Headin' south...

Packing up to head south to Nice then our cottage in the mountains we now refer to as home. Looking forward to our simple life again of getting up late, reading or writing, maybe a walk into town for fresh cuissoiants, or just sipping wine on our patio under the now familuar chestnut trees. It has been quite cold these past few days. I hope the south of France will live up to it's reputation as the playground in the sun. And not just for the rich and famous.



We have been quite busy. Besides a gracious host Pierre has been a wonderful tour guide. Yesterday was spent touring old Geneva. Being Sunday, there was no shopping to be done so we visited lush green parks with families having picnics dispite the cold; walked along the lakefront watching one of Geneva's landmarks, the fountain (or as Pierre calls it-the "sprinkler") send a plume of water hundreds of feet in the air soaking any and everyone down wind; stood in awe at the UN building and in reverence at the building where the Geneva Convention was signed (I understand some countries still today abide by it's rules!); we climbed hundreds of spiriling stone steps to the top of the bell tower in the church much of the protastant reformation occured (other than the fact that this appears to be a pretty big deal in the history of western religion--the old church and the view was way impressive); and we ate at McDonalds. On the drive back to Gex we drove by the headquarters for C.E.R.N., the particle accelerator buried under the French country side and I can assure you all there is no black hole in France.



Sarah wanted to see a real castle so on Sat. Pierre took us to visit Chillon on the edge of Lake Geneva. Built during the 11th thu 15th centeries, it has been the primary protector (and tax collection point) for the only north south route thru this area but now with the elevated autoroute and rushing cars 200 yards from it's moat it only collects tourist's dollars/euros/francs. Renovated accurately and in detail you can see why Lord Byron was so inspired to include this site in his writtings.



And on Friday, certainly never expecting to simply be doing tourist stuff with Pierre, he took us to the fundraiser for the local church. The biggest garage sale I have ever seen, covering the space of a huge exibition hall with everything from ancient straw covered jugs to clothes to furniture to Barbie dolls. Dinner was a cold plate of local cheese and sausage followed by boiled potatoes and grilled saussage served with enthusiasm by the teens and kids of the church youthgroup. A most enjoyable experience of the local region, people and life.

After taking advantage of the hospitality of Pierre and Diane we will today catch a bus to Belleguard then the train to Nice. A night in the hostel then a car tomorrow we should be comfortable in our little cottage by tomorrow night. Then what????