Gastronomique Suisse- Lutry!

So after the end of the first week of classes and the first weekend in Geneva since arriving (well and having found places to live), Urvi, Alicia, and I ventured off for what we thought would be a day of hiking and wine tasting in Lutry near Lausanne, which is about a 35 minute train ride from Geneva. Not so much. Zut alors!

Figuring it would be obvious from the train station on how to get to the vineyards, there was actually no one at the Lutry train station. . It was also pouring down rain. No tourist information desk, no person to ask questions, nothing. We saw vineyards, but no actual sign pointing towards wineries. Luckily, however, we quickly started to walk down towards the water/town, where we quickly found a "Fete des Vendanges Lutry" (Lutry Wine Fesitval). So, what were three young women suppose to do? We quickly decided to eat and drink wine all day!

Our first stop was at a fondue stand, where we had our first Swiss fondue!! We asked for one serving for the three of us, which included more bread and cheese fondue than I could imagine!

First Fondue in Switzerland!

After fondue, we had sparkling wine from Switzerland... and the feast continued with Alicia having a nutelle crepe, Urvi having chestnuts, and a waffle for myself. We finished the day off with a cup of warm, hot tea. After a full day of gluttony and bellies filled, we ventured back home to Geneva. "Zut Alors" turned into a wonderful day, but we still hope to find the vineyards... which will have to wait for another day!

Willkommen in Zurich

Wanting to travel before school started, Alicia, Urvi, and I took about a 3 hour train ride to Zurich for the weekend. On Friday we arrived at the train station in Zurich, and I realized quickly that I was not in French Switzerland anymore. Swiss German is only spoken, not written. In Geneva, I feel fairly comfortable getting around using my French. Only a 3 hour train ride led us into unknown territory where I don't know how to say a thing except Danka!

Swiss German???

Luckily, Alicia has a friend who lives in Zurich, Flavio, who graciously allowed all three of us to stay at his apartment and showed us around the town.  He also introduced to us a Swiss breakfast! It includes bread, croissants, coffee/tea, cheese, jam, and this interesting yogurt with fruit and muesli in it. 

I was so grateful to be taken around town by someone who knew the area! We walked down through a park near his house in northern Zurich, where there is a wall where it is legal to spray paint! After the confused Americans asked the Swiss gents out in the middle of the day spray painting about the legal logistics, the Swiss spray painter replied that there are no rules except that it is has to be better than the painting before it.

Then we took a boat (that is of course included with in the public transportation tickets you have to buy for the trams/buses) down the river through the Old City of Zurich into the lake. We then walked up through the Chinese Gardens in the South of Zurich until we reached a cool spot to eat dinner near the Opernhaus (Opera House).

On a bridge in downtown Zurich!

View from the Chinese Gardens

On the way back to Flavio's apartment, we saw a sushi restaurant that is on a tram that goes around town while you eat dinner! Zurich definitely is a bit more hip than Geneva! On Sunday, we sadly left Zurich, but were excited to start school. School started today, so I will update shortly on the adventures of attending school in Switzerland!

A home away from home

After an incredibly stressful couple of days trying to find a place to live in Geneva, I have found one! It all started when Urvi, Alicia, and I went to meet a woman that did not speak very much English. Quickly, we realized that the person living here would have to have some sort of French speaking skills. My host mother is so nice, and she quickly called all of her friends to see if they had a place for two Americans to stay saying I was from a "bonne famille en Virginie" (good family from Virginia). So, basically, I will be living with her and her twin daughters, who are 15. The price is right, and I think my French will improve so much!

The trials and tribulations of finding housing in Geneva says a lot about Switzerland in general. First, someone told me that Switzerland is basically a very polite police state. The people follow the rules. You do not break the rules. People wait for the cross walk, even if there are no cars coming for miles.

Second, the trams/bus system runs smoother than any public transportation system that I have ever been to. The trains leave on time. If it is late, people are pacing and looking at their watches. But for the most part, they are always on time. Maybe the Swiss transportation system could teach a thing or two to metro in Washington!

The great thing about trying to find housing was that we got to discover huge parts of the city. The Old City is gorgeous! We keep discovering new places, and the Old City is definitely a must for anyone who comes to Geneva!

Old City- You can see the Jet d'eau in the background!

The St Pierre Cathedral in Geneva

Taking an afternoon off- Nyon!

So the last couple of days have been quite an interesting couple days of trying to find housing, setting up cell phones, and using the trams/buses around Geneva. So... today after moving into a hostel where they told us to really watch our stuff, it made the housing search even more urgent. Having only a room booked until Thursday morning, I would really like to find a place to settle. But as they said, housing is horrible in Geneva. I don't think the "supply and demand" theory works for the Geneva housing market, but hopefully I will find the jackpot soon!

Nyon

So, there was a much needed day off. We traveled to a town about 15 minutes on train away from Geneva called Nyon. It was gorgeous (as all Switzerland is, at least the part that I have seen), and we traveled down into the town. Our original plan was to rent bikes, but alas, the bike rental shop was nowhere to be found, so instead we found paddle boats!  Lac Leman (Lake Geneva) is gorgeous with mountains all around it, so we paddled out until we got in the wake of a large ferry.... zut alors! Well we barely made it... 

 On the paddle boat!

View from the Paddle Boat!

We then had a nice verre du vin (glass of wine) looking over a gorgeous castle and the water. I could think of worse things! We also had quite delightful waiters who were quite entertaining... if only I could understand what they were saying!

Nyon- a wonderful quaint day trip. Couldn't have asked for anymore! Well, except for a room in Geneva, please.

Arrival!

So, I have just arrived in Geneva. To be honest, it was one of the easiest transcontinental trips I have ever had, and we had a nice cab driver who even complemented my French!  I am now relaxing in my hotel room with Alicia and Urvi (the two other GW girls here that are awesome).

So I decided to name my blog "Zut alors" based on the various adventures that will happen during this three month stay in Europe. When I looked up a translation to inform those non-French speakers of the meaning, similar phrases include "Dang It" and "Caramba" in Spanish. I hope to update more soon and continue to blog of the various "Zut alors!"