Geneva

 Way behind in blogging the first reason is in Switzerland we have no wifi on the train.  To access the network they send you a code by text but the system is not sophisticated enough to do an international call so no way to verify the number. Alas that means either early morning blogs or before happy hour because no way I can drink and type

So we arrive in Geneva and ask for a cab the hotel looks about 1/2 mile away but we have no idea of the streets and the directions I can always use Google maps but we manage to turn the wrong way anyway and walk miles out of our way. This is always more fun with two 50 # suitcases and heavy clouds threatening rain. We are the light travelers.  So get to the hotel and in the French fashion the cab driver ups the gate by 5 francs. Dan basically didn’t tip him which he would have. Oh well the joy of travel.

The hotel seems to be on the French model no closet or suitcase rack and tiny. If in the bathroom no one else can enter there is not enough room.  The hotel elevator only fit one of us and our bag. Compared to the upscale hotels we have been staying in Dan and I are a little frustrated not to mention I had to ask housekeeping for sheets to cover the chair in the room.  The wool chair that Dan would turn red if he sat in it. 

Off to get some dinner and there is a “Corner Pub” it is great. It is Thursday so not too busy and the waitress is friendly. As a bonus I can get a good sized pour of wine for $7. There is a $5 cab but the waiter said you don’t want that because something happened with the last shipment so who knows if he was really being helpful or the restaurant needed the 2 extra francs.  We chose to believe the helpful line. 

Back to travel since the weather has turned warm we (Dan) really uses the air conditioning which for the most part is non existent  especially in our current hotel  the fan is on high and temperature at 67 and we are suffocating  In Rothenburg several nights ago we tried to turn on the AC and had to go to the desk and were charged $5 euros but it was a working air conditioner   Not sure what the problem with our current room is but we even opened the windows one night unfortunately it was Saturday so a lot of street noise but by morning the room was cool    Day one is always a learn the city   So we head off to the botanical garden it is humid and while in the gated had quite a bit of rain and wind which is when my umbrella broke for good by turning inside out

We also went to see the head quarters of the global Red Cross  this turned out to be quite educational as we had no idea of everything they did.  They have data bases on WWI service people or civilians that were reported missing and have documents to give to families   This was a service we had no idea that they provided.  Next we decided to take the ferry across Lake Geneva to explore the Old Town area and get at closer look at the city landmark the Eau de Jet fountain in the middle of the lake.

Get to the boat dock and the fountain stops   Seems it is too windy   Oh well I am sure in the next few days we will be able to see it.   In the hotel we were given a map and advised old town is just on the other side of the lake  Looks good on the map  of course we head out what seems the right way.  We walked for about an hour the whole time thinking “it’s just on the other side of the lake”

Success at last  it only took a paper map, Google phone directions and a person stopping to give advice because we were obviously lost   The up side it only was a 20 minute walk back to our hotel when we went the correct way  All in all a full day, the weather was terrific after the rain and clouds cleared  I will post some photos.