I know, I know. It's been a while.. Work has been pretty hectic and I've just not had time to finish off a number of posts that I've written 80% of. Somehow they've become an annoying job, so for now I'm moving on to something new.. and pretty old.

So, we've got a Christmas photo competition going on at work and for the 'funny' category I've entered a pic of me impersonating a security guard somewhere on Lake Geneva. Saving any suspense, here's the photo:


This is probably illegal in Switzerland. © Beats! Design (2001)

All I remember (well, until further research helped out) was that the sign was next to a big castle on Lake Geneva, near the town with the Freddie Mercury statue. Well, that town is Montreaux and a small amount of googling got me to the castle as well, Chateau du Chillon:


A stunning shot of Chateau Chillon at sunset. © Creative Commons (2008)
- Photo taken and released by Flickr user 'Pear Biter'

Now that is a pretty amazing photo, and looks for all the world to be an HDR shot, although apparently it isn't. Anyway, I particularly like the fact that I visited this castle but only bothered to take a comedic shot of me and a sign, the castle features no where in my album - ha.

Just for fun (this would also have been another route of castle-based discovery), I maximised the sign to try and get the french and then translate it. The bit I could make out reads, "..saut autorisation expresse de intendant du chateau du chillon la plage sise sur cette..", which comes out as:


I'd love to go to a beach where you need a Superintendent's permission to visit - sadly I didn't have said permission so just ended up disrespected his/her authority instead. For those interested, there's a wee map of the area below, along with a few links - enjoy!




Wikipedia: Chateau du Chillon
Pear Biter's Flickr Photo of Chateau du Chillon
My 'comedic' photo, within my Europe Trip Flickr gallery

PS It's good to be back.