around the lake

so, here we were with gorgeous weather, driving along the lake. i was showing my friend around the quaint little villages. and for the first time ever, which i know is shameful, cos i've lived here altogether 17 years, i drove all the way around the lake. for the first time, i saw Vevey, the prestigious town where rich people used to send their kids to school, Montreux, THE riviera town by excellence, and i even stopped at the famous Château de Chillon. we got out a few times and took loads of pictures. then, we got to the other side of the lake and arrived back in France. the view was totally different. from the first side, the lake was dramatic with the Alps rising behind it, from this side, there were only low hills to look at. the architecture also changed: houses were more modern, less 'fort'-like. it was very strange. for the first time, i saw Evian, which turned out to be not as bad as i had imagined, although i wouldn't want to live there. all in all, it was a great day. minus the sunburns (despite the sunscreen).