simplon in the background.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Société des Mouettes Genevoises

Dotto Tram to take tourists to the old town in Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

La Suisse (2) leaving Geneva Mont-Blanc for her daily "Rhône Express" Geneva-St Gingolph-Geneva circuit.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Dotto Train which takes tourists from the Jardin-Anglais in Geneva.

Simplon in the background.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Simplon (3) at Geneva Jardin-Anglais.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Simplon (3) at Geneva Jardin-Anglais, plus the bow of La Suisse.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Leaving Geneva on Simplon (3) passing the Henry Dunant.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Arriving at Nyon on Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Général Guisan arriving at Nyon.

Seen from Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Ville de Genève near Nernier.

Seen from Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Lunch on Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

1400hp engine on Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Italie leaving Rolle for Yvoire, on her daily Le Bouveret-Geneva outward trip.

Seen from Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Replica galley La Liberté at Morges, seen from Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Montreux arriving back at Lausanne-Ouchy after her lunch cruise to Evian.

Seen from Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Rhône arriving at Lausanne-Ouchy from St Gingolph.

Seen from Simplon (3).

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Simplon (3) at Vevey.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

La Suisse (2) arriving at Vevey on the return leg of her daily Geneva-St Gingolph-Geneva circuit.

We travelled on La Suisse all the way back to Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Italie between Evian-les-Bains and Ouchy, on her daily Geneva-Le Bouveret return trip.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Nadine Coppier (CGN pier staff), at Evian-les-Bains.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Tourist catamaran Soleil du Leman at Evian-les-Bains.

One of four used at Murten for Expo 02, the others now being on Lago Maggiore, Monaco and Chichester in 2005.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

We saw a boat race at Yvoire.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Boat race at Yvoire.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Boat race at Yvoire.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Vevey near Nyon on her evening cruise.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Lighthouse at the entrance to Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

The jet d'eau , coloured by the evening sun on our arrival back at Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

The jet d'eau on our arrival back at Geneva.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Rhône at Geneva Jardin-Anglais, at the end the day's services.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Day 3 - Sunday 24th July 2005

La Suisse: Geneva - Yvoire

Ville de Genève: Yvoire - Nyon

Rhône (3): Nyon - Yvoire

Italie: Yvoire - Geneva Eaux-Vives - Lausanne-Ouchy

Montreux: Lausanne-Ouchy - Nyon

Vevey: Nyon - Geneva

On Sunday I travelled on La Suisse as far as Yvoire, returning immediately to Nyon on Ville de Genève, my first ever trip on this smart motor vessel. I returned to Yvoire on Rhône (3), my only opportunity to travel on her on this short visit. Italie arrived at Yvoire soon afterwards, and I stayed on her from Yvoire back to Geneva, and then out to Lausanne via Nyon, Yvoire and Evian. I completed my day on CGN by combining the evening cruises of Montreux and Vevey to make a late evening return to Geneva.

Rhône at Geneva Jardin-Anglais, before the start the day's services.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

La Suisse (2) leaving Yvoire on the outward leg of her daily Geneva-St Gingolph-Geneva circuit.

Photographed from Ville de Genève.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

La Suisse (2) leaving Yvoire on the outward leg of her daily Geneva-St Gingolph-Geneva circuit.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Ville de Genève at Nyon.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Ville de Genève at Nyon.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Rhône arriving at Nyon.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Ville de Genève leaving Nernier.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Rhône at Yvoire.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Rhône beginning a circuit off Yvoire.

She returned to drop off a passenger who had missed her stop.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Italie arriving at Yvoire, on her daily Le Bouveret-Geneva outward trip.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Swiss wine bottled for CGN.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Italie leaving Geneva Eaux-Vives, on her daily Le Bouveret-Geneva outward trip.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Italie leaving Geneva Eaux-Vives, on her daily Le Bouveret-Geneva outward trip.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Italie arriving at Geneva Eaux-Vives, on her daily Geneva-Le Bouveret return trip.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Italie leaving Lausanne-Ouchy, on her daily Geneva-Le Bouveret return trip.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Italie leaving Lausanne-Ouchy, on her daily Geneva-Le Bouveret return trip.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 24th July 2005.

Montreux arriving back at Lausanne-Ouchy after her afternoon Tour du Haut-Lac.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Montreux arriving back at Lausanne-Ouchy after her afternoon Tour du Haut-Lac.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 23rd July 2005.

Montreux leaving Yvoire for her evening return to Lausanne-Ouchy.

Montreux leaving Yvoire for her evening return to Lausanne-Ouchy.

Vevey approaching Yvoire on her evening cruise.

On board Vevey at Yvoire on her evening cruise.

On board Vevey on her evening cruise.

On board Vevey on her evening cruise.

Day 4 - Monday 25th July 2005

Vevey: Geneva Lunch Cruise

On our last day in Geneva, we travelled on the new tram route 15, then bus to Eaux-Vives to see the morning departure of Simplon. We then used Mouettes Genevois to make our way to Jardin-Anglais for the lunch cruise on Vevey. After the cruise we waited to see the arrival and departure of Italie, the last time I will see her in service for some time since she is to be withdrawn at the end of the season. This was a very sad end to our trip. Our early holidays on Lake Geneva were at Montreux and Vevey, and we travelled on Italie a lot since she was the first departure for Ouchy, and last return each day. Italie became a firm favourite in the CGN fleet, despite her (very smooth) diesel engine. It is a tragedy that such a beautiful ship needs to be withdrawn for cost reasons. It is planned that Vevey will also be withdrawn at the end of the 2006 season. As Italie disappeared into the distance, we proceeded to Geneva Airport for our flight home.

Simplon (3) and Vevey (left) at Geneva (Jardin-Anglais).