Raindrops on Roses

I spent last weekend in Geneva, taking one last long, deep breath before the whirlwind of the next two months begins. It was rather rainy but there were gorgeous moments, and I fit in a bit more exploring. Unfortunately, I did not manage to go skiing on Friday as I had planned--every time I have tried to go to Chamonix, the bus people tell me that yes, there is a bus that day, but then when I actually try to buy my ticket, they say no, there is not a bus that day--I think they just changed the schedule and are not used to it yet or something--but I have it all figured out now and will be going to La Clusaz on Thursday for the day. My supervisor from work, Paige, is very nicely lending me snowpants, goggles, and a helmet, so I should be set! SO EXCITED.

In lieu of a travel story, then, I will give you a list of my favorite things about Geneva so far, in no particular order:

• The almost constant view of the Alps
• How there are no screens on our windows at the John Knox, so we all sit in our windowsills on nice days, some with legs dangling outside, and chat
• Going on late afternoon walks in Grand Saconnex
• On cold days, every single little kid in a stroller is sitting inside a baby sleeping bag while being pushed by their parent, looking like both a child king and a caterpiller
• Everyone says "bonjour" and "bon soir" to everyone else; there is none of that silly avert-your-eyes-and-keep-walking business
• The upside of living in the fourth most expensive city in the world is that the second-hand shopping is fabulous
• Nights in Carouge being the only Americans in the bars
• How if someone sees a person running for the bus, often they will hold the doors until that person makes it on
• Just the buses in general

Of course there are other good things, but I think these are the top of my list.

I have my Eurail pass in hand and will be zipping off to Stuttgart and Heidelberg with Lejla this weekend. My grandfather was stationed in Stuttgart after WWII, so we will spend Friday from about noon until 8 there, wandering around, and then the rest of the weekend in Heidelberg. I am trying to practice my German--I can count to twenty so far!

I made it into the Bridges Trade BioRes this week:
De Boer Steps Down as UNFCCC Chief