We Arrive in Geneva

 

I had packed and showered the night before and slept with the phone next to my pillow so I was ready to roll when Elisabeth called at 5:15 AM. I hadn't counted on having to wrestle with the futon...it had been my first night sleeping on it...but I managed to be rolling down the hill a few minutes after 6. Elisabeth was waiting by the fountain.

Our first mini adventure was when we stopped for gas. BB takes gasole/gasoil/diesel. This was the first time I had put gas in the car and I learned why I had a second key. In fact, I hadn't known which side of the car had the gas tank and pulled up with the pump on the driver's side as I would do in the USA in my Fit. BB is definitely not a Honda Fit. Anyway, Elisabeth was sure the hose would reach around the car and it did. Where it didn't reach was deep into the car's gas tank. Diesel fuel was suddenly rushing out of the tank instead of into it! As long as we drizzled the diesel we could fill the car, but it sure took a gentle touch on the hose handle and in France there are no settings on that handle; it has to be held the entire time. Figuring the difference between the dollar and the euro, it would be about $2.00 per liter, not per gallon. BB said she was about half empty and it took 42 euros to fill her up.

On the relatively straight highway I managed to get BB up to 110 km...and then we reached the edge of the Alps. The mountains are steep...not the rounded tops with gentle valleys found in Vermont. The engineers who created this highway built the shortest possible tunnels through the mountains, so the tunnels are not in the valleys near the bases of the mountains. Instead they seem to be halfway up the mountains. Then they built the highway in the air, high above the valleys, connecting tunnel to tunnel. They did add guard rails, but that didn't calm my fear of heights.

 

We reached the airport about 8:30 AM, found Carol and headed for our hostel.

We weren't going to be able to get into our room until 2 PM, but we were able to park the car in the hostel garage. That taken care of, we headed for the waterfront.

The path along the water's edge was lined with huge posters of political cartoons relating to freedom of speech, freedom from police and state brutality, freedom from intolerance, and freedom for women. They were fascinating, beautiful, and apropos to so many countries including ours. The jet d'eau (jet of water) was soaring 140 meters into the sky, a pair of swans were hanging out with their fluffy little signets...cute as can be...and the yellow water taxis were taking people from shore to shore. Farther along I noticed a bridge for pedestrians and bicycles that went under a busy bridge. We were busy soaking in the sights when the rain arrived. We found a restaurant and soon were being served a nice meal as the sun was once more regaining control of the skies.

The hostel gave us a transport card, good for any bus, tram, or water taxi. We quickly discovered that when the bus or tram you wanted stopped in front of you, you just got on through the nearest door and no one ever asked to see the passes. That was super. 

Elisabeth took a train home. Carol and I were once again off to the waterfront where we bought tickets for a boat ride.

We chose to sit outside on the upper deck. The lake touches the shores of 2 countries and has two names.

For the Swiss it is Rade de Geneve, whereas to the French it is Lac Leman. I was surprised to learn that the lake flows into the Rhone River which eventually flows into the Mediterranean. We passed a jut of land with a monument whose significance I missed. On that same strip of land I noticed some brightly decorated trees. We passed the yacht club with its hundreds of sailing masts. While passing along the far shore we were told that Byron stayed at a house midway up the hill while Shelley was living in one that is below and by the shore. I photographed the general area, but I never did figure out which 2 houses were the correct ones.

Back on shore we spotted an interesting monument in a raised park guarded by 2 lions and containing pools of various shapes overseen by griffins. A duck was sleeping along the edge of one pool until a little dog who was chasing a ball ran just a bit too close. The duck decided it was time for a swim.

We walked back toward the hostel and found a relatively inexpensive cafe where we split a carrot salad and pizza. Night was approaching. We called it a day.