Day 15: Livin' it in Lyons

After a sumptuous breakfast, we decided to make our way first to the Tourist Information centre. Task! We needed to use the metro to get to the other side of town. From trying to break our way in to comprehending the complex instructions in French, we finally managed to get ourselves a ticket. Now we were faced with the daunting task of using the metro. How do we get to Place Bellecour? We asked someone around and finally figured how to use the metro system.

You come out of the metro station right into Place Bellecour. Bustling with activity – people dining, selling flowers, street artists and hordes of tourist, this place is a cultural hub. Spotting the Tourist Information Centre was not difficult. Check www.lyon-france.com for more information. Do buy a Lyon City Card. You can benefit from free admissions and reductions on various facilities. Some trips will also give you a free guide. We took the 2 day pass which amounted to 29 Euros.

Having opted for the walking tour around Lyon, we had to wait an hour for it start. In the meantime I being out of cash and desperately needing money decided to hunt for a foreign exchange. It was a typical case of lost in translation. People giving directions in French... it was a mess. I finally made use of sign language and it worked! Encashing my travelers cheques, got some much needed greens and went back to the square.

Our tour began at Place Bellecour. Here you can see an equestrian statue of King Louis XIV with two allegorical sculptures of Rhone and Saone on either side of the pedestal. From here we walked across the city, observing the numerous sculptures of lions in the streets. 69 of them across the city. Lions, we came to know is the symbol of Lyon. The international exhibition ‘La Biennale Des Lions, Lyon-Quebec’ saw some amazing entries. For more information on this do check www.biennaledeslions.fr.

Our route took us to Cathédrale St-Jean. A Roman Cathedral, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Lyon. Built from the late 11th to the early 16th centuries, it boasts of partly of Romanesque architecture. The portals of its Flamboyant Gothic façade the cathedral is decorated with 280 square stone medallions. What’s impressive in this cathedral is the astronomical clock which dates back to the 14th century. However this clock chimes only at noon, 14:00, 15:00 and 16:00. We witnessed this at 15:00 hours and it was amazing!

From here we continued to the old city and the labyrinth of secret passageways called the Traboule. The canut buildings which are the soul of the Croix-Rousse, were once used by the Resistance in the second world war, notably workers in the underground press. The Cour des Voraces stairway is one of the most famous and impressive traboules of Lyon. 
   
After spending a good two hours in the traboules we made our way to the Musee International de la Miniature. This museum houses masterpieces from miniaturist around the world. Know also for the film sets, this museums holds an amazing collection of realistically reproduced film sets, made from imitation objects and models used in films.

With that came an end to out sight-seeing for the day. We took a leisure walk back to Place Bellecour, where we grabbed a some local speciality before we boarded the local bus to take us back to Gare de Lyon Part Dieu and to our hotel. 

Day 14: Gallivanting in Geneva again!

Geneva was a day’s stopover but before we could leave this amazing city, and we still to visit a couple of places. So we packed our bags, left them at the reception and were off to the United Nations. We rode the tram. Super fun!

It was a long walk into the UN headquarters, with almost 3 levels of security screenings. We walked about the gardens before we actually entered the premises. With heavy security all around, it kinda makes you wanna act stupid. Unfortunately I could'nt act my obnoxious self as I was sure if the guards didn’t shoot me, Tan sure would.

The UN office or Palais des Nations is a massive and impressive structure. The Palais stands in the 45-hectre Ariana Park which is full of trees over 100 years old. It is said that the park was gifted by the last descendant of the Revilliod de Rive family to the UN on one condition that the peacocks roam the grounds freely. Also beneath the foundation stone of the Palais des Nations laid on 7 September 1929 lies a casket containing a document listing the names of the League of Nations Member States, a copy of the Covenant of the League and specimen coins of all the countries represented at its Tenth Assembly.

The Palais houses various agencies of the UN such as WHO, UNFPA, ECE, etc. This centre is always buzzing with activity around the year, with different agencies conducting meets and diplomats from representing countries lending their opinions. What’s amazing about this structure is the fact that most of the elements in this building were built from items gifted by representing countries. Our tour guide, an impeccable French man, told us that India gifted the peacocks, which can still be seen roaming around in full splendor.

We got to see the conference rooms, even sat in the seats that the diplomats do. Many treaties were signed in this very premise. It’s a place so full of history! It was almost as if all my history lessons had come alive.

Our tour around the building ended at the library cum gift shop and I ended up buying souvenirs for my family. A woolen shawl for Mama, a key chain for Papa and a digital clock calculator for Lovell. The proceeds of these go to different organizations of the UN, so i did not feel the pinch on my pocket much.

From the UN we walked to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), private humanitarian institution based in Geneva.
With the Red Cross flag billowing in the wind, you cannot miss it. Enter this area and you are faced with the recuperation's of war. The pain, the suffering and also hope. The ICRC houses various mandates made to protect the victims of international and internal armed conflicts, and also the medicines and medical treatments administered to victims’ of war. Founded by Henry Dunant, you can see a chronological series of developments in caring for victim from the world wars.
I don’t know how long we spent here, but I was sure glad to get out. 

From here we made a mad dash back to the hotel, grabbed our bags and hurrried to the station - Geneva's Gare de Cornavin. This time on we had to go through the international transit as we were leaving Switzerland. Our train tickets cost us zilch! Thanks to our Eurail passes. After clearing the customs, we had to wait an hour for the train. Bye bye Switzerland, I enjoyed every moment in this beautiful country.

