Barcelona, Spain

The Barcelona Cathedral

I had been looking forward to my time in Barcelona with Bre since we first booked the trip in February. Barcelona, Spain was all I thought it would be and traveling with Bre made it extra special. Bre and I traveled to this beautiful city filled with amazing historical, architectural, and gastronomical delights and tried to experience as much as we could in our three and a half days in the city. We arrived Monday afternoon and after dropping off our bags in our hotel room, we walked out the door onto La Ramblas. Armed with a map of the area and barely contained excitement we wandered through the winding, narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter filled with shops, restaurants and apartments. The soft browns and warm copper tones of the buildings blended with the muted grays of the cobblestone streets which created a peaceful feeling of home. We walked to the end of a small street but suddenly the beginning of a plaza appeared and we were surrounded by buildings on all sides, one of which was the Barcelona Cathedral. It was stunningly beautiful to emerge from the narrow space of the street to come into this large, open space and stand in front of the church. I took a few minutes and sat inside this cathedral reflecting on the people who worshiped here before me. A sense of awe filled me as I thought of six hundred years of waiting for this cathedral to be finished. 

We wandered through more of the Gothic Quarter and found ourselves at the statue of Columbus pointing out over the Mediterranean Sea. I knew from reading about this statue that we could take the lift up to the top of the tower but when I saw the tower I wasn't sure how that was even possible. The tower was so narrow! We got in the incredibly small elevator along with the lift operator and took it to the top for great views of the La Rambla. 

The Columbus Statue

The tree lined street of La Rambla

We had just enough time for a walk on the pier before sunset. The harbor was filled with sailboats, yachts, and even bigger yachts. The street lights lit our way as we walked back to La Rambla and found a restaurant serving tapas and paella which was both delicious and beautiful. It was only 8 pm so it was a little early for dinner for the people of Barcelona but we were ready to eat. Our table was located on the street and it was a great location for people watching. Our server was wonderful. I was amazed as I listened to him speak 4 different languages- French, Catalan, English and Mandarin- to his multicultural customers. 

The Sagrada  Familia

The next morning we headed to the Sagrada Familia with tickets in hand. I was so excited to be able to see this Basilica designed by Gaudi. I had heard how beautiful it was; never dreaming I would one day see it for myself. It was a rainy day but we were prepared with umbrellas and rain gear. I was unprepared however for the sheer beauty and grandeur of the basilica. As we came up out of the Metro we were greeted by this sight. I was overwhelmed by the architecture of the building and the story it told. We arrived early so as not to miss the appointed time on our tickets and to take a few pictures before we entered.

The construction began in 1882 and is still a work in progress.  As I waited to enter the basilica, I thought about how I too am a work in progress created by a master builder.

Sharing this experience with Bre was incredibly special and memories were created that will last a lifetime.

Entering through the Nativity doors

My eyes were wide as we entered the Basilica. I couldn't believe the intricate details, the stained glass that provided lighting for the interior, the symbolism of the tree-like pillars that supported the many towers of this building, the grandeur of the carving that told the story of Scripture, one side entrance telling of the birth of Jesus, and the adjacent side telling of his death and resurrection. The front entrance of the Basilica is not yet finished as it will have 4 additional towers, more stained glass windows, and a long staircase leading to the door that opens into the church.

Under the Basilica is another chapel area where church services are held. It is also where Gaudi is buried. After an hour or so in the Basilica, we walked to the museum area and saw the models Gaudi had built to show his dream to the people who would build it after he was no longer here. 

The beauty of the stained glass

With the technology available today and the constant construction, the Sagrada Familia is expected to be completed in just 11 more years.

We left to see more of Gaudi's work in the city.
After a delicious lunch of a thin crusted pizza with ham, cheese, basil and apple slices we headed to the Mila Casa. This apartment building was built from 1906-1910. We took a few pictures of the curvy building with the rod iron balconies. Since the rain had slowed we grabbed the Metro and were off to Park Guell. Signs  showed us the way towards the park.

The Warden's House and the view of Barcelona

The journey to the park was filled with steep inclines and thankfully a few well placed escalators that were greatly appreciated. The view from the park overlooked the city. We could see the Sagada Familia, La Rambla and the harbor as we peaked over the fence.

