Geneva, Switzerland

Watching the Tour de France in person has been on my bucket list for quite some time.  I tried to figure out a way for the whole family to go, with the idea of renting a house someplace near the course route, but I just couldn't make it work.  So instead, my dad and I signed up for a trip through a tour company that would bring us to the top of Alp D'Huez to watch the race (more on that later!).  The tour group was meeting in Geneva so my dad and I arrived a day early to explore a bit.  

Geneva is a beautiful city set on Lake Geneva and surrounded by the Alps and Jura mountain ranges.  It's a glacial lake so the water is super blue and clear.  Generally, the feeling is very mediterranean which I wasn't really expecting.  There were hundreds of sailboats on the water and ferries that shuttled people across the lake.  There are also some makeshift beaches and swimming areas, although it was a bit odd seeing people sunbathing on cement blocks.

We had the afternoon to explore so we started with a ferry ride and then took a nice walk around the lake.  

We stopped at the Flower Clock in the Jardin Anglais, famous for having the longest second hand in the world. And of course, keeping time with Swiss precision!

Geneva is a very beautiful city, with the more 'modern' part near the water and the older part perched on a hill above.  We made our way up through the cobblestone streets to the Cathedral Saint-Pierre and then walked around the 'old town'.

Loved the sundial on St. Germain church in old town.  It tells you exactly when you should not be out in the sun depicted by the skeleton on the donkey.

Famously long bench.

We ate dinner at the hotel restaurant, but this was no ordinary hotel restaurant.  It was full on swiss kitsch; a mini hofbrau house experience with traditional music and instruments (including the Alphorn!) being played.  Plus the diners were all very engaged and lively.  Every once in a while you'd hear "Cuckoo cuckoo" from the audience.  I think it was a nod of praise to the musicians...either that or the equivalent of fork clinking at a wedding where everyone was meant to drink.  At one point, anyone who wanted to was invited to go up and try the Alphorn.  Definitely a hoot watching the japanese tourists have a go.  

We drank beer and feasted on cured meat and bread dipped in a cheese fondue.  A fun and delicious meal where you're tempted to roll yourself out rather than walk.  Luckily we didn't have far to go.

Before meeting the tour group the next day, we walked around a bit more to shop for some souveniers and get some swiss francs.  It was sort of ironic that we were in Switzerland and couldn't find any ATMs.  I even walked into an HSBC with no luck.  After waiting in line at western union, we were finally directed to an ATM at the train station.

One plus for all the extra walking is that we saw the Jet d'Eau, on of the largest fountains in the world and a Geneva landmark, on full display (not sure why, but it wasn't on the day before).
I also picked up a really cool swiss army knife for J.