For a while now we have had a very exciting trip planned that one or two may have heard about (I have been telling anyone with an ear to listen!). We planned for this Easter to go see my bro in Switzerland. “In Switzerland?!” I hear you ask (and even if you didn’t I will tell you anyway)…yes in Switzerland, because my brother is a particle physicist working at CERN on the LHCb experiment, oh yes indeed! Could I be more proud?!
So M and I were very keen to go out and visit him, to see CERN for ourselves, to inspire the girls about science, and oh yes, to see my bro also! We decided to make a road trip of it, for a couple of reasons, the main ones being how much stuff we needed to take (we were going to stay at Andrew’s flat, but needed to bring bedding) and also because of the carbon impact – much less carbon emissions from driving an efficient car, packed with 4 people. Anyway decision made, hotels and chunnel booked, car packed up – we set off.
The first day we drove across to Folkstone, we had gone for a fixed time chunnel ticket, so M was concerned about M25 traffic and missing the slot so we decided we would stay the night at Folkstone and take an early crossing.
I will get in early (and probably repeat myself ) but the purchase of those DVD screens paid for themselves numerous times already but particularly on this trip. We set off with the girls watching “sing-along” (sound of music) which is a particular favourite. They also had desk trays on the backs of our seats and some sticker books, colouring books and pens so were very happy in the back.
We stopped at a Macdonalds for lunch. I had packed only a small bag with all our clothes for the 2 days of traveling – just a change of t-shirts and knickers for the girls for the next day, plus pjs. Of course, the girls had a bottle of orange juice with straws in, and forgetting how these things work – both of them tipped the bottles of juice down their fronts within 5 minutes of each other. I wanted to save the t-shirts for the second day, so the girls spent the rest of the day in their pj tops.
We got to the hotel, had a picnic in our room for the girls tea, then went into the restaurant for ice cream and a cup of tea for Mummy. The girls started on their journals…
When we were in Ireland last year we had got Fidget a journal, it was an I-see one which was quite structured, but great for ideas for doing a journal with a young child. This time though I just got Fidget and Squidge a plain note book each. Fidget is practicing her writing alot, so the idea would be that each day she collects stuff to cut out and stick in (leaflets, packets, doily's, tickets etc), and then can draw pictures and we write out or sound out something she wants to write so she can copy it into the book. Similarly Squidge loves cutting and pasting and drawing pictures.
We made ourselves at home in the restaurant while the girls did great work on their journals. Fidget included a cut out pirate from Macdonalds and a map of England showing the route of our journey so far.
The hotel was opposite a park, so before bed we went across for a spot of Frisbee and a good run round.
Thurs 5th April
After a very hearty breakfast (the hobbits got through cereal, dried fruit, 2 sausages, beans, hash browns and chocolate mini muffins) we set off. Fidget had been very sceptical about a train that went under the sea and just plain didn’t believe us. She still thought it was a bit odd when we drove onto the train then just sat there and didn’t continue driving through. The journey was quick and uneventful.
Loaded up with Mary Poppins, we carried on. Stopping for lunch at services after Reims. Then we gave Snow White a go as we pushed on for tea near Dijon (those DVD screens are sooo good!).
The route so far had all been toll motorways, which were nearly empty and very easy going. The last stretch we had to head over the mountains on smaller roads. The girls were listening to Sound of Music, so the soundtrack seemed very appropriate.
It was dusk as we started descending towards Geneva on a classically winding road with hairpin bends and views across the lake. We were there by about 9pm local time, we were all glad to have arrived and M and I were very impressed at how well the girls had coped with the travelling.
Friday 6th April (Good Friday)
A bright sunny day greeted us, we set off from Andrew’s house into Geneva on the tram. It was only about 15mins on the tram from just outside his flat.
We walked down to the lake, stopping briefly at a small park with very inviting fountains, fortunately the girls resisted jumping in.
with our tram ticket, we were able to also take a boat ride across the lake, getting a better view of the Geneva jet.
Andrew had packed a picnic for us to have in the English gardens.
We then decided to get on a little train tour that ran around part of the lake.
Unfortunately, once it got going, Squidge was not happy and just screamed and whined the whole way round. Other passengers were jumping off (it was supposed to be a round trip), but we stayed on to the bitter end.
We then walked up to the Natural History Museum. Squidge was on Daddy’s shoulders, where she promptly fell asleep, head on his head, drooling on his ear. At the Museum I said I would sit outside with her until she woke up. The others went in.
It wasn’t too long until Squidge woke up and we went in to join them. It was a good museum. They had a good dinosaur section that the girls really liked, but the highlight was the poo exhibit. Oh yes, if you hear Fidget chatting on about going to the poo museum and seeing poo and looking at which animal did which poo, she is not being a silly 4 year old (well probably not), there really was a poo museum. I dread to think what her teacher is going to think when Fidget starts talking about it in class!
Then back to Andrew’s flat for some soup on the balcony and a walk out to a little park.
Andrew’s flat is really lovely, it has two double bedrooms (one large enough to have a double mattress on the floor in addition to the bed – so that is where we stayed). A bathroom, sitting room, kitchen, balcony and lots of storage space. Also the area it is in has a really nice atmosphere with open green spaces and lots of play equipment and good local shops and transport links.
