Chateau de Chillon - catch up

Once again I've had more important things on my mind other than my blog! So it's got holes as big as lake Geneva throughout it. We've been in Switzerland for 5 days and I've written nothing...so once again I must do my duty. It's not that bad and also I'm not going to work each day, it's the least I can do.

We drove into Geneva from Chamonix in our little rental Polo diesel VW, very economical if you are looking for a new car. The day before we drove at 120 - 130 km/hr the whole afternoon on the highways (apart from many little people toilet stops and big people coffee stops), with no problems from France through Italy to France. Anyway getting to Geneva was interesting. We drove down the mountain which was beautiful, the roads in Europe really are extremely impressive if at times v expensive. The tunnel was 30E and we'd already spent lots that day on tolls. They make NZ look like a little country town although we have the population of a small city in our whole country I guess. Once we got to Geneva we had to go through Swiss customs. We expected at least a quick check of the car for contraband but we didn't even have to show our passports. I don't know why they bother to have people there. They could achieve as much with big cut outs with those eyes that follow you as you walk by. They freak me out...They didn't even have rubber gloves poking out of their pockets to dissuade you from trying to bring in the white stuff.

Well once we got past that we were into Swiss land, once again we were doomed to say all the wrong words and try to speak Italian or Spanish. Dropping the car at Geneva extremely international airport was as we'd been told a big pain in the bottom. We followed the instructions from the car company carefully and rapidly became mired in the outskirts of Geneva following tiny signs intended as per the French way to help locals who know the way find where they want to go. Although the locals would go the direct route. Wendy was driving which meant I'm trying to find the little signs with my squinty pointy eyes and only just seeing them a moment before we need to turn. Otherwise I'm driving and Wendy is reading something or talking to me about some idea for opening a small animal farm for deprived kids and not looking for signs. Well after much driving we arrived...At the Swiss side. At first we weren't sure if we were in the right place but I went to talk to the guy and he said everyone does this, gave me instructions in English thankfully, and gave me a map to the French side. It looked easy, and as long as drove at walking pace we didn't miss any turns. The French side true to form had no sign for car drop off. They just know, somehow, the French are amazing. All cool though with the helpful man's instructions. Oh and no border control into France from Switzerland the French don't even make a show of it.

The airport was kind of cool for people from a place with no countries around them. We walked from France to Switzerland dutifully handing over our passports, which I think the border control thought were contaminated. They didn't want to touch them again. Swiss people are very clean so understandable. We smuggled ourselves through customs declaring ourselves fit to travel. We were in the country of Fondue, chocolate, swiss knives, swiss clocks, neutrality, lakes and mountains etc.

We quickly bunged all we could fit that we didn't need in the next day in the lockers. Phew! aaahhhhhhh no stuff to carry. After we drop off our stuff we always wonder what the other stuff is and whether we need it. Im sure we are going to find we've had a small circus travelling with us incognito and going out to do shows while we are asleep. How they get out of the lockers I don't know?

Anyway then we went to buy warm stuff for the land of cold. I had no jacket and the kids had to wear all their clothes at once to stay warm. Our first evening in Geneva there was a big wind and it made us long for winter in Wellington (how odd). We were revived after some typical Swiss food. Roast duck, spring rolls, stirfry prawn and green tea, mmm just like home. After that we needed dessert of course so went wandering in the cold, it had got even colder so we pulled down our warm hats, pulled up our hoods and walked off cooly in our Crocs and socks.

Just by our hostel we found a creperie which looked nice. Wendy ordered a crepe being a smart woman. I as per usual had to have something a little more tricky and involved, why, why, why??? There was a beautiful Movenpick menu with glossy pictures of tall glasses and round balls of ice cream topped off with various delicacies. I chose the coffee deluxe super extra rich cafe supreme au chocolate with sprinkles. Looked good. Wendy dug into her crepe, mmm. I waited and waited and waited. Then the guy came back and said "sorry I have no coffee ice cream". Ok, I chose vanilla instead, almost as good. After a little longer my icecream came...but it had no espresso shot, so I queried it. Although the man looked surprised at me wanting a shot in it, even though it was in the picture he dutifully put one in. A massive one which made the whole thing into mush. Ok, I tried it, walnut ice cream. I took it back and tried to contain my complete disbelief until Wendy had finished. When we went for the addition the man said "I have not charged you for the ice cream" gee I'd hope not!!!