On top of the entrance

The entrance to Park Guell

This park was built by Gaudi and was to be filled with housing for the well to do. Gaudi finished the Warren's house, the welcome center, the entrance, the lower, middle, and upper aquaducts but the park was never used for housing. It has become a beautiful park with many walking trails, fragrant flowering trees, and spectacular views that overlook the entire city. We left the park so glad we had come.

Selfie in the Picasso courtyard

Our next day had the most walking for us yet. We started our day with a walk through a neighborhood built during the 13th century on our way to the Picasso Museum. After a short wait in the ticket line we entered the museum. I was surprised at the size of the exhibit and museum. There were 5 medieval palaces connected to form the museum with over 4000 pieces of his work. Picasso lived in Barcelona as a youth and I was amazed to gaze at his work beginning when he was 8 years old. Each of the buildings was created around a courtyard where we took the opportunity to take a photo or two.

Santa Matia del Mar

I wanted to see the Arc de Triumf which looked to be just a little ways from the Picasso Museum but I learned not everything is as it seems. We walked for quite a bit and found the Santa Maria del Mar. This church is one of the few truly Gothic styled churches. Most medieval churches took a century or more to build which changed the style but this church was built in just 55 years. We sat inside and marveled at the accomplishment.

Arc de Triumf

We continued walking towards the Arc de Triumf, found lunch on the way and continued walking  through streets that did not have a lot of tourists on them. We found the Arc and read about why it was built. I thought about all the Arc de Triumphs in Rome built after the Romans conquered other nations but that was not the reason for the Arc in Barcelona. This Arc de Triumf was built to be the gateway for the World Fair in 1888 and lead to the City Park. The promenade was lined with elaborate lampposts, cobblestone walkways and ended at the city park. We decided to go into the park and I was taken aback by the park fountain.

The park fountain

The fountain was stunning with water spewing dragons at the base of a shallow pond, a two story staircase with statues of King Triton. We walked through the park, around the lake, past government buildings and ended at the zoo. I knew the Mediterranean Sea was just a short distance from where we were; at least it looked that way on the map so we headed towards the water. After a short detour, (read, oops, wrong way), we saw the sailboats and harbor. The beach was so inviting we stopped to watch the surfers and debated about where we would go next. We saw the cable car that went over the harbor to a nearby mountain and jumped on for a great, although slightly scary, ride.

The cable car ride

When we got to the mountain we learned it was where the Summer Olympics were held in 1992. We walked along a pathway, discovered a garden and took the path towards the Olympic venue. We passed the pool where the diving event was held. The garden was beautiful with an overview of the city below. We walked until we knew we had to get back to ride the cable car back to the harbor.

The garden walk

As we returned to the harbor we had another couple of miles to get back to our hotel and I had one more stop before dinner - the Mercat de la boqueria  (Market) off of La Rambla. We got there just before closing, in time for a quick taste of a fruit juice for me and a truffle for Bre. We had walked almost 14 miles but wanted to find a tapa restaurant for dinner. We found just what we wanted in a small pub where we ate upstairs. Our favorite were the calamari tapas.

We were greeted the morning of our last day with gorgeous blue skies and traveled by Metro to the Barceloneta Beach. It was the perfect way to end an amazing trip. We sank our toes into the fine sand surrounded by the clear, aqua, Mediterranean Sea and cloudless, sky. We soaked up the sun's rays, reflected on our favorite sights, and cherished every moment of our time together.

Beach Time!

Cheese and Chocolate

Cheese and chocolate have long been associated with good things in Switzerland. I have discovered so many varieties of cheese and chocolate in the grocery, some familiar and some not. Doug and I have been tasting some of them and they have all been delicious.

I have been intrigued by the shop right next to my apartment. It is a small shop that makes fresh Mozzarella every day. I've watched the 2 metal milk cans of cream arrive in the morning and wondered how they made cheese in this small shop in the middle of the city of Geneva. The milk cans reminded me of the days on my grandma's farm when they milked the cows and transported the milk in cans just like the ones I now saw. I guess the sight of the milk cans made me think of life on the farm but mostly it reminded me of my brother, Josh, who makes cheese everyday in Wisconsin.

The artists at work

I stopped by one afternoon to take a quick picture and was invited to return in the morning to watch them make the cheese. It felt like I was part of the process just by watching it happen. The next morning they poured the cream into a large bowl that was then heated while being constantly stirred. They added some ingredients and later they took out a large piece of what looked like cheese and stretched it. I could tell they were about to make the individual Mozzarella balls that I had seen hanging in the window when they rolled this metal counter top to the middle of the room filled with a basin of steamy water and another one of cold water.

