I sit on the Quai des Berges overlooking the place where the waters of Lake Leman spill under the Quai du Rhône and give birth to the Rhône River. The Rhône will eventually flow into Lyon where it will confluence with the Saône River and continue its way south snaking through the fabulous wine regions which bear its name.
I sit on a bench outside of Starbucks… the only café open at this early morning hour. I arrived at 7:00 am in the morning, and my cab driver dropped me off a couple of blocks away in Place Dorciere. That’s where I plan to take the bus to my next destination, Annecy.
My fingers, chilled from the cold mountain air flowing through the center of Geneva, struggle to articulate as I type. To my left, the emblematic Jet d’Eau awakens shooting out a powerful column of water, its veil of mist floating through the wind. I breathe in the fresh air as lone joggers run past and sly swans eye me suspicious. Perhaps the swans have their sights set on my gauffre (Belgian waffle). So do the pigeons that circle me, much more obvious than the cunning swans.
Another breath of fresh air. The mountain chill slowly jabs at my senses. I take in the beauty of the place. The Alps surrounding the city, their snow covered domes shrouded by low hanging clouds. The elegant shops at the other side of the Quai beckoning with their luxurious window displays. From here I can see the store fronts of Omega, Rolex and Patek Philippe. Even Cartier calls my attention with its large sign high above the building where the store is located. I know from experience that stores of Hermes, Dior, and Longchamp are just behind the ostentatious Cartier signage.
A few blocks down from where I’m sitting, the broad Quai du Mont-Blanc hugs the lake shore across from the high-fashion stores. But this Quai houses a different type of luxury: hotels. In this street the like of the Ritz Carlton and the Beau Rivage (the hotel where Empress Elizabeth of Austria was having lunch at minutes before she got assassinated) stand proudly, marking their territory.
What a city. What beauty congregates here. The natural beauty (Mont Blanc in the distance), the architectural, and fashionable. A perfect combination of luxury.
I take a sip of my vanilla latte and I welcome its warmth. And as the city becomes more awake, it is time for me to walk towards the bus station so I can board the bus to Annecy. I pulverize what is left of my gauffre and divide the crumbs for both the swans and the pigeons. A barrage of feathers envelope the remains of my breakfast. As I drag my heavy bag behind me down the Quai, I reflect on the day before. And as I turn the corner, I pass the exact spot where Empress Elizabeth was assassinated.
The Day Before: Misadventure or Blessing?
After my missed connection in Newark (see previous blog), I decided not to seek a new connection to Geneva via London. I decided to spend spent the night in Newark and get a direct flight for the following day. By the time I made it to the hotel, I was tired and moody.
Travel Tip: Always pack a change of clothes, PJs, and toiletries in your carry on! Always! This is a rule I always follow. There is nothing worse than having to sleep in your day old clothes and then wearing them again the next day.
When I woke up the next day, the first thing I did, was to text my friend Shuba. Shuba is an