Lyons, France
France baby France. Foot down on French soil. We disembark at Gare de Lyon Part Dieu and the place was like Churchgate station. So damn crowded. Oh God and people only speak French. With my little knowledge of it, it was not helpful. We got off on the wrong side of the station and spent the next half hour being lost, yet again. Thankfully we finally managed to ask someone who knew little English for directions and found the hotel easily. Luckily it was just walking distance on the other side of the station.

After a quick shower, we head down to the restaurant to savour authentic French cuisine. I had some fancy beef dish, and it was gross! My fault actually. Anyway it was a long day. After hanging out in the garden after dinner, we finally called it a night.

Day 13: Groovin in Geneva

I was really sad to leave Interlaken, I so loved the place and the solitude it offered. However I had to move on. Packed our bags and took the train to Geneva, it was quite a long ride. We went from freezing in the cold to pleasant weather. By noon we were ready to strip our winter wear off. Luckily this time too the hotel was just opposite the station. Our room was extremely small, but since we just had to spend a night in this city it hardly mattered.

There are so many different races of people in Geneva. With roads lined with almost all nationality flags and the headquarters of the United Nations, we learned that Geneva is also known as the world’s most compact metropolis. After resting for a while, it was time to hit the streets.

Our first stop the ‘Jet d’Eau’. Even from a distance you can see this spectacular stream rise high above in the skies. The city’s greatest landmark, this jet of water rises almost 10 kms into the sky. We spent our time viewing this spray, picking up hot dogs before we walked the stretch to Jardin Anglais. Situated on the banks of a harbor, this garden boasts of beautiful flowers and monuments.

We passed a huge clock made of flowers. The “L'horloge fleurie" or the flower clock pays homage to the watch industry and is made up of eight concentric circles filled with different plants and colours depending on the season. Close to it is the National Monument.

From here we hiked up to Cathédrale St. Pierre. With Gothic influences in architecture, this cathedral is displays some Romanesque features in the form of beautiful Roman mosaics which are said to date back to the 4th century. If you are here, you must climb the tower. 150+ steps, it offers a spectacular aerial view of Geneva. Phew! In the cathedral you must observe the flute piano and choir stand. Absolutely spectacular!

After this we lazily walked through the streets, enjoying a mini fare on the way. Close to our hotel we walked into a supermarket. The guy there got talking and asked if were from India. Damn! I think our colour gave us away. Anyway he told me that he too was in India in New Delhi for four years as his Dad was a Diplomat. And he did a ‘Namaste’ the next time we went in. LOL tan totally freaked out. I on the other hand thought it was real cute.

My internet withdrawal symptoms had reached danger point. Phoooo, thankfully I found an internet café and quickly checked my mails, sent mails and chatted with whoever was online on my list. Tan chilled out for a while in the room before we met up again and walked around the block, deciding where to have dinner. We finally settled on a pizzeria opposite the station. The pizza was huge and expensive. Damn damn. Anyway back in the hotel, I crashed after having a bath.

Day 12: Conquering Mt. Titlis

We stuffed ourselves with breakfast and made a mad dash to Interlaken West train station. We bought tickets on the Golden Panoramic Pass for 123 Swiss Francs per person, Ouch, this excludes the cable car costs up Mt. Titlis. 
 

We prepared ourselves for a long journey. It takes 3 1/2 hours one way by train. But as it is in Switzerland, the countryside is breathtaking. Our journey again involved changing a number of trains. From Interlaken west to Interlaken Ost, and from here to Hergiswil, and from here to Engleberg. For more info on the various scenic routes available do check Swiss Travel System.

From Engleberg station it was a short hike to the base of Titlis Rotair. I was super excited to ride the cable cars but when it came to actually sitting in them I was super duper freaked out. The ride to the top involves three aerial cable cars and various changes in the screenery. As you rise up you can hear them Swiss cows with their bells tolling to rows and rows of pine trees to finally clear white blankets of snow.

We rode the world’s first rotating cable car. Yeah yeah! Finally on the summit of Klein Titlis which is about 3,028 meters above sea level, we were as excited as one could be. However unlike Jungfrau this place was pretty crowded and the weather too was gloomy. But what the heck. There was snow and I had a blast making snow angels, much to Tan’s disgust. I must have embarrassed her totally!

We spent a couple of hours on the summit clicking pictures, feeding the birds, and savouring the local delights at the restaurant. This place also has a ski resort, so its no wonder we saw many people skiing down the slopes. Wow!

Sadly it was time for us to go. On our way down the cables, we played guess the county as they flags were pasted on the cable cars. Having made our way back into Interlaken, we see not a soul in the street. No one. Trust me when I say no one. The reason being a football game – Man U v/s Chelsea. Grabbed our dinner and crashed in our rooms. It’s our last night in Interlaken. I feel a bit sad to leave this heaven on earth, but tomorrow we go to Geneva, the next stop in our trip and the last one in Switzerland.

Day 11: A day of doing nothing

Interlaken West

Today we just chilled. Having got up just in time for breakfast, we raced down to catch our meal. Cannot afford to miss free food.

Now since we decided to stay in Interlaken again and not go anywhere, I took this opportunity to explore the other side of town. I just walked about aimlessly, passing cafes, modern structures and beautiful homes with more gnomes in the garden. It was about 10 days into our trip and having not used the internet for so long, I was facing severe web withdrawal symptoms. On my walk about the town I kept on scouting for an internet café. Damn damn, only one in the whole place and it was closed! Aaargh.

Lunch was canned luncheon meat which had carried from India. And after that we caught up on some much needed sleep.

In the evening Tan & I decided to walk about the town. After a long walk about we sat in a garden just talking about life, work, love and our travel so far. In short it was a fantastic day in a fantastic town.