The cheese store

Two employees wearing white aprons, hats and waterproof boots pulled the large piece of cheese into smaller sections, flipped the cheese to catch some air, scooped some soft curds into the middle of the Mozzarella, tied the end with a string and threw it into the cold water. In just minutes the whole process was finished and they began cleaning up the "factory". I felt like I was watching artists as they finished their craft for the morning. It was an amazing thing to watch the process, which to them was just another day at the shop.

Selfie at the airport

Breanna safely arrived on Saturday morning to share her spring break with us. We were so excited to share this experience with her and after a short stop at the house we were off on our first new adventure. 

One of the many chocolatiers at the Chocolate Festival

Doug heard about a chocolate festival happening this weekend so we traveled about 20 minutes to the small town of Versoix, Switzerland to sample chocolate from the top chocolatiers in the region. The booths were set up in the center of town under a large white tent where free chocolate sampling was encouraged. I have to say this was a very tasty way to begin a festival. The displays were beautiful, the chocolate delicious, and the atmosphere delightful.

Celebrating chocolate with Bre

Oh yeah, that's good!

There was a 10 foot tall chocolate bunny staged in the center of the tent helping us celebrate the 11th annual Chocolate Festival. Fountains of rich chocolate were flowing among the intricate displays of chocolate Easter bunnies, chicks, and eggs. We walked out with some truffles and macaroons after trying a bit of everything. My favorite was the chocolate cup filled with chocolate mousse and layered with whipped cream and hot chocolate on top. 

I hope to continue to learn more about the foods of Switzerland, especially the amazing cheese and chocolate.

Lausanne, Switzerland and Annecy, France

On Saturday, we traveled to Lausanne, Switzerland (pronounced loh-ZHAN) which is about an hour north of Geneva. We were armed with a tentative plan, a camera, our GPS, and a printed map just in case we got lost. I was amazed as we left the city and entered the Swiss countryside. I guess the saying is true- "you can take the girl out of the country but you can't take the country out of the girl." I was mesmerized by the topography of the region and the amount of land being farmed even though it had to be terraced because of the steep hills. The tractors were in the fields; the rich soil exposed and ready for the next planting. I thought about how God works up the "soil of my heart" and "plants" His Word in me.

Driving past the vineyards on our way to Lausanne, Switzerland

Lausanne is known for having the largest church in Switzerland, the location of the IOC headquarters and Olympic Museum, and for the beautiful lakefront promenade. This town was literally built on a hill. The steep metro line links the lakefront area with the old town and since I knew the street market was happening we headed to the old town first. Smooth jazz music was being played by college aged artists as we exited the metro station, happy children were laughing and playing on the fountain, busy vendors were lined up with all of their produce, cheeses, meats, and breads. The cobblestone square was alive with activity. We walked around the plaza, grabbed a freshly baked pizza and sat at the fountain to people watch. We saw the spires of the church and headed towards it on covered wooden stairs that wound around buildings and streets. The Cathedral of Lausanne was built as a Catholic church but is now a Evangelical Reform Church. It has an organ with 6,700 pipes where free concerts are held throughout the year. Since the Middle Ages, a watchman has lived in the bell tower and is heard hourly throughout the night beginning at ten, "I am the watchman. It is ten o'clock." 

Lausanne Cahedral

We headed up higher still towards the castle where poor Major Abraham Davel's statue stands. In 1723, he tried to free Lausanne from the German rule but was unfortunately decapitated. It took 75 more years before freedom came to the city but he is still a hero in this town. 

We were trying to follow a self guided walking tour but we totally deviated from that plan (got a little lost), took a bus towards the center of town and found a market where we grabbed a delicious danish and croissant.

We jumped on the Metro and headed down to the lakefront and the Olympic Museum. The Olympic Museum is set in the middle of a giant park along Lake Geneva. Thankfully, the museum signs were written in both French and English so we enjoyed learning about the history of the games, appreciated the Olympic Spirit, and even tried our hand at the skiing/shooting biathlon. Well, really just a game but it was really fun.

After a beautiful walk on the lakefront promenade we headed for home. We had seen an IKEA on our way to Lausanne and were hoping to check it out to pick up a few things for the apartment before returning to Geneva. IKEA turned out to be a lot of fun even without playing the hide and seek games. 

