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Dwight
Peck's personal Web site
Lake
steamers and other boats on Lake Geneva (lac Léman)
La
Suisse
The
Belle Epoque steamer La Suisse leaving Evian docks,
26 June 2005 -- built in 1910 and, at 78 meters long, nearly the biggest of the
Lake Geneva Belle Epoque fleet. It's 16 meters across at its widest point. 
La
Suisse has got to be
one of the most beautiful ships ever built. It was last renovated in 1971 and
seems to be okay for a while. The
transcendentally beautiful fleet of Lake Geneva "Belle Epoque" steamers
are presently being renovated and fundraising is well under way. They are
| SS
Montreux, built in 1904, 67.8m long, renovated 2001
MS Vevey, built in 1907,
65.5m long, needs complete renovation
MS Italie, built in 1908, 65.5m long,
needs complete renovation
SS La Suisse, built in 1910, 78m long, needs renovation
within 15 years
SS Savoie, built in 1914, 67.8m long, presently being renovated
SS Simplon, built 1915-1920, partly renovated 2005, 78m long, needs renovation
2015
SS Rhône, built 1927, 67.8m long, needs total renovation 2015
Helvétie, built 1926, 78.5m long, out of service since 2002 awaiting renovation |
If
you want to send money, visit the Web site http://www.vapeurs-leman.com/. 
La
Suisse, pulling out of Rolle on the noontime run, August 2006 
La
Suisse, gliding between Rolle shore and the Ile de la Harpe. 
La
Suisse bound for elsewhere, August 2006 
La Suisse may be the loveliest boat ever built. 
La
Suisse, scootching
its formidable momentum in towards the dock at Rolle, 6 August 2007 
La
Suisse picking up the luncheon crowd in Rolle. Talk about pleasant symmetries! 
La
Suisse parading before my lunch bench on the lakeside at Rolle,
6 August 2007, with the Ile de la Harpe behind. Two fabulous jambon/fromage sandwiches
from our favorite patisserie on the Grand Rue, the International Herald Tribune,
and a beautiful steamship passing right in front of us. It's hard to absorb so
much wonderfulness. Note the Amis des Bateaux à Vapeur du Léman
booster-banner (Friends of the Lake Geneva steamships).
La
Suisse heads out for the wider lunchtime world. 
The
ducks are splendidly unperturbed. 
See
you tomorrow, same place, precisely the same time. 
 Feedback
and suggestions are welcome if positive, resented if negative, Dwight Peck at
 .
All rights reserved, all wrongs avenged. Posted 31 October 2007.
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