JE SUIS AMERICAN
Thursday, September 7th, 2006We are finally settling in to our temporary home on the edge of the Alps and I am really enjoying practicing my rusty French again. It really comes back to you, even though I haven’t used it in years, especially comprehension in person. Speaking in long sentences and the phone are always more challenging, of course. I had to deal with a local plumber last evening and have successfully purchased things at the drugstore (La Pharmacie), post office, numerous stores and restaurants. So far, everyone has been really nice, as I am always making a good effort with my French and they don’t seem to get many American tourists up this relatively little valley. Cheryl thinks I make all the women working in the shops blush a bit as we try to communicate and this makes my success at interaction more likely.? Kinda of a big, tall, but quiet American.
Cheyrl and Our good Friend Hannah in Front of Maison Blanche, Vallee Verte
On Tuesday, we went into Geneva and had a really nice day walking about and taking the fabulous public transit. The clean, quiet trams go everywhere and are so easy to get on and off as they are at street level and of course, you can board any door on the honor system for tickets. We even used our transit passes to ride the water taxis across the lake to the Botanical Gardens. Geneva is beautiful and very dramatic with Mount Blanc in the distance and the Jura mountains to the North; however, it does lack a bit of character in culture and could be described as “too perfect”. Of course, we only scratched the tourist surface of the city and it is amazing mix of languages, people, and even money, as they still use the Swiss Franc and are not part of the EU.
We did have the best Tomato Fondue (fondue au Tomate) at a great little neighborhood place recommended by the New York Times last year (Yes, I saved the article). A wonderful blend of three cheeses mixed with a mild tomato flavor, and served with hot potatoes to dip along with the bread. Very unique. We started the meal with the thinnest cut chacuterie plate I’ve ever seen, which was fabulous while sitting out with white wine on a quiet street in the Caroche neighborhood. We lingered over our wine and fondue, but still couldn’t outlast the amazing French/Swiss locals to each side of us and their ability to sit for 2 hours at lunch.
It was a great food start to our trip, but we are sure glad we’re not staying in Western Europe too long this time as it is very expensive with the horrible exchange rate. Luckily, our gracious hosts are treating us very nicely and we are able to enjoy this beautiful area on a small budget of gifts, wine, and a few odd expenses sightseeing. And thank you G.W.B. for taking our global respect AND currency down in value over the past 6 years.
We still have lots to tell you all about, including biking and swimming in Lake Annecy today (fabulous), but my internet is about to be cut off for now.
Au demain,
Rich
rich.coffin