Sightseeing in Switzerland

In one of my previous blogs, I mentioned how I went to Geneva to speak at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development for their eCommerce week. I honored by the invitation, and since I’d never been to Geneva before, I was quite eager to visit such a historic location and get a feel for the local culture.

 

I’m proud to report that I had a wonderful time.

 

The conference went very well, but I spoke enough about that sort of thing in the previous blog. Today, I’d like to share with you the unique experience I had exploring Switzerland, and perhaps inspire you to go there and do the same.

 

The first thing that struck me about the area is that it feels like you’re situated at a European Intersection. If you take a left at Lake Geneva, you’ll be on your way to Italy, whereas if you turn right you’ll find yourself heading to France. When you spend so much time in America, where you can travel for days and still be in the same country, being able to cross so many borders so easily can come off as quite the novelty. It can really put things in perspective, reminding you how connected we all are, and how the world is so much closer than we tend to realize.

 

The next thing that struck me during my visit was the weather. When I arrived, I was greeted with a warm spring breeze and the lovely sight of flowering magnolia trees. Yet only three days later, I found myself surrounded by snow! I’m sorry to admit, but I was not prepared for such a clash in climate. As comfy as my spring jacket was, and as classy as my shoes were, they did not prove very useful when the temperature dropped. I was sure I’d done my due diligence when looking up what I should wear for the trip, but it just goes to show you how all the research in the world doesn’t compare to what first-hand experience will teach you.

 

Take a note from what a local taxi driver informed me, “In Geneva in April, be prepared for anything.”

 

Mind you, I had prepared for my mother and sister to come along so we could share in the experience as a family, and I’m pleased to say that part of the trip went quite well.

 

The three of us I took a delightful train ride together, taking in the breathtaking scenery along the way. The mountains, rivers, and vineyards are beyond description, they have to be seen to be believed. Of course, as enjoyable as the train was, the places it took us to were exceptional as well. Our first stop was the Favarger chocolate factory, where we watched as the most famous chocolate in the world came to life before our eyes. After that, we travelled the tracks to the village of Gruyere, where we got to see how the world-renown cheese gets its start.

 

In addition to lending its name to a famous dairy product, Gruyere is one of the oldest medieval era villages still around, kept in as close to its original the condition as humanly possible. The architecture is painstakingly preserved, complete with a castle towering over the town. Much like how seeing how close together countries can be is somewhat surprising after being accustomed to America, witnessing these timeless buildings outside of a movie screen or theme park can catch you a little off guard. Mainstream media has made us believe such things are so far in the past that they’re practically legends, but the truth is that some are still alive and well, if you only know where to look.

 

But what would a visit to Gruyere be without trying some of the cheese that put them on the map? While in the village, my family and I shared in the traditional Swish dish, and I’d recommend you do the same. I’ll admit, it wasn’t my favorite, I enjoyed the crepes much more, but I never would’ve known I didn’t give them a try.

 

All those experiences proved exhilarating but exhausting, though I suppose being 8 months pregnant at the time could’ve contributed as well. I only had one day off from the conference before I had to head back home, so I wanted to be sure I packed in as much as possible while I was still there. I don’t know when I’ll go back to Geneva, another opportunity may not arise, but that is precisely why I’m so thankful for all that I did.

 

I consider myself quite lucky to carry the memory of that trip for the rest of my life, and knowing I share it with my mother and sister only makes it more beautiful.

 

You can share in the memory as well, just visit my social media pages to see some of the pictures I took during my travels.

 

 

Sweet Tips with Ally:

 

-Research the weather of locations you will be travelling to, or at the very least, pack clothes for all seasons so you won’t be caught unprepared.

 

- Acknowledge that even though you may not enjoy every local cuisine or custom, you should still be thankful at the chance to experience them and appreciate the opportunity

 

-When travelling to new locations for business trips, try to set aside at least a little time to take in the area. If you’re going to go around the world, make sure you see what it has to offer.