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Published: September 1st 2010
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So, although I didn't want to start blogging in the middle of my journeys, I figured I would at least start with the most current trip (and maybe backtrack if I have time). Soo starting this blog's first "real" entry in Geneva, Switzerland.
After being here for 1.5 weeks- one word really comes to mind if I have to describe this country- "Utopia". Per the Freedictionary.com -
Utopia- An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects. I mean if these pictures dont look like an ideally perfect place tell me what does?
When I think of ideally perfect I think a few things-
1. Wonderful food- Switzerland has the best chocolate in the world. And I am not a sweets person (sarah/lon/kel i know you recall i used to call myself "pepper-salty" as in I have dark hair but i like salty food way better then sweet) but with the chocolate here I find myself having chocolate cravings every day. (thinking abt heading to my minibar to get the toblerone out as I type...) and the CHEESE. Last weekend I had fondue three meals in a row. I know- it sounds
gross but would you be able to resist cheese straight from cows that graze right by you that's melted and bubbling right in front of you? I dont know about you, but I couldnt. (I mean I am essentially feeling like one of the cows in the attached photos just from the amount of cheese im eating.. "you are what you eat".. is that where that comes from??)
2. Beautifullll scenery. Please see attached photos. Minutes upon arriving in Geneva I just fell in love. The lake here is beautifulll, huge and the water is so cleannn (cause who would litter in an ideally perfect place??) All around are healthy people outside enjoying themselves.. running, biking (aka working off the chocolate and fondue) sitting at dockside bars drinking mojitos (for $15 usd a drink- no kidding- cause theyre rich here, please see point 3). A two hour train ride and you are in the swiss alps where you can ski, hike, take trolley cars up and down the mountains (if your not as adventurous aka me) and take in the fresh air. Everywhere you look there is another mountain, lake or park.
3. Money- EVERYONE here has money.
Swiss Cows
What can happen after too much cheese fondue.. Geneva is a city of expats, expats that get paid well to work here. Geneva is in the center of Europe so everything comes through here. Luckily, I am here on work so I can expense everything (stina I know you love that)- because if not I would have to shorten my trip. Starbucks for four every morning is $50- and that only includes 3 coffees- the rest just water. NYC looks cheap to me now! Thai dinner the other nite- tom yum soup was $23- a cup not a bowl. But people here dont care. They have the money, so why not spend it?? Life is good.
4. Wine- Swiss wine I have found, is some of the best in the world and I have never had it before! Why? Because its so good they decide to leave it here for the locals and very rarely export it, so the people here can enjoy it themselves. I know my dad loves wine, and so I am sure he has had some of the best Swiss wines, but I am planning on bringing home some bottles for him because from what I hear- the amount they export is so
little its the one and only thing in switzerland thats cheaper to buy here then elsewhere!
5. The people- Men and Women alike here are both extremely good looking and so fashionable. There are people from all over the world. They speak all different languages- and almosttt everyone speaks english!! (a hard find!) And they're so nice!! I mean tonite at dinner we were being typical demanding americans ("can i get extra sauce?" "um my order is wrong?" "excuse me why did there food come and not mine??") and the waiter felt really bad. When he gave us the check, i read the euro line that was 278 euros instead of the CHF line which was 328 so i gave him 300 CHF (thinking i gave a good tip cause you dont tip here) and he just looked kinda sad and walked away. When i looked at the receipt i realized my mistake and ran after him, and i said "omg why didnt you correct me?!" he told me he thought he did such a bad job he deserved to be paid less! I quicklyy said ohhh noooo!! and paid him 350 chf euros instead, giving him a tip
Dockside Bar
My team and I enjoying mojitos at sunset on the lake once again. But can you imagine this scene anywhere in the US??? I cant- but in Utopia, the people are too nice too fight!
6. Whichhh leads me to my last point- Switzerland is neutral and hasnt been to war in 500 years and I COMPLETELY understand why. It completely defines the word Utopia- " An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects." Of courseee they don't ever want to go to war that would totally not be politically perfect. I mean why go to war when you have cheese, chocolate, wine, money, beautiful friendly people, central location, lakes, mountains, and parks? Sounds pretty perfect to me!!!
one more little bone I have to pick though... I found out the other day that all men in switzerland between 18-34 need to enlist in the army- why bother training an army if your so neutral? My first thought on this was to have a discussion with the swiss government on this strict regulation (I am sureee they would listen to me!) but then I realized... maybe some things are too good to be true???? Maybe the world needs to know that we dont mess with
Switzerland for a reason....
Anyways, it's Barcelona this weekend, but hopefully I will be able to backtrack in time at some point and fill you in on more Swisstopia with my trip to the Swiss Alps last weekend!
(Also- thanks lonster for being my muse on this! hahaha)
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Ray Archacki
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Swiss Wine?
I have never had Swiss wine and am glad to hear my lovely daughter is bringing home some for me. We had a Cabernet she lugged home from Morocco the other night and it was not too bad, even if Morocco is not known for its wines.