Saturday 7th April
Getting stuck into the journals to record an exciting first day in Geneva (wherever we go I am always squirrelling away leaflets, tickets, sugar packets and so on and have got Fidget in the habit too) …
The next village from Andrew’s flat was Ferney Voltaire, just over the border in France. It had a great market on on Saturdays, so while it looked a bit overcast we thought we’d give it a go.
It was a truly impressive market, with loads of great food (fruit, veg, dried fruit, bread, fish, meat, olives, cheese, wine and so on) we passed a stall selling only strawberries that had the most amazing smell.
The rain did really start to come down, these photos do not do justice to just how wet it got.
we were however, determined to get provisions for lunch so would not stop until we had, cheese, sausage, bread, fruit and olives.
back to the flat for a feast from the market…
Ferney Voltaire was the home of Voltaire, so we went back across in the afternoon. At the tourist information was an art exhibit with a video installation of some people dressed as statues that come to life, I thought it was pretty dull, but Squidge was wrapt.
To me, much more interesting was the exhibit next door of old letter presses and all the different letter fonts and so on. The girls did not care a bit for it, ah well c’est la vie!
Andrew then gave us a guided tour of Ferney Voltaire, showing us all the sites, well actually we only got to site 5 of an 18 site tour before our guide picked up that his group’s heart just wasn’t in it and let us go into the patisserie.
Becky arrived that evening, Andrew made a lovely meal, and M being the good Catholic he is, informed me that lent was over after 6pm that evening. I did not need any persuading to crack open the cheap Chateau neuf du Pape we had picked up at the supermarche.
Sunday 8th April – Easter Sunday
Before going to bed, we had hidden some chocolate eggs around the flat (and managed not to eat them ourselves). In the morning, we gave the girls their Easter presents (rabbit ears and dancing skirts) and they set about working together to find the chocs.
When everyone was up, we set out on the tram and then took a bus across to La Seleve, which is a small mountain with cable car on the other side of Geneva.
In the cable car…
It was pretty nippy at the top, we all had extra layers, but I did regret not bringing warm hats (I had left them at Andrew’s flat).
We had a picnic. It was quite warm in the sun, out of the wind.
As we finished, the sun disappeared and it started to snow! We rapidly packed up and went for a walk about.
Heading back down in the cable car…
We took a bus back to the centre and stopped at the Cathedral.
we went up the tower, at first this had a room in the tower with views out that I was ok with.
We then climbed up a bit further to an open area that had walls that were far too low for my liking, especially when Fidget ran off and jumped up to get a better view. She didn’t get on the top of the wall, but the thought of it still gives me nightmares.
I was much happier when we were back on solid ground. I was very impressed with Fidget as she had spent the whole morning walking including a good 20min uphill walk to get to the top of la seleve after the cable car. Then she walked up all the steps in the tower and back down again. M was carrying Squidge which was the hardest job of all.
Monday 9th April – Easter Monday
The girls love the sound of music video at the moment, in particular the goodnight song, they were perfecting their performance while at Andrew’s.
The plan for today was to head out to see the UN building and take a tour. We got the bus to the square in front of the building, but weren’t sure how to get in.
We wandered around the edge of the grounds, not sure if we would make it in time for the 12noon tour or if we would find the public entrance at all.
We did arrive, with 10minutes to spare before the tour. We started in the new building seeing some impressive conference rooms where some massive issues have been discussed over the years.
A highlight of the new building is the ceiling of one of the conference rooms that was donated by Spain and created by a Spanish artist.
The halls of the building were also filled with donated artworks, this one below being one of my favourites…
This one was Becky’s favourite…
But it was the old building that was truly spectacular. The view across with the massive and perfectly arranged columns, paths and patches of grass was like something from a surrealist painting. The whole building had a very welcoming but massive and monumental feel, like a kindly benevolent giant. The importance of the organisation and the decisions and discussions taken within resonated through the architecture. It was a real surprise highlight of the trip.
At the shop, Daddy gave the girls money to buy postcards and the lady at the counter thought the girls were so lovely that she gave them each a blow up UN ball!
By this point we were all pretty hungry. We had decided to get lunch out, which is a frightening prospect in Switzerland, but we jumped on a bus and decided to go to the old town. We passed a chicken restaurant that one of Andrew’s colleagues had recommended and they had space so we went in.
We were really pleased we did. There was very little choice on the menu, the kitchen was about 6foot by 2 foot and had a big chicken spit and a pan making chips. M had a salad, but the rest of us (girls included) had chicken and chips and it was delicious, with a fab gravy just perfect for soaking up with bread. The place had a really nice atmosphere and they were very welcoming of the kids which was great.
We finished off with some tart au citron and the girls had pingoos. I asked “ques que cet Pingoo?” and the waiter said (in a French accent) “errr, eet is a plastique penguin with ice cream?!”, “ok that makes sense – deux sil vous plait!”
We then had a wander along the street…
And found a play park, amusing to children of all ages…
Fidget also managed to get across this arch, we were all very impressed, as she got very scared at the top (as did Andrew and Becky), but she carried on and made it across without our help. Well done Fidget!
We had a wander back to the bus, then home.
In the evening was a game of charades, which TeamChallis were victorious in. Here I think I am laughing from trying to mime Absolutely Fabulous, by doing the second word as “sounds like – stab – you – less”.
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