One of my favorite memories of my trip to Europe ten years ago was the day I spent going
solo in Lausanne, Switzerland. I was about 3 1/2 weeks into a five week backpacking trip with two friends, and we
decided to split up for the day. They headed to the
Olympic
Museum and I made a visit to the Collection de l’Art Brut, a wonderfully
eclectic museum where most of the pieces on display are made by artists who are mentally ill, physically abused,
prisioners or runaways. Rick Steves just mentioned it in his
Off-Beat Guide to Switzerland. I remember
spectacular pieces constructed from anything and everything — stones, cork, gum and even eggshells. It is a unique
collection in a quaint town along the lakefront that was recently
profiled in The Prague Tribune. Besides the two
museums I’ve mentioned, there are twenty others in this university city of 125,000 people. It is a beautiful spot along
Lake Geneva with plenty of nightlife, sports and cultural activities. I only spent an afternoon there, but would love
to go back for a longer visit someday.