Chocolate, Geneva, Switzerland

As I have been wanting to make the absolute most of my time here, I try to go somewhere every weekend, so this last weekend, I planned a trip to Geneva, Switzerland. It is very cheap to go by train, and very close (2 hours directly), so it seemed like a great option for a last minute planned trip. It is on the western tip of Switzerland, and is surrounded by France on almost all sides so is very French influenced.

The moment of crossing the border into Switzerland from France was very anticlimactic, but I took a photo all the same as it was the first time I have actually crossed a border and not been in the air at the time. It was very weird to think about actually, especially in terms of customs and passport control (or lack thereof).

We arrived to a lovely sunny day in Geneva, and spent the day wandering around exploring the town.

My favourite part of Geneva was its iconic massive 'jet d'eau' or water jet that is fed by the lake and can be seen from all around the city.

It looked beautiful in the early evening moonlight with the Swiss architecture in the background, it's amazing how such a simple design can turn into a city icon. I think I took far too many pictures of this particular feature though!

I'm not one to take a picture of every little thing I see, but I couldn't help but secretly take a picture of this group of policemen/women as they stood together, I wish I could have seen them in action!!

We stayed in a youth hostel for both of the nights, and although it was quite pricey for a youth hostel (39 Euro for a non-member) we got a lovely room, an all day travel card, and a big continental breakfast each morning, which we took full advantage of! My bed was the top bunk, there were 8 beds in that room.

The one thing that I absolutely wanted to experience when I went to Switzerland was the chocolate, and I was not at all disappointed! There are many many options of chocolate, and believe it or not, all of us went away from Switzerland swearing off chocolate for at least the next few days! The Swiss put a lot of effort into the presentation of everything in their country, including the beautiful chocolates, which were picturesque in every shop.

Another must in Geneva was to see two internationally recognised places- CERN laboratory and the United Nations building. They were both incredibly easy to get to, and CERN was an amazing tourist orientated place that really catered to both the informed and uninformed tourists, in a completely unique way.

It was a very exciting place, even for the non-science initiated like me! And it used both English and French in all of its language which was a great help.

The main machine is 27km in circumference, and spans across both France and Switzerland, moving particles at an incredible speed to induce collisions and find out about what happened during the first few moments after the 'big bang'.

After CERN, we headed to the UN, but it was locked and gated to the general public, I'm sure security is very tight there. It was still a good view from the outside!

As you can see it was a somewhat colder day the second day that we were there, luckily we did all of our exploring the day before!

Switzerland is big on presentation as I have previously mentioned, and I really noticed this when we went out in the evening and many random things such as water features, statues, and plants were all lit up beautifully.

And in the morning, when we went to the market, all of the food was so beautifully presented that I wished I could've bought some to take back to France! The French markets are a bit more thrown together, I feel as though the Swiss take a lot of pride in what they do.

On the Sunday, we decided to go to a tiny Swiss town on the outskirts of Geneva to see some semi-rural Swiss life. The pictures don't do it justice, perhaps because it was still raining, but it was such a sweet little town and I really felt as though I had really experienced an aspect of Swiss life, because in the city it is much like any other city, and also very French!

We stopped at a small cafe for a hot chocolate, and were served hot milk with a small packet of chocolate powder on the side! That was new, but I expect they probably don't have to serve hot chocolates very often, and are more likely to serve the mini espressos you have to be careful that you don't accidentally order when you ask for a 'cafe' (coffee), and not a 'cafe au lait' (milk coffee, or normal coffee in NZ). 

Every region/town/city in Switzerland seems to have their own flag, and this town has incorporated their own flag with the flag of both Geneva and Switzerland for this flag trio decoration. 

I really loved Switzerland, and just how easy it was to get there! I am already planning my next international trip, and I can't wait!

The most cheese I have ever had at one time..

The other day, I decided that as it was someone's birthday, we should all go out and do what has been one of my goals to do while I am here.. Fondue! This cute little restaurant is in a side street, and although it looks tiny it extends quite far back, but it is not spacious inside by any means! It is a Lonely Planet top recommended restaurant, and although it was pricey (20 Euro each!) it didn't disappoint.

