Saturday, May 27, 2006
Day One Geneva 26th May
The Swiss have made it easy. The immigration officer took 5 seconds per passenger. Didn't matter which country you came from. Tourist or Work? Where will you stay?
Stamp Stamp, next...
(Very very professional)
The taxi drive took a little longer to the Residence Universitaire Internationale on Rue Rothschild, no roundabout way, clean cab, excellent driver......and took 30 swiss francs.
(Very very professional)
At the Residence, the reception was empty. The Cafe was not, asked for a coffee, she said something in French, i pointed to the machine and the cups, finally remembered Amelie (the movie) and said cafe and promptly ' ah cafe' then ' fiefsdamd francs'.
I have to learn French I thought while she wrote the numbers on a piece of paper.
Suddenly some one came upto me and said that since yesterday was a holiday, the reception would open for only two hours today. Then she went back to her coffee and paper. It didn't make sense. But then at first she said it in French and then in English, so maybe i got it wrong. The reception opened for exactly two hours as promised between 10 and 12...and it was the same lady. You can guess what she did after 12...
(Very very professional eh!)
But that is Geneva, they also have a one hour time in the middle of the today for lunch. As an Indian and now having spent some time in the US, work, being open, making money seems so the natural pasttime...now I understand why Europe is Europe...
My room - is small has a bed with linen and a writing table and two chairs. 2 lamps no room light, i share a bathroom and baby kitchen with my apartment mate. Heating coils no gas flame, tiny hotel bar fridge, hand shower but on the whole clean and tidy. (Pictures will be up later)
It also meant I wanted to get out and see the place.
Its in the Center of town opposite the UNHCR building with streets that have lovely cafes all around, and people sitting drinking wine or cafe in the afternoon sun. I first got myself a phone, then scouted for an internet cafe. Bought a phone card and then spent some time figuring out the instructions in French, (that seems to be the case for everything, and when they have alternate languages available they are German and Italian and sometimes a fourth one Romanche - even the Chinese are getting better at English and flooding their markets too).
Lunch at Burger King for 11 francs. Food is not cheap here and I promptly decided to buy groceries and try and minimize outdoor eating..
And I need a Schenzen, and I need a permit and i need good internet access. Internet withdrawal can be as bad as anyother addictive substance...
Stamp Stamp, next...
(Very very professional)
The taxi drive took a little longer to the Residence Universitaire Internationale on Rue Rothschild, no roundabout way, clean cab, excellent driver......and took 30 swiss francs.
(Very very professional)
At the Residence, the reception was empty. The Cafe was not, asked for a coffee, she said something in French, i pointed to the machine and the cups, finally remembered Amelie (the movie) and said cafe and promptly ' ah cafe' then ' fiefsdamd francs'.
I have to learn French I thought while she wrote the numbers on a piece of paper.
Suddenly some one came upto me and said that since yesterday was a holiday, the reception would open for only two hours today. Then she went back to her coffee and paper. It didn't make sense. But then at first she said it in French and then in English, so maybe i got it wrong. The reception opened for exactly two hours as promised between 10 and 12...and it was the same lady. You can guess what she did after 12...
(Very very professional eh!)
But that is Geneva, they also have a one hour time in the middle of the today for lunch. As an Indian and now having spent some time in the US, work, being open, making money seems so the natural pasttime...now I understand why Europe is Europe...
My room - is small has a bed with linen and a writing table and two chairs. 2 lamps no room light, i share a bathroom and baby kitchen with my apartment mate. Heating coils no gas flame, tiny hotel bar fridge, hand shower but on the whole clean and tidy. (Pictures will be up later)
It also meant I wanted to get out and see the place.
Its in the Center of town opposite the UNHCR building with streets that have lovely cafes all around, and people sitting drinking wine or cafe in the afternoon sun. I first got myself a phone, then scouted for an internet cafe. Bought a phone card and then spent some time figuring out the instructions in French, (that seems to be the case for everything, and when they have alternate languages available they are German and Italian and sometimes a fourth one Romanche - even the Chinese are getting better at English and flooding their markets too).
Lunch at Burger King for 11 francs. Food is not cheap here and I promptly decided to buy groceries and try and minimize outdoor eating..
And I need a Schenzen, and I need a permit and i need good internet access. Internet withdrawal can be as bad as anyother addictive substance...
