pbnj

2009

Our first day of 2009 was spent in transit back to the US. Due to delays it was a very long first day. Polly and Jena playing cards at the Zurich airport.

New Year's Eve

Our last full day in Geneva (short visit) was quiet, as Ben is not well and Polly and Jena are feeling the edge of it too. Cynthia and I went for a run out to the border of France then I stayed with Ben while everyone else went to the Turkish baths. Geneva had a New Year's party planned in Old Town, but the snow had turned to slush, and rain dampened the festivities.

Another rooftop view from the apartment.

Various squares around Old Town featured DJ's, concession stands, and some live music. They had 40,000 people on the streets last year, but the weather made this year's turn out pretty small. Below are various shots of Old Town, as well as Lincoln and Jena buying a waffle.

 

We toasted the New Year with pumpkin pie in L&C's apartment. It has been a fantastic visit.

Jura Mountains

Lincoln and Cynthia rented a car for a trip into the Jura Mountains. We drove up in the evening of the 29th and stayed in the village of Baulmes at the base of the mountains. After we dropped our bags off at our bed and breakfast, we went to the thermal baths at Yverdon-les-Bains - no pictures, but it was very nice.

Getting ready to leave Baulmes; above the clouds on our way up the Jura - the Swiss Alps faintly visible in the distance.

 

We found a small ski area where we could rent sleds near the town of Morteau in France.

Lincoln and I racing; Polly and Lincoln racing with Ben and Cynthia behind; Cynthia and PBNJ; C&L; the town of Morteau.

   
 

At the end of the day we visited the town of La Chaux-de-Fonds, birthplace of the architect Le Corbusier. He did practice architecture while he was here, but didn't define his style or demonstrate his genius until later. The most interesting part of it for me was seeing how industrial the town is/was. It was a little difficult in this beautiful setting to imagine how he gravitated towards industrial forms when the natural beauty around him was so striking.

Lincoln and I in front of Corbusier's Maison Blanche; La Villa Turque.

 

Nyon

Polly stayed in while Lincoln, Cynthia, Jena, Ben and I took the train around Lake Geneva to the town of Nyon. We mostly just walked around and sampled some baked goods and espresso.

Jena barreling out the door of L&C's apartment building; Ben has taken a liking to photography - I don't generally credit who the photographer is when I post something - its usually me, but sometimes Polly, Ben, Jena or someone else. Ben took this photo of Lake Geneva with Nyon rooftops in the foreground, which I think is particularly nice.

 

Jena jumping off something in Nyon (I took this one).

 

Mont Saléve

The Canton of Geneva borders France to the south, west and north. We took a bus ride out to the Saléve, which is a mountain bordering Geneva in France. Given the late hour (we are still adjusting to the time difference), we took the telepherique (cable car) to the top instead of hiking. The top was a storybook winter scene, with everything encased in ice and frost.

Polly and Ben walking through Veyrier with the Saléve behind, France; a parasailer at the top.

   
Ben, Lincoln and Jena; us.
 

The Red Cross Museum

Geneva is home to the International Red Cross, along with the UN, and many other non-governmental and relief organizations. The Red Cross Museum is somber, as one would expect, but has a number of exhibits that convey the positive impact people can have. The chair sculpture below is in front of the UN complex and down the street from the museum, and signifies the horror of land mines left behind.

After the Red Cross Museum and some other sites, we finished the evening at a restaurant on Lake Geneva where we met some friends of L&C's. The restaurant was nothing fancy - just picnic tables in a tent, but the fondue was fantastic. If I look a little crazed in the photo, it's because the picture taking is forcing me to pause between bites.

Geneva

We flew on Christmas day to Geneva to visit our friends Lincoln and Cynthia who moved here from London a few months ago. We had a stopover in Frankfurt, where we had cappuccinos at a McCafe. Polly was horrified to learn after that this was a McDonalds variant, but honestly they didn't suck.

It was the end of a beautiful day when we arrived. L&C's apartment is in Old Town Geneva, the oldest part of the city, and has the best view and location of any apartment I've seen.

Jena resting while Ben and Cynthia play Stratego; a view out the window of the apartment.

 

Bear Peak, Very Early

Polly and I got up at 4:30 this morning to hike Bear Peak in the dark. It was snowing on our way up - we were hoping to see the sunrise at the top, but no joy. I run this route almost once a week, and still Polly beat me to the top. Some things never change.

Polly on the way up; us at the top - don't be fooled by my bare hand - it was about 0 degrees Fahrenheit. My hand was numb by the time I got it back in my glove.