 I couldn't believe that an entire meal could be made out of only bread and a massive pot of melted cheese, but I guess that in some places, it can!

The fondue itself is made up of three different cheeses, and a LOT of wine! I don't think that they needed as much wine in it, as it was the main flavour of the dish, but I really enjoyed the experience all the same, there is nothing like this in New Zealand!

And at the end of the meal/cheese feast, we were all given a small shot glass of Chartreuse, a speciality liqueur of the region named after a nearby mountain (or the other way around), which is bright green in colour. It is meant for cleansing the palette after so much cheese, and you sip at it slowly and savour the flavour. Too bad we didn't realise that until afterwards, and all did one big cheers and downed it in one! I'm sure the couples having their romantic dinners beside us would definitely have looked at us sideways for that faux pas!

We all had a great night, and even though it was absolutely pouring with rain outside, the hot cheese inside made the evening just that much better!

First day of (real) classes!

Today I had my first day of classes, walking half an hour in semidarkness in an electric storm to get to my 8am class. Although wet, I got there alright, and after two breaks throughout the day totaling 4.5 hours, I finished my day at 6.15pm.
We decided to try out the student service canteen style meals that go on every lunchtime, and were pleasantly surprised! It was 3euros for a piece of fruit, a dessert or a salad, and a main meal complete with carbohydrate, vegetables and meat. Today was fish and vegetables with mashed potatoes, which was really nice! I may be having a light dinner tonight though... I quite enjoyed the whole experience, right down to putting your empty tray on a conveyer belt at the end which disappears off into a hole in the wall!

France does not seem to have any normal refill in the ENTIRE country though, I have literally looked everywhere, but all that they have is weird square paper. So this is what all my notes are being written on for the rest of the year!

A night at the Bastille and a day at the market!

On Friday evening we took another trip up to the Bastille, once again the view was amazing, and it was very nice to see the city at when the sun is setting, and all the lights are coming on. There are a lot of postcards around with these exact pictures!

You can even see the moon in the sky, and the view was just as impressive in the dark!

We couldn't help but take pictures on the way up, and as you can see by what we're wearing it was a lovely warm night.

We had a great picnic up the very top, I'm amazed how many people we managed to arrange to meet at once! It wasn't so fun going down though, I'm glad that a couple of people brought torches.

Today I went to another market, I really love the markets here they are absolutely picturesque, I take a lot of pictures and the stall owners always think that I am about to buy something, but it is worth it because I love looking at all the delicious market foods!

I already have a fridge full of cheese, but I couldn't resist the delicious looking sundried tomatoes, and I bought a very decent amount for only 1 Euro!

Today I also had the chance to try some of the most delicious grapes I have ever eaten in my life. I bought a bag of Muscat grapes, for only 1.50 Euro per kg, I have been eating them all day! (these are more expensive, I found a much better deal!)

I'm already looking up other markets to go to again, I've found a nearby painting and sculpture market to go to next, so expect some nice photos from that one!

I found a photo of me from a night earlier in the week, we all went around to an apartment of some German friend's and all cooked dinner together, we made home made pasta with two types of sauce! I was helping with the sauce so I didn't have much to do with the pasta, but it was very impressive so I got a photo with it! The Germans said that they do it with their family a lot. Even though it wasn't exactly a typical French experience, I absolutely loved it! It was delicious. As you can see here they used a clotheshorse to dry the pasta, it was very effective.

We returned the favour by making them risotto later on in the week, although it wasn't so impressive looking.. so unfortunately you will not get to see that masterpiece!

Daily life and a museum!

I went to a French restaurant with two friends for lunch, and I decided to share an appetiser of mussels, even though I don't really like them. My mind has been forever changed! (at least for French mussels..) They were only about 2-3cm long, but they were delicious! There were literally hundreds of them, I only had half of the appetiser and was very full! That pot that is in the photo actually is full right to the bottom with them!