On Sunday, Doug and I headed to Annecy, France; a medieval town filled with canals, bridges, castles and the cleanest, blue lake in all of Switzerland. Our plan for the day was to wander the streets. We entered France and drove about 30 minutes through 2 mountain tunnels to Annecy. We found a parking garage which was an underground 5-story circular structure lined with glass windows which provided natural lighting all the way down. We began wandering the cobblestone streets filled with the most delicious smells of baked bread and crepes, beautiful, vibrant colors of fresh fruits and vegetables, unending amounts of cheese and sausages and all of this among the pastel colors of the 4 story buildings. Doug and I saw a bread and pastry shop with a line of customers and decided to share a pastry. It turned out to be a double glazed donut with nutella in the center. Oh, my, it was delicious! We had also seen a man who was making two different stews and went back to him for lunch. We bought the last of his beef stew and ate it sitting along the canal. 

Our lunch spot on the Thiou canal

We visited the Chateau of Annecy which was the residence for the counts of Geneva in the 13th and 14th centuries. This castle was filled with paintings, sculptures and alpine furniture but it was the architecture that amazed me. The turrets with slits for archers to defend the castle, the huge fireplaces to heat the many rooms, the 4 massive wood burning ovens for cooking, the pillars holding up the floors above, the 13 foot thick walls and the separate rooms with a bench toilet were simply amazing.

The Chateau defense walls

It had been used as a castle for royalty, a medieval prison, a home for over 300 squatters, a military barrick, a place of safety for the residents of the town during WWII and now as a museum. If the walls could talk. . . 

The Palais d' Isle is the oldest building in the town built in the 12th century as the first palace. It later became a prison and continued in that manner until the 1800's. During WWII it was used once again by the Nazis to imprison French resistance fighters until finally it was converted to a museum. We walked into the small cells with iron rings where prisoners were shackled and tortured. At one time it housed over 100 prisoners in the 5 small cells.

One of the cells in the prison

We left and walked in the garden along Lake Annecy surrounded by mountains and this quaint city. I definitely can't wait to come back.

New ways to do things

This week has had a few funny incidents and a few discoveries due to my current lack of ability to understand the French language. Many people here speak multiple languages. I feel I have missed an opportunity by not learning more than English. I am trying to pick up a few more phrases in French. 

Shopping at the grocery store is always an adventure. I have been experimenting with meals I am used to cooking and trying new recipes using the fresh ingredients I find each day. Fruits and vegetables are relatively easy since I can identify most of them. Bread smells delightful and is easy to buy. Meat is a little different but I am good at reading pictures. There is a picture of a pig on the porc, a picture of a chicken on the poulet, and so on. This week the fish looked good. But all the pictures of the fish looked the same. I could guess saumon probably was salmon but I grabbed a piece of white fish that I thought was cod or maybe halibut. It had a picture of a ship on it so I thought it was probably wild caught. As I was checking out I suddenly thought perhaps this isn't cod; what if it is eel or something else? I didn't have service on my phone so I couldn't use my French translation app so I just purchased it and said I'm sure it will be fine. I baked it with lemon and chopped tomato with garlic and melted a piece of Swiss cheese on top. It was delicious. 

I tackled learning how to do laundry this week. Since I am still resting my sprained knee as much as possible I grabbed all the things I needed so I only had to make one trip on the 3 flights of stairs. I walked down the stairs with my laundry basket, detergent, key for the machine, my trash, purse and shopping bags. The washing machines and dryers are much smaller than the ones I have used in the past so I was unsure how many clothes to put in at a time. They all fit so that seemed right. The instructions were written in French, German and Italian; none of which I could read. The laundry supplies in the store are also not familiar to me so I stare at the label, take my best guess and go with it. I figured out how to load the machine with clothes and my "soap" and closed the door of the drum. I chose a cold water wash at 20 degrees C. The meter said it would take 20 minutes so I programed the machine and started it. Later I found the English instructions for the washer which confirmed I had figured it out correctly. 

During the 20 minute wash cycle I took my recyclables to their appropriate neighborhood bins. In Switzerland everything is recycled if at all possible. I had separated all my trash already. All the plastic, glass, and aluminum with labels removed. All cardboard. All items that could be composted in their own green bag. Finally remaining trash in a black bag. It is a great system and so ecological. I love it. I had already discovered where the trash bins and recycling area were located but had not ever found the compost bins. I had learned cardboard pick up is on Mondays. During this walk I saw a green bin on the curb. I looked inside and found bags of composting items. Yay! Composting must be on Wednesdays. I quickly put my items in and hoped I was allowed to use this one. The trash area is about 100 meters from my apartment, the recycling area about 300 meters, and the compost bin about 250 meters. 

