The snow lasted for about half an hour and unfortunately only settled a wee bit. It turned out to be really frosty that night and the snow froze on the ground but only wee individual snowflakes - nothing to look at sorry!
So Geneva...was beautiful. Although wasn't quite as 'heidi' as I was expecting it to be. I went straight into Geneva town to have a look around and down to Lake Geneva where the Rhine River spilled into it. Wow - what a river - huge and powerful. Unfortunately no photos.
It was incredibly cold with a strong wind whipping off the Lake to chill you to the bone...so went into the central city. I must admit, I was surprised how modern the buildings were - of course, I soon realised I was not in the 'old town' so a quick trip across the river and here was the Geneva I was expecting - lovely old buildings. Very French (and most people spoke French). Lonely Planet said most people in Switzerland spoke German so I was all ready to unleash my school boy German on the unsuspecting public (Frau Williams - your work is done! <--- obscure reference to my German teacher at school). Unfortunately they all spoke French in Geneva (France being just a hop, skip and a jump away) so had to unleash the even worse phrase book french on them. Still managed to buy food in a shop without being given a weird look so can't have been too bad.
Anywa, after a wee jaunt around the streets of Geneva I made my way by train to Nyon where the conference was being held. I got a window seat and as we travelled along (about 40 minute trip) I started to see the wee chalets I was expecting to see in Switzerland. So quaint.
In Nyon, I almost jumped in a taxi to go to the hotel but luckily I checked my map as it was about 100 metres away round the corner! I checked in and then was expected downstairs for a meal.
The team trooped down to a small bar which brewed its own beer (but as a creature of habit I stuck to the white wine...how do you say that in French?!! still don't know). The meal was beautiful - Flammenkuche - which closely resembles a very thin, small, oven-fired pizza - covered in exceptionally rich cheese and egg. Very nice - shame the wine was french and so not very nice (NZ Sav rules!).
Must dash will update soon - promise!
Ciao
So Geneva...was beautiful. Although wasn't quite as 'heidi' as I was expecting it to be. I went straight into Geneva town to have a look around and down to Lake Geneva where the Rhine River spilled into it. Wow - what a river - huge and powerful. Unfortunately no photos.
It was incredibly cold with a strong wind whipping off the Lake to chill you to the bone...so went into the central city. I must admit, I was surprised how modern the buildings were - of course, I soon realised I was not in the 'old town' so a quick trip across the river and here was the Geneva I was expecting - lovely old buildings. Very French (and most people spoke French). Lonely Planet said most people in Switzerland spoke German so I was all ready to unleash my school boy German on the unsuspecting public (Frau Williams - your work is done! <--- obscure reference to my German teacher at school). Unfortunately they all spoke French in Geneva (France being just a hop, skip and a jump away) so had to unleash the even worse phrase book french on them. Still managed to buy food in a shop without being given a weird look so can't have been too bad.
Anywa, after a wee jaunt around the streets of Geneva I made my way by train to Nyon where the conference was being held. I got a window seat and as we travelled along (about 40 minute trip) I started to see the wee chalets I was expecting to see in Switzerland. So quaint.
In Nyon, I almost jumped in a taxi to go to the hotel but luckily I checked my map as it was about 100 metres away round the corner! I checked in and then was expected downstairs for a meal.
The team trooped down to a small bar which brewed its own beer (but as a creature of habit I stuck to the white wine...how do you say that in French?!! still don't know). The meal was beautiful - Flammenkuche - which closely resembles a very thin, small, oven-fired pizza - covered in exceptionally rich cheese and egg. Very nice - shame the wine was french and so not very nice (NZ Sav rules!).
Must dash will update soon - promise!
Ciao
posted by GeoffandBridge at
3:55 pm
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