I have been doing without luxuries for a while, but my need for green tea became too great so I went out and bought a box.. Forgetting that I shouldve also bought a mug.. But necessity is the mother of invention! (or improvisation..) It was delicious.

We took a trip this week to a place that I have been told about Many times, but unfortunately have never had the pleasure of visiting.. until now! It was amazing, I feel as though New Zealand would benefit greatly from an IKEA. I bought a lovely mirror, and a rubbish bin that will be my washing basket *improvisation*, all for very cheap!

My residence has its own bar, run by the student organisation called Arcur, which we could sign up to for 15Euros to get discounts/free events on many things. Last night was a buffet and music event that was free for members, I quickly managed to get a photo on the stage before the bands started playing!

The main event was an amazing and energetic brass band, I've never seen anything like it! I think that brass instruments are a lot more popular here, I loved it.

It's great to have this here actually, because it's a long walk down (and especially up) from here, so its great to have somewhere to spend time with friends and then walk 50m back home after! Although I did venture into the city last night, and took this photo on my way home. It's the one good thing about living so high up, the view!

Yesterday I decided to give up baguette because I ate far too much of it. Today I went to a bakery and bought a baguette, and a Swedish pain au chocolat! All bakery food is so delicious here, and so cheap, it's no wonder that I'm addicted!

I'm sure people can understand my addiction when I have to walk past places like this every day..

Coming home back up the hill, we decided to go to the museum that is along the side of the hill halfway to the residence. It was really nice, a former monastery, complete with its own chapel and gardens. It's hard to believe that this is free entry, and only a 5min walk from where I live!

It is such a hot sunny day today too, so it was nice to see the gardens in the sunlight.

The chapel was incredible, for even small chapels the Europeans seem to put a huge amount of detail and expense into them!

Next week classes start properly, but I still have a lot of free days, so there will most likely be more updates on what I get up to before long!

A day at the market

I went to a Sunday market, as markets are one of the most amazing things that I love about France! At first I thought that it was just a second hand clothes market, which I wasn't so excited about, but then we got to the food section and it was so picturesque! Nothing like you would find in New Zealand!

You had to pick up a basket and go around collecting what you wanted, much nicer than throwing them all into plastic bags at New World!

There were a lot more than just fruit and vegetables.. Olives in open air bowls..

And a massive collection of cured meats, especially salami. I actually have my own salami, I bought it at a supermarket though but it was a bit weird as it was just in a packet un-refrigerated.. I put it in the fridge when I got home!

Afterwards we went for a lovely drink in the sun, it has been 25+ deg here for the last few days, a nice change from winter in NZ!

The Bastille at the top of a very big hill

Finally I have managed to get my room in a state for people to see it! So here it is, there is also a washbasin and a wardrobe that aren't in the picture. The mini fridge is to the right.

Today we went to the Bastille, the big fortress on the hill above the place where I live. It was used in wars to protect this part of France from other invading countries, with massive stone walls and a complex cave system.

There were photo opportunities all the way up!

The view from the top was amazing, I took so many pictures! It turns out that Grenoble is really quite a big city.

It was a long and tiring walk up, and such a warm day, but the views were definitely worth it, and there was a restaurant and a cafe at the top which provided some much needed refreshment!

I decided to get a waffle with caramel and 'chantilly', because it sounded like an exotic flavour! Turns out that it was just whipped cream.. oh well it was delicious anyway!

The caves were all dug out by soldiers, and were very spacious, I cant imagine how much work that would've taken them!

They also went deep underground, coming out again at the bottom of the fortress. There are lights in them now, but I have no idea how they navigated through them when there was no electricity to run off!

We decided to take the 'bubbles' that I have previously spoken about back down to the bottom of the hill, it was great to be able to see my room from that perspective, and realised that you cant actually see as much as I thought! (I'm not quite sure which ones mine, somewhere on the second floor from the top)

And as I started to walk home back up the hill, we saw some architecture that was typical of France, looking really nice in the dusk sunlight (I may have done a small amount of colour editing!).