We are becoming experts at living slowly! The hours seem to go by so easily without our doing very much. Today, for example, we spent nearly an hour sitting on some steps in central Lausanne, eating lunch and quite contentedly doing nothing very much. This is not something that I am used to. But it did have the unexpected payoff of our still being there to see the incredibly stupid Swiss clock strike the hour – complete with marching armies, dancing couples and a disembodied voice telling the story. Madness!

Two cultural highlights. The first was a medieval carving in the Cathedral showing Christ in heaven crowning Mary after her assumption – apparently the only example of such iconography from the period. Even without the original paint this was impressive. The second was the trendy modern art gallery’s collection of glassware from the 60s – made to designs by Picasso and (in the photo below) by Jean Cocteau.

Late in the day we visited the HQ of the IOC and wandered round the Olympic museum. I thought this was disappointing – though if you want to see a display of actual costumes worn by winning ice skaters, or all the Olympic torches ever used, then this is the place to go (Lillehammer’s is the biggest – if you see what I mean!). The best exhibits were outside and free. Olympic records in various field events marked out in actual size.

This weekend the International beach volleyball competition is in town. Last night we watched France beat Turkey – once Helen had established that it was a men’s match, not a women’s match, and therefore fit to watch. According to Helen, unlike their female counterparts, male beach volleyball players wear enough clothes so that there aren’t any dangly bits showing. If it’s a women’s match tonight there may be pictures on the blog tomorrow…..

Helen’s track of the day: Diane Krall, Departure Bay; though not Vancouver the harbour, vast lake plus mountain scenery in Lausanne has evoked memories of an earlier family holiday in BC.