After being stranded in the Alps till around 17:00, we arrived in Geneva, Switzerland, after 23:00 (our train car only contained us in 1st class and a nun in 2nd class). Due to the late hour, we ended up taking a taxi to our campsite(!) Thank goodness David speaks French fluently; he was able to communicate to the clubber cabbie exactly where we wanted to go above her loud house music. We had to put up our tent after midnight in complete darkness. David is the expert camper, so it got put up very quickly. All our attempts at quietness in this family campground were foiled when drunk German kids arrived back at their tent (right next to ours!!!)
We spent the next day in Geneva relaxing by the lake, which was much needed therapy after spending time in L'Alpe d'Huez for Le Tour. We were thrilled that the campsite had shower and bathroom facilities, after using a Port-a-potty for 3 days and going several days with no shower! We had breakfast by the lake (cereal bars and soy milk), Sharon went swimming, David watched another Tour stage on TV, and Sharon read some Kate Chopin short stories lakeside. Relaxation was priceless...Our picnic dinner was once again...peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! We have been eating them almost every day of the trip, and David has been carrying around a huge tub of peanut butter! Sharon can't wait to eat real food in Paris-she doesn't know if she can stomach another PB&J sandwich. In the evening we played chess on a huge life size chess board at the campsite.
Our trip has shown us at so many turns that Plan B must be put in effect. It happened the next day, when we were supposed to depart for Paris by train in the early afternoon. We could not get a reservation for the earlier train because it was booked (everyone heading to Paris to see the last day of Le Tour), so we were stuck in Geneva until late afternoon. It was fine with us, though, because we still had Swiss francs to spend and touring to do. Our first stop was McDonalds, and we were THRILLED to find the first McDonalds we went to in Europe that had Veggie Macs!!! It tasted like a curry burger and was delicious! We then walked across the Pont Mont Blanc; saw the Jet d'eau, famous flower clock, and St. Peter's Cathedral. We then took a long walk along the lake to the beautiful Botanical Gardens. Breathtaking, in a word...a great way to spend an afternoon in Geneva! Before departing by train for Paris, we stopped off for some famous Swiss chocolate and a McFlurry for David!
Switzerland delivered the right dose of required relaxation...now, off to Paris, the city we have visited every summer since our honeymoon!
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