First impressions of Geneva

I arrived in Geneva this morning after a smooth train journey from Lyon. The transition from France to Switzerland was subtle at first - same language, similar architecture - but the differences started revealing themselves almost immediately. The first thing that hit me was the pristine cleanliness of the train station. Not a single piece of trash anywhere. The second was the punctuality of everything - the train arrived exactly on time, not a minute early or late.

After checking into my hotel near the lake, I set out to explore. My first stop was the famous Jet d'Eau, which shoots water 140 meters into the air. I stood there for a while, watching the massive plume of water against the backdrop of mostly cloudy skies. A few drops of spray landed on my face when the wind shifted - refreshingly cold!

I spent most of the afternoon walking along Lake Geneva (or Lac Léman as it's also called). The promenade is beautifully maintained, and even with today's cloud cover, the views across to the French Alps were impressive. I can only imagine how spectacular it must be on a clear day.

For lunch, I stopped at a small café and had my first taste of Swiss cuisine - a simple rösti with mushrooms. The price made me wince a bit, but I suppose that's to be expected in Switzerland. The quality was excellent, though, so at least there's value for money.

In the late afternoon, I made my way to the Old Town (Vieille Ville). The cobblestone streets and medieval buildings create such a contrast with the sleek, modern banking district nearby. I climbed up to St. Pierre Cathedral and walked around its interior before paying the extra fee to climb the towers. The 157 steps were worth it for the panoramic view of the city and lake.

As the sun began to set, I found myself wandering through the international district, home to many UN organizations. There's something fascinating about being in a city that plays such an important role in global diplomacy. I plan to visit the United Nations Office properly tomorrow - it's high on my list.

Now I'm back at my hotel, feet slightly sore from walking all day but mind full of impressions. The forecast for tomorrow looks a bit better - some clouds giving way to sun, which should be perfect for more exploring.

I've already noticed how different the rhythm here feels compared to Lyon. Everything seems to run with clockwork precision. The buses arrive exactly when scheduled. People wait for traffic lights to change even when no cars are coming. It's oddly comforting and reminds me a bit of home.

Tomorrow's plan includes a proper visit to the UN, and hopefully CERN if I can arrange it. I'm particularly excited about CERN - the chance to see the birthplace of the World Wide Web and home of the Large Hadron Collider is pretty special for someone who's spent their career in IT.

For now, though, I'm going to review some photos from today, plan my route for tomorrow, and get some rest. Geneva, you've made a good first impression.

48 days down, 452 to go.