Just came into a lovely warm house and was happy to flee the
coldness from outside. Back home in the UK. It is sometimes nice to come back
to a base where you are familiar with everything. But that’s a different story,
let me tell you something about Geneva, a place I spend the last two days.
I initially booked the flight to Switzerland, Geneva on a
wimp because it was pretty cheap with £80 and since I had never been in that
region before I looked forward to another weekend away.
As always I headed straight from work to the Airport, all
now very much a routine. As most of you will know by now Gatwick Airport is personal favorite
simply because it is the most easiest to reach from home as well as work, a very
short commute.
The planning was done as well very quickly via websites online,
I had a small map and approximate ideas of what options I have locally. Originally I had planned not to use couchsurfing for
activities this time, rather just explore the city on my own pace. But read for
yourself.
I arrived at the Geneva Airport, picked up a free bus ticket from a Vending machine just by exit of the arrival halls, which brought me for free a train (train station is directly located under the airport) to the City Centre of
Geneva. From there I followed the instructions to my hostel and get rid of my
backpack. I got a tiny bit lost since the Trainstation got an overhaul and the
main exit was not so easy to find.
I found my way and checked into (in my opinion) a rather
expensive hostel. When I originally checked for room prices before I booked the
flight, it would have been around £22 per night, however when I actually wanted
to book a room, there were no longer dormitories available. This meant that I
had to book a single room. In comparison to actual Hotels still the cheaper
option. I stayed at the Geneva Youth Hostel for two nights and it offers what a
hostel offers, simple basics.
For the evening I walked around the Moynier Park. I also was in the search of an affordable food
place, certainly the Perle-du-Lac located right at the Lake Geneva was out
of my Budget. Overall this place blew a bit of a hole in my pockets since the
prices are ridiculous.
A DJ putting on some records and the crowds enjoying, drinks, food and laughter
Jet d'Eau, the Rade (visible from most of the Lac Léman waterfront).
Monument Brunswick
I ended up not having anything to eat since most places were
just not for single travellers and I didn’t feel like a sandwich from the super
market. So a few hours later I returned for my first night of a good sleep in a
comfortable bed. Before I drifted into a dream filled sleep I ended up posting
a message on CS asking if members wanted to join to explore the city and surroundings on Saturday.
Verun therefore joined me in the morning the next day to
start a day full of walking. After a quick breakfast I went to the main train
station to meet him. He had to move hostels that day so we started first to go to
his hostel next to the Saint Pierre Cathedral. From there we moved around the
city by instincts, had a couple of coffees and snacks along the way and finally ended the
day with a light diner. One of his roommates joined us a bit later for a quick
walk around. He was from Canada so we all three talked about travels and
exchanged knowledge about countries and experience.
A bird trying to eat my breakfast
On the yellow TPG boat that brings you across the river on your travel pass
Cathédrale St-Pierre
Opera
University of Geneva
Russian Church of Geneva
Floral Clock
On the way to Carouge
In front of the Palais des Nations
Palais des Nations
Relaxing front of the Lake and enjoying the last bits of sunshine for the day
Plaine de Plainpalais
For the next day we had decided earlier in the evening to
stop by Lausanne and Montreux. On my way back to the hostel I stopped at the
station and checked for prices, with CHF58 it was a bit over what I would have
been willing to spend so instead I decided I would do the Telepherique due
Saleve, just beyond the French Border (yay let’s quickly say Bonjour to
France).
The next morning we met at the Main train station to
catch the Bus Number 8. In the wiki travel all stations are described in detail
for this attraction. The only comment I would make on here is that if you do
stay in a hostel, you will get a free travel pass for the use of the public transport;
this does include the Number 8 until the end stop, the one just before the
boarder to France. From there you simple walk to the Cable Cars and if unlucky
need to show your passport. I didn’t get checked so can’t say much if they do
stand there.
Restaurant at the Cable Car station, booking is recommended
We had a nice walk around the area and I wished I had my
hiking shoes with me; my boots didn’t do this forest justice. After a few hours
I returned to the city and stopped by a few places that I missed the previous
day. Then I went for late lunch and headed back the Airport.
At the border back to Switzerland from France
A streak of blue sky
A really nice and relaxing trip with a lot of room for
thoughts, which made this weekend even a better one. I returned back to London
and look now forward to my next holidays, traveling for 2 weeks and getting a proper break.
Read you soon again and Happy Travels :)
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