Day 1: Getting Started

Our Switzerland vacation is underway! Today was a travel day, so no pretty pictures or anything very interesting to report.

Thanks to profligate spending by all members of the family on our American Express account, we flew from Dulles to Paris business class. As much as we appreciated the reclining bed seats and better service, it was access to the clubs that really paid off. We got to Dulles a little early (surprised?) so instead of buying a burger or other airport food, we had little french sandwiches, fresh fruit and Perrier.

Our flight to Paris was a 10pm departure, which we liked better than the normal 6:30-7:00pm flights. It meant we ate before boarding, so once we we took off, we skipped the dinner and tried to get to sleep right away. Speaking of boarding, don't know if it was unique to this flight or to Air France in general, but it was a tad bizarre. They announced pre-boarding of "babies and the disabled," then made no more announcements. People started lining up and boarding, so we eventually got in line.

Ellen slept pretty well, but was troubled by a recent cold that made for congestion and ear pressure on the flight. I had trouble falling asleep, resorting to watching 1/2 an hour of "The Bachelorette" on my iPod to put me to sleep (an admitted guilty pleasure). Brief ad for the Tivo Premiere, I love being able to move content off the Tivo using free iTivo software that not only transfers the content so that it is iPod ready, but also strips out commercials!

We landed in Paris around 11:45am local time.  We had a little over 3 hours for our connecting flight to Geneva.  We took advantage of our previous business class status to use the Air France Club at Charles de Gaulle Airport.  That got us again free food, drink and internet access.  And what could be more important than being able to check into the airport on Foursquare?  That is a rhetorical question, by the way.  It was while at the airport club that we got the news of the great MoCo earthquake.  I've lived a solid 34 years in Montgomery County and never have I even considered the possibility of an earthquake.  Ben says he was shaken awake by it in Bethesda, which is kinda cool, considering that no damage seems to have been done anywhere.

Only a one hour flight from Paris to Geneva.  Too exhausted to contemplate figuring out public transport, we jumped into a cab for the 20 minute  drive to the hotel.  We are staying at the Hotel Strasbourg Geneve, which is what we will call it instead of referring to the fact that it is part of the Best Western chain.  It is a block from the train station, maybe 3-4 blocks to Lake Geneva.  It's only downside is that it doesn't have air conditioning, and of course we arrived to record heat.  Normal high should be in the 70's, it was 92 today.  It is supposed to cool off, and we are only here for 2 nights.

After a brief rest and reading period, we used Fodor's to pick an "inexpensive" restuarant. We ate at Jeck's Place, and had a delicious meal.  Ellen started with dumplings, I had a spring roll, and we shared a beef in ginger and onions main dish.  We dined outside, since the restaurant wasn't air conditioned anyway.  In the shade it was comfortable.  Getting used to how expensive everything is in Switzerland is a good idea, because that's how it's gonna be.

After dinner, we walked down by the lake and got a sense of what the waterfront looks like.  Fancy, expensive (and air conditioned!) hotels line the shore on our side, and buildings with watch manufacturer names line the other (not sure what is actually in those buildings yet).  Seeing all the watch stores all over town, I'm all of a sudden thinking my souvenir from this trip is going to be a watch and not a swiss army knife.  Who needs a knife?

Back in the hotel now, waiting hopefully for a cool down sometime soon.  Tomorrow is our one full day of sightseeing in Geneva, we then pick up the car on Sunday and start our driving tour of Switzerland.  Promising pictures from here on out.

Anyone traveled previously in Switzerland and have any recommendations on things to do?