Dodge Durango Forum II Archive

Big Al - 98 IB 4x4 5.2L w 3.55 [NC]
al-east@earthlink.net

In February 95, totally by accident, I got to stay in THE Grand Hotel referred to in that song during a President's Day weekend ski club trip to Portes du Soleil (our original hotel was over booked and some of us had to stay in the Grand Hotel instead.)  It's localed in Montreux right on Lake Geneva and my 3rd floor room, with a balcony naturally, faced out onto a beautify view of the lake with the snow-covered Alps "looming" above it in the background.

Of course, being a fan of Deep Purple, I just had to ask about the reference in the song and found out Deep Purple actually wrote it while staying in the hotel in December 71.  They were originally in a different hotel but, as the song says, "some stupid with a flare gun, burn the place to the ground" and they ended up in the Grand Hotel because everything else was full (same as me and my ski pals!)

Anyway, the next morning when I got up I was greeted with one of the most gorgeous sights I've ever seen!  Looking out the window the lake was hidden under a thick layer of fog but the snow-covered mountains behind it were lit up a bright fiery red from the rising sun.  WOW -- there actually was smoke on the water and fire in the sky!!!!  And here all those years I'd always thought that referred to the blaze started by the flare gun.  How wrong I was.

Now whenever I hear Smoke on the Water, it immediately brings to mind a picture of what I saw out the window that cold winter day in Switzerland!  My only regret is the pictures I took off the balcony that morning didn't come out when I had the film developed! :^{