Closing Out Geneva

I've now been back in Vienna for 3 days, and I'm still staring at a mostly packed suitcase, so I figured before things get even crazier than they are now I should probably write a bit about my last week in Geneva or else that may all just seem like some bizarre dream.  

First off, we'd been having pretty weird weather in Geneva.  Cold and rainy a lot of the time, but we also started getting rainbows multiple times a day...including this awesome completely full rainbow.  Then, Thursday morning the sun came out just in time for Philipp to come visit and jam in 4 full days of touristy activities in picture perfect weather. 

I wish I could say this is very staged, but it isn't.  We're very serious about tourist activities...or not...but we did see a lot!

Lots of time for strolling along the lake

And if the super popular burger place has no seats left...you can easily make your own outdoor seating with an even better view!

The super awesome botanical gardens.  I definitely recommend this if you're ever in Geneva.

Plus they have various animals...flamingos...and lots of ducks...

Walking back along the lake looking at the Saleve 

And finally I got some Swiss fondue! This restaurant sticks out into the lake on the pier where we swim in the summer, but from September to April they serve fondue there (and pretty much only fondue) and it is crazy delicious.

Watching the boats pass at the end of the pier after dinner

Since the weather was still gorgeous on Saturday we decided to take the boat to Yvoire, France

Coming up towards Yvoire, a medieval city along the lake on the French side 

The castle from the gardens

They also have very cool gardens here...between this and the botanical gardens we are now well versed on all things plants...especially in French.

The boat arriving to take us back to Geneva.  These steam ships are historical landmarks themselves.

The lit up stone tiles along the square at Molard in Geneva which I think are so pretty at night all sprinkled in through the cobblestones.  They say various things in several languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian and Chinese...oddly not German)

And finally one more trip up to the top of the cathedral to get this panoramic view

I still cannot believe the summer went by as quickly as it did.  I knew it wasn't going to be that long of a time, and that it would surely fly by, but it does sort of already feel like another world ago.  My internship was wonderful.  I worked with amazingly talented people and was given projects that were challenging and I was allowed to see through to their completion, which was really great.  I'm hoping to see some of these colleagues again in November at a conference, we're still working out some of the details, but it would be an amazing experience and a great chance to continue some of this work.

Monday morning I took the train back through all of Switzerland and Austria, still definitely my preferred way to travel when time is really no issue.

And now it's back up to Kahlenberg!  I don't start classes for another week or so, but I've been up there helping with orientation and picking up reading materials, and I have a few meetings with professors and things before the semester officially starts.  

It is wonderful to be home and run around and see everyone again as they all return as well.  I do still have some work to do before I get completely settled in and ready to start my last semester of classes!

Time to Start Officially Celebrating These Grapes!

Despite a forecast that called for rain and thunderstorms all weekend, I woke up yesterday to moderately clear skies.  So after running a few quick errands I decided to head out to the 51st Annual Fête des vendanges de Russin (grape harvesting festival).

Russin is actually a part of Geneva, sort of southwest of the city center, closer to the mountains than to the lake, but does require a quick trip on the regional train.  Thankfully I work with a native Genevois who is up on all these sorts of festivals and activities and makes sure that I am also well informed.

From the train it's a bit of a hike up into town

The stars of the show.

Vineyards and mountains! Yes please

Russin is a pretty adorable little town Festival or not, just a couple little streets on the top of this hill with vineyards and mountains all around

I was a little on the earlier side I suppose, while it was early afternoon at this point, the official end last night was 3am, so I imagine there's a bit of a later crowd as well.  I was trying to beat the afternoon thunderstorms, so I was not sad to trade the party for the views.

There were all sorts of stands and things set up in what appeared to be people's backyards.  Families who own these vineyards had set up all sorts of little tents and outdoor ovens serving fresh bread and tarts made from the fresh seasonal produce.

I opted for a slice of fresh apple tart, insanely delicious, and sitting to enjoy the view a while didn't hurt either.

I spent quite a while just walking the perimeter of the high part of the hill and looking out.  Watching the storm clouds rolling towards us from the west.

Not a super fan of the creepy clowns...

There were several of these gigantic skillet things.  At this point this is just onions and bacon I think, with a huge stack of cheese wheels behind it.  Only good things can come from this.

Live music in the fondue tent with a view

And...at the end of some of the lines of grapes there were pumpkins growing!

I suppose we really are getting close to it being fall.  It's been pretty chilly here recently.  I'm trying to creatively layer my clothes to keep warm enough in basically what I've been wearing all summer.  I think when I was packing in July I did vaguely think about how September might be a little cold, so I threw in a sweater or two, but not really enough.  Yes, there are plenty of stores here where I could buy a few things, but it's hard to find things that I want for this weather that I don't have a close copy or substitute of sitting in my closet in Vienna.  So for this last week I'll just deal.  It is crazy to think that a week from tomorrow morning I'll be headed back to Vienna, so this week is all about getting a nice fill of Geneva to close out this summer.