After driving through Germany, Lichtenstein, Austria, Switzerland and Italy we crossed over the St. Bernard's pass just before nightfall and saw a spectacular view of the Alps, before finding dinner and lodging in the Swiss side of the border.
When we went through Lucerne a week or so before, we got along OK since Marty spoke some German, but now we were in French speaking Switzerland. We discovered at dinner just how much of a challenge that was going to be.
We were headed to Lausaunne to visit Kem & Jeanne, good friends from Chicago who were living over there temporarily. Jeanne gave us their address but cautioned that it was a short street rather out of the way and it was impossible to find without help, she couldn't even offer directions to non French speaking visitors so we were to call when we got into Lausaunne and figure out a strategy from there. Maybe Kem would come and get us.
We had no clue how we were going to connect with them since we didn't speak any French ( I had studied French for six weeks in junior high school, so was the group's "expert") an were looking for any place with some indication that someone might speak English.
I was driving as we came down the mountain into Lausaune. Shortly after we entered the city and traffic got heavier and we came to an intersection with at least six roads coming together. At the far end was a sign that said "Tourista Directione" (or something like that) I was delighted, a "Tourist office" where I could get directions. (It turned out that it really meant that you could turn in all directions at this intersection) I turned left thinking I was following the sign. Everyone was on the lookout for the "Tourist office". Finding none we decided to turn around and retrace our path. I made a quick left but there was nowhere to make a U turn or even pull over and now there was traffic behind me. I took the first left turn I could and pulled off the road to gather my thoughts before turning around.
Looking up at the street sign I was stunned. "Just what was their address" I asked? "20 rue de la Vallonette" was the reply. We compared the street name and sure enough this appeared to be it. I drove up the hill and found #20. As we got out of the car, Jeanne appeared on the second floor balcony with a shocked look on her face and called down "how in the world did you find us?" "Piece of cake" I replied..... It got a hearty laugh.