Today saw a quick jaunt through Geneva. Nice little town, though maybe a little too moderate in its endeavour to be politically neutral in every way possible. I'd have liked to have seen more but since we were coming from Lyon (due to yesterday's bomb incident) we didn't have a great deal of time. But it was a nice to walk around a bit and take in a few of the sights. Not only is Geneva the home of the Red Cross (and Red Crescent), We got to see the UN's European headquarters. They had some sprawling fountains in front and about a dozen kids were having fun running through them. At the back there was an odd-looking monument - a huge wooden chair, probably 15 metres tall. I thought it strange that a chair should be in front of the UN - which represented judgement to me. Then I realized that one of the legs had been splintered and broken halfway up. Sit upon a chair with a broken leg and it will topple.
From July 24, 2007Interlaken offered all the sights for which I'd hoped. We arrived at night and didn't realize until morning just how great was the location of our hostel. The deck overlooked a peaceful river on a mountain backdrop. From time to time, a para glider could be seen sailing lazily across the sky.
Yesterday we took a trip up to 3000 metres and the weather miraculously held out long enough to give a great view of the glacier and 'the top of Europe,' as well as the mountain ranges, rivers, lakes, and mountain villages all around. It was great to feel the 5 degree air after being in Spain and France with their scorching sun. 
The waterfalls down the mountain cliffs were mesmerizing. They fell in such a thin curtain that it looked like a silver mist, almost corporal shapes in the water could be made out sliding down in free-fall hundreds of feet until crashing - silently and seemingly gently - upon the rocks below. The runoff from the snow caps formed rushing pure white rivers that later on downstream would settle in a pure bright aqua green.
Walking around the little mountain towns, one can't help but wonder at how these people can live year-round carving a living out of the face of the mountains. About one thing I was pretty certain: no tractors are used to clear their precipitous fields.
Today, taking the train among the mountains, I am struck by how much it reminds me of Scotland. The clouds have returned, partially obscuring many of the mountains sometimes with thin puffs. Somehow it grants them even more majesty and wonder than they had already possessed on their own. Somehow more definition and mystery all at once. Is there anywhere on earth anyone would rather be?There's one lesson we learned the hard way however: As tempting as it may be when you're going up 3000 metres to aspire to reach 3000.06 metres... if you ever plan on climbing a mountain, you'd probably be better served leaving your stilettos at home!
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