Dave's Heidelberg/Switzerland Trip
Page 5
After taking the train back to Montreux to grab my luggage, it was about another our into Geneva and got
in a little after 4pm. I headed out immediately after dropping my stuff to walk around the city before it got
too dark.
Geneva
Cathedrale de St Pierre
Yeah, Puerto Rican pride! Oops, wrong town.
Stayed at the
Noga Hilton Geneve, sucking up 40k points for just the first night. A convenient 10 minute walk from the train staion, which
is only one stop down from the airport. Right on the lake and very nice, but certainly more of a business place
without much character. The bar downstairs only had businessmen.So I really did get slack in Geneva. I was tired enough and it was cold enough that for dinner Sunday night I ate at the hotel restaurant, and Monday night did room service.
Monday the 31st
So how expensive is Switzerland? Well, in the Dell cafeteria in Texas, I can usually get an entree and two sides for about
$6. At the one in Geneva, I got the Swiss version of mac'n'cheese and a banana for roughly $11. So by the Dell cafeteria
currency exchange rate, you would have to about double my salary for me to stay whole. Craziness! Can you imagine visiting
the U.S. on a Swiss salary?
With my new friend Achim
So did I mention it was cold? I actually went over with just a jacket, and at various points
of the trip added gloves, a hat, and a scark to my must have collection. These pictures are a spot
on Lake Geneva that Achim took me to- "make sure you bring your camera"-
that I believe also made international news. The combination of a storm, moisture in the air, and
the temperature created this effect. Actually two cars were parked that were froxen solid as well,
you can see more at
Achim's page.
Managed to catch the last United Nations tour of the day
The International Red Cross Museum
By the time my U.N. tour was done this place was closed, so I didn't get to go in. I would still guess that if you had to choose between the two, by reputation the Red Cross is supposed to be more interesting. Trip Advisor
Virtual Tourist
Frommer's
Geneva Tourism
"A long weekend on Geneva"
Original Planning Page$1 = CHF 1.18, 1 CHF = $.85
Tuesday the 1st
Easy eight hour flight back into the States. I had a seven hour layover in Newark, so I took the
train up into NYC to meet a friend for lunch in the Big Apple.
Vikki and I over a cheeseburger
You may remember her from the Thanksgiving trip to South America.