Having thoroughly explored CERN and the LHC, it was finally time to see the rest of the city. Geneva is a fabulously wealthy city in a gorgeous lakeside setting. Visitors to the city get to ride the transit system for free, so I was able to zip all over the place without really having to worry about anything other than which streetcar to get onto.
I headed over to the northeast part of town, where the United Nations campus was. Aside from the UN buildings themselves, there are a number of old mansions scattered around that have been repurposed as museums of one sort or another. First stop was the Musee Ariana, a serene 1880s structure that actually wasn’t built as a residence, rather was designed to house artwork from the beginning.
Inside is the Swiss Museum of Ceramics and Glass, but I really just went inside to be amazed by the decor. Other than the polite and welcoming staff, I think I was the only person in the building.
On the grounds a short stroll away was the Shinagawa Bell. The original bell had disappeared from the Tokyo temple in the nineteenth century, reappeared in Switzerland in 1873 and was installed in this park. The city of Geneva returned it to Japan in 1930. Sixty years later, in gratitude, the temple offered Geneva this replica of the bell.
Arriving at the United Nations proper, I found that I would not have time to properly tour the complex. A few snapshots would have to do.
Across the street from the UN entrance, the monumental Broken Chair sculpture stands as a reminder to the politicians of the scourge or land mines and the horrors and lasting scars of war in general.
Onwards, through the adjacent Botanical Gardens, which were truly great and resulted in lots of photos to show Sharon later. One memorable part was the educational but somewhat kooky display they had showing the various materials and substances that derive from the plant world — fibers, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals. Hey, alliteration!
Finally, Lake Geneva itself!
Lake Geneva is about 35 miles long, and maybe 10 miles wide at its widest; near Geneva, the western end, it’s maybe a mile or two wide. I strolled along the lakes edge, watching people (and occasionally their dogs) enjoying the beautiful weather.
The Geneva transit system (free to tourists as I’ve mentioned) includes little ferry boats across the lake called “mouettes“, French for “gulls”. They’re not on a set schedule, rather just go back and forth all day, so you won’t wait more than 15 minutes or so for one. I boarded the next one and within 5-10 minutes was across the lake.
… After getting a good look at the Jet d’Eau (“water jet”, duh). This water feature is out at the end of a jetty poking into the middle of the lake, and it’s huge. HUGE. Pumps at the base shoot the water 500 feet into the air, and depending on which way the wind is blowing, the water’s going to rain down on you. I decided the boat ride was close enough.
Making my way through the old city center, I toured the Saint Pierre Cathedral, a 12th century colossus with a steeple that you can climb up to and get a view of the city from. Actually, it’s not the steeple proper, rather one of the two adjacent towers. While I was snapping the pictures to make this panorama, the clock happened to strike 5pm and I was treated to the hourly (daily?) ringing of the chimes. Loud!
I spent quite a while up there, actually, taking pictures, visually wandering the city, and snapping a few photos of myself as proof of my existence in all this.
On my way out, I stopped to enjoy a trio of musicians busking in the square in front of the cathedral. Were they busking? Maybe just practicing.
Headed back to the hotel to relax a little while, then went off in hunt of a laundromat. I didn’t pack enough clothes to go the whole 16-17 days, and was couting on taking care of some laundry at this point in Geneva, before heading to Marseilles and the sailing trip. I honestly did not know if we’d be at port during the sailing trip, what the laundry situation would be, so wanted to be prepared. So, in the Geneva laundromat, it took me a while but I eventually figured out how to translate the signs (all in French) and operate the machines. Found an Asian restaurant down the street, replenished myself, and finished up a long day.