Neuchatel

As I waited with eager anticipation for the crepes, the waiter put the espresso on the wooden table in front of me. The cafe was quite busy and if it wasn't for the amazing atmosphere inside, I probably would have felt a little bit claustrophobic. It was late morning and the majestic aroma of coffee filled the air as patrons enjoyed their late breakfast or simply needed a caffeine boost.

The waiter was back with a plate of scrumptious crepes, covered in chocolate sauce, powdered sugar and dollops of cream. I did indulge a bit too much and left Cafe Du Cerf after having devoured 3 portions of crepes and a few espressos with them.

Neuchatel is a picturesque town on the Neuchatel Lake, with beautiful old buildings rich in history and heritage. The town is famous for its castle and its incredible history, going back over 1000 years. The impressive castle towers over the town and is presently used by the canton's parliament, the Grand Council. There is however a macabre side to these towers, having historically been used as a dungeon. Hopefully that's not what the Grand Council uses them for nowadays.

I stayed at the Neuchatel City Hotel. The property was good, having a modern and functional feel to it and the view from the room was spectacular. I certainly enjoyed the panoramic view of the town, with the lake beyond the rooftops.

And being Switzerland there was of course a lot of fondue on that trip. I particularly enjoyed it with cauliflower and potatoes. White wine is recommended with fondue, however indulging in a chocolate fondue after a cheese fondue is not advised.

I got there by train, having flown into Geneva International Airport from Gatwick. The train ride was pleasant, and as expected, very punctual. However a note of warning, the Geneva Airport is not really a 24 hour airport and if you plan on getting there late at night or early morning, you might end up sitting alone by yourself in a closed airport. I was lucky to have a companion, another traveler, who was also waiting for his flight. It was an entertaining attempt at communication. He talked to me in French, which I do not speak, and I talked to him in broken Italian.