Genève

 Every Saturday here in Chambéry there is an awesome local market. Local farmers set up stands of fruits, veggies, meat, cheese, wine…everything!  There are even flea-market-type stands with furniture and towels and jewelry.  I’ve even seen a guy selling mattresses out of a semi-trailer.  This past Saturday (June 11^th), we took a day trip to Geneva, Switzerland.  Not wanting to miss the market, however, a few of us got up at 6:00 to go to the market and be back in time to catch the bus.  It made for a long day, but the fresh-fruit sangria we made after getting home that night was definitely worth it.

The bus left for Geneva at 9:00, and the trip took just over an hour.  Being from Rake, I can’t help but to think on these trips:  In the time it takes me to drive to Mankato for groceries, a bus can get me to another country.  Or Grenoble.  Or Lyon. It blows my mind.

My own personal Royal with Cheese

Having been up since 6:00, by the time we got to the city, we were hungry!  Nothing was really open at 10:00 for lunch, so we grabbed lunch at McDonalds before heading to H&M (our plan for the morning).  It was actually a great idea.  We walked into McDonalds, and I instantly remembered recently watching Pulp Fiction for the first time in Kyle’s apartment, and I knew what to order:  A Royal with Cheese.  I photographed the menu for my friends in Ames and did, in fact, order a “Cheeseburger Royal.”  It was delicious!  Way better than McDonalds back home. (Don't understand the Pulp Fiction reference?  Click Here.  WARNING:  There is drug talk and some language...it IS Pulp Fiction.)

The huge fountain in Lake Geneva.
Notice the Swiss flag - no surprise there!

A few of my friends wanted to go to H&M, an inexpensive clothing store.  One needed a light jacket and sunglasses; the other needed a watch.  I kind of wanted something warm (like a sweater or something), since it’s been getting really chilly in Chambéry at night, so I was game for some shopping.  I’d never been to H&M – it was so fun!  My new friends and I really bonded, and I found a super-cozy sweatshirt for $10.  Win.

After H&M, we checked out a fountain in Lake Geneva.  It was a single jet of water that was SO tall!  The water shoots out of the base at 200km/hr. 

MmMmMm! Now that is one TASTY
burger!  (Actually, it's Michael and I
enjoying our Royals with Cheese.)

We stumbled upon a huge local flea market, and spent the rest of the day there.  It was huge (bigger than the market in Chambéry, I think)!  Again, it was an awesome bonding experience.  Michael found a ton of stuff for a steal (he got a pair of cool leather shoes for 2 euro, a skinny tie for 1 euro, etc.  It was a good day for Michael).  I loved the flea market because it gave us a chance to talk to all the vendors.  I had discussions in French with all sorts of vendors, talking about their items and our studies.  It was great practice, and I even got complimented on my French once.

Geneva never let us forget that we were in Switzerland, with Swiss flags and watches all over, so we didn’t leave without a tiny bite of chocolate.  I had pear “Movenpick” ice cream, and it was to die for.  Trip to Geneva – success!