Morning coffee at La Clémence

It's exactly 10:00 in Geneva, and I'm sitting at a small table outside Café La Clémence in the old town, watching the city wake up. I arrived just as they were opening at 8:30 this morning. The waiter seemed surprised to see someone waiting at the door, but I've learned that getting an early start helps me see a place before the crowds arrive.

The morning air is crisp – about 12°C according to my phone – but the clouds are starting to break up, revealing patches of blue sky. The forecast promises a beautiful afternoon ahead. I'm nursing my second cup of coffee, which is excellent but costs nearly twice what I'd pay elsewhere. Geneva prices continue to astonish me, even on day three.

I've been contemplative this morning. Today marks exactly 50 days since I left Kristiansand. Fifty days. One-tenth of my journey complete. It feels both substantial and insignificant at the same time. When I look back, Amsterdam feels like months ago, yet I can still taste those Dutch pancakes if I close my eyes. Time expands and contracts in strange ways when you're traveling.

The UN tour yesterday was more impactful than I expected. Standing in those chambers where global decisions are made – decisions that affect millions of lives – made me feel both insignificant and connected to something larger. The guide, Marie, explained how the ceiling in the Human Rights chamber was painted to look like stalactites dripping with color. The artist wanted to remind delegates that the weight of human suffering hangs above them as they deliberate. I haven't been able to stop thinking about that image.

!The painted ceiling at the UN Human Rights Council chamber The remarkable ceiling of the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room at the UN

After two days of wandering Geneva's pristine streets, I'm starting to feel settled here. There's something calming about the city's orderliness – the punctual trams, the clean public spaces, the sense that everything works exactly as it should.

I've booked my CERN tour for tomorrow morning, which I'm incredibly excited about. The birthplace of the World Wide Web and home to the Large Hadron Collider – it's like a technological pilgrimage. I'm also planning to take a boat tour on the lake this afternoon if the weather continues to improve. The Jet d'Eau should look spectacular in the sunshine.

For now, though, I'm content to sit here watching Geneva go about its Wednesday morning. An elderly man at the next table is reading a newspaper – an actual physical newspaper. Two businesswomen in sharp suits are having what sounds like an intense conversation in French. A dog sleeps under its owner's chair. Small moments that make up a city.

Four hundred and fifty days remain in my journey. Sometimes that number feels overwhelming, other times it feels like it won't be nearly enough. Today, it feels just right.

!Morning coffee at La Clémence Morning ritual in Geneva's old town

Time to finish this coffee and continue exploring. The Patek Philippe Museum opens at 11:00, and I'd like to learn more about Switzerland's famous watchmaking tradition. Then perhaps that boat tour if the clouds continue to clear.

Until next time, Ruben