Flying into some glorious sunny weather, was just the start we were looking for, with a couple of days in Geneva in store. Staying at the ambassadors’ residence, a 15th floor penthouse apartment with 360 degree views of Geneva, it was easy to get settled in. An afternoon walk around the city helped to get some bearings before heading back for several beers accompanied by stunning views from the rooftop balcony. After a nice homecooked meal, and a couple of bottles of red wine, we retired once again to the balcony for a glittering view of the city, a balmy breeze and several more bottles of wine.
Waking to another amazingly clear day we drove across the border into France, through countryside littered with an array of green, yellow orange and red trees, and snowcapped peaks rising ominously on either side. Winding our way up mountain roads we arrived in Chamonix as the early mist was clearing and the sun was out in full force. Taking the cable car up to a breath-taking 3842 meters , the biggest lift-served vertical in the world, the weather could not have been better
Stunning views in every direction including that of Mont Blanc, Europe’s tallest mountain, had the camera struggling to keep up. Knowing Desmond the kangaroo would probably enjoy the view and some fresh air I managed in the high altitude to inflate him without too severe a headspin. As always Des was a hit, with a group of Thai tourists posing for photos with him. After taking in our fill of such spectacular surroundings, the ear-popping decent to Chamonix definately didn’t cater for those uneasy with heights.
A brief wander through the charming little ski-town of Chamonix and it was back through the Alps to Annecy, a beautiful french town just south of Geneva. A canal runs through the town past a big open park and into the crystal clear lake, dotted with boats and an impressive mountain backdrop. Markets abounded amongst the narrow alleyways along with a number of cafes, perfect for soaking in some sun, sipping on a hot chocolate and doing a bit of people watching.
Our luck with the weather ended the next day though the rain managed to keep itself scarce enough. Driving up along the lake to Montreux we spent the afternoon wandering through Château de Chillon an old castle rising up from the banks of Lac Leman, with it’s oldest sections dating back a thousand years.
A rainy drive back gave way to a clear evening and another sunny day following. This was spent exploring the Red Cross Museum with it’s current exhibition of Kampuchea and the Khmer Rouge, a walk past the United Nations, and a tram ride up to Carouge.
Our last night in Geneva ended with another stomach bursting meal and several more beers to wash it all down.
Next stop.. Prague.