Andra Watkins

My First Time in Geneva

Trélex is a fast 30-minute train ride from Geneva, but I was too busy exploring the immediate area to go. Wednesday, I decided to make the trip as a reward for writing 14,000 words in two days.

First time I’ve donned makeup and fixed my hair in two weeks! On the train to Geneva.

Like most things with me, I got off the train with no agenda. I didn’t have a list of things to see. Places sometimes throw up their skirts and give us a peek underneath if we’re open to experiencing them. The waterfront was my first stop. I wanted to see where the Rhône River flows into Lake Geneva. The geyser in the background [see first pic] was a bonus.

Geneva has long been a center of thought and art. Rousseau has his own island tribute on the Rhône. Voltaire sports a house museum. Goethe was enamored of the place.

I wandered to an island park on the Rhône to take in views of city and river, mountain and lake.

Then I marveled at how clear the Rhône is.

I walked past too many Swiss chocolate shops to count and finally decided to take a seat outside and sample some hot chocolate and cream. Yum yum yum. I almost ordered another!

Without intending to, I stumbled upon old Geneva. When I was a little girl, my mom bought me a record about a bird who flies a little boy around the world through songs. Every time I played it, I dreamed of getting lost in foreign cities with only a bird to guide me. While my life has plenty of challenges, I still can’t believe those are my feet exploring a European city alone.