My wash was finished by the time I got back. I was a bit troubled though as I realized I have just washed my clothes with fabric softener. They sure smell nice and are very soft. The dryer is even more confusing to me than the washer because there are lots of options and I can't read any of them. I just loaded the dryer pressed some buttons, and knew I had at least 80 minutes before the machine would stop. I left thinking "I hope they dry and don't shrink." Next up - shopping for dinner and hopefully detergent. Success on the detergent. It is the one that has the different wash temperatures listed on it with a picture of a washing machine. When I returned from shopping I had an 11 minute wait for my clothes and I snuck in a little sudoku time. When I removed the clothes from the dryer they were mostly dry but not warm. Hum, probably need to explore that a bit more next time. I have a drying rack in my apartment to take care of the rest of the drying so no problem. 

I used my rest time this week to learn a bit more French. I have added some greetings, foods, colors, and numbers to my very limited repertoire but already it has helped me. I recognized a few more words at the grocery like white wine vinegar and red pepper flakes and am beginning to hear the numbers as the clerk tells me how much I owe.

I have added a language translation app to my iPad which has already proved most helpful in reading directions on packages and hopefully dryer directions next week. I continually am thankful for this opportunity and treasure every discovery and learning in my new culture. 

Skiing in the Alps

Doug and I had the unbelievable opportunity to go skiing in the Alps on the Portes du Soleil, one of the largest ski areas in the world. I couldn't believe it. Really, me, skiing in the Alps! Friends of ours were going skiing for the weekend and we had been invited to join them. I was feeling a bit worried about my ability or shall I say lack of ability but I definitely didn't want to pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity. The words "be strong and courageous" kept coming to my mind as I thought about this new adventure. I have been thinking a lot about what bravery means since my arrival in Geneva and believe bravery has nothing to do with how one feels but everything to do with how one chooses to respond. 

On Saturday Doug and I began the one hour drive to our friend's chalet. We brought my new best friend "Gen", our GPS loaded with European maps, and hoped she could get us to our destination. We wound through the streets of Geneva, passed the Swiss/French border, and entered the French countryside. The gentle sloping green fields gave way to tightly curving roads hugging the tree lined hills. The small, charming towns scattered throughout the drive seemed to beckon me towards the snow covered mountains in the distance. I couldn't take my eyes off the scenery as I wanted to see everything at once. 

Saturday evening we joined our friends at their chalet near Morzine, France and had a chance to get caught up on each other's lives. We had met them over 11 years ago at Vineyard Cincinnati where we served together on the Exploring the RoadMap team and the Shareholder team. They shared many helpful hints and tips to help us adjust to living in Geneva. We learned about the culture and customs of Switzerland, more places to visit, church, where to buy cheddar cheese, how to buy daily parking permits, speed limits and tolls, insurance policies and more.

I was so scared thinking of skiing in the Alps I could barely sleep. The biggest place I had previously skied was Snowshoe Mountain in West Virginia where the 800 foot vertical drop used 7 chair lifts. I was going to a place with over 400 miles of runs, 200 ski lifts, 8000 foot summits, and oh my it's really big!

 (Evening in the chalet)

The morning greeted us with absolutely perfect weather. Blue skies, 44 degrees, no wind and beautiful sunshine. The mix of emotions once again flooded over me in a rush. Excited, apprehensive, wanting not to embarrass myself, appreciative, undeniably blessed. Marty and Irene graciously encouraged me and helped us get our lift tickets and rental skis. Riding the gondola up to our first blue run gave me a glimpse of the mountain. For as far as I could see there were areas to ski all connected by long runs and a scattering of gondolas and chair lifts. We put our skis on and we were off. About half way down I felt my left knee pull and give out. I fell and was not able to turn using that leg for the rest of the way without falling. I was so bummed. I made it down slowly and was benched for the day. I enjoyed the rest of the day reclining at the outside restaurant, sitting in the sun watching some amazing skiers, and later riding the gondola to the top to take photos. Thankfully Doug had some amazing runs during the day. 

We followed "Gen" directions back to Geneva talking about the unbelievable wonder of the whole experience. 

Settling in

Our first week has been filled with new discoveries and the excitement of settling in to a new culture.

I walk with Doug to work on Monday which is about a 30 minute walk from our apartment. Since I have a transportation pass for the week I jump on a tram for my return trip home. I know I need to transfer once to a different line but am not sure what that looks like or where that new tram stops. Since I am not too familiar with my neighborhood and less familiar with the language, I know this might be a problem but I am up for the challenge. When I reach a stop near the apartment I get off and start walking. Thankfully after about 10 minutes I figure out where the apartment is and learn a bit about the neighborhood in the process. I find 2 grocery stores nearby and begin by walking through them observing how things are done. The grocery stores are much larger than I thought they would be, located under ground, and have beautiful produce and amazing breads. Finally I decide I have to start somewhere so I pick up a shopping basket and buy items for dinner and breakfast tomorrow. Fresh homemade basil and ricotta tortellini, pasta sauce, Swiss cheese, salad fixings, cereal and milk and a few other finds complete my order. I know I have enough Francs with me and can see the numbers for my total so all is well. I thought I watched what people had done but I missed one step in the produce department. My clerk sees my confusion and then tells me in English (for which I am thanking God) nothing is weighed. "Oh," I tell her in an apologetic voice, "today is my first day." She works out the details and I am overcome with her great kindness and God's provision. When my phone rings I realize my luggage has arrived. The agent only speaks French and I don't yet but we communicate well enough for my "valise" to arrive at my apartment. I am so excited with all of these little accomplishments that seem so very big to me today. I am tired as my body has not yet adjusted to the 6 hour time change but feeling very excited.

The tram and the street in front of my apartment-

My grocery store- 

Doug and I have our biometrics appointment at the cantonal de la Population with the bureau of immigration on Tuesday. It is where we fill out the required paperwork, pay our fees, get fingerprinted, and Doug receives a work permit after everything is checked. It is a bit confusing to us but everyone is very helpful. 

The rest of the week has many more little accomplishments like finding a photo booth to get identification photos, traveling to the TPG (transportation office) to get an identification card, purchasing a monthly transportation pass, discovering shopping in Bel Aire (well, window shopping), learning how to cook in Celsius and Switzerland's recycling process, sightseeing at Parc des Bastions to see the Reformation wall with statues of Jean Calvin and others, playing giant checkers at night and walking along the shoreline of Lake Geneva as the moon rises over the water holding Doug's hand. We are honored and thankful to have this opportunity to discover life in another country.

This weekend's plans are to drive to France to go skiing at Les Gets. Be strong and courageous keeps coming to my mind today as I think about the slopes that will be bigger than anything I have ever seen. 

The beginning of our adventure

There is a feeling so surreal as I sit here in my seat next to the man I love as we begin our flight to Geneva. We have been preparing for this new adventure for the past 3 months acquiring visas, getting the house ready, making plans for the people who will be available to help Bill and for the people staying in our home. I am not sure what emotion describes my feelings today because there have been many that jumble together and they change by the minute. I am so excited for this amazing opportunity, blown away by the generosity of family and friends who are taking care of things while I am away, so thankful as I have seen God's hand orchestrate all the details to get to this point. I have to admit there are times when I must turn my hands palms up to ask again for God's peace to fill me. I sense His Presence and hear his voice remind me to let go and trust Him. I relax and choose to praise instead of worry.

We arrive in Geneva early Sunday morning after a few minor delays and small bumps along the way. My luggage decided to fly to Chicago and will join me in Geneva tomorrow. Thankfully Doug's luggage is here as he starts work tomorrow. We fill out a missing luggage report, rent our car, find our apartment, meet with our landlord, and check out our new surroundings. Grocery stores are closed on Sunday's so after shopping at the street market for lunch and dinner we go exploring. First up is learning how to get to the P & G Business Center. We walk there and learn about our neighborhood at the same time. We decide to drive to the jet du eau at Lake Geneva and walk around a bit. It is a lovely area with a beach, sailboats, small cruise ships, and a park. I am looking forward to the weather being a bit warmer as it is about 50 degrees today. We finish our day with some unpacking and reading before getting to bed at 9:30 pm. Friday night's sleep seems like a distant memory. Tomorrow I will walk with Doug on his way to work then learn about the public transportation system, grocery shopping, and reunite with my luggage. 

We are settling in and look forward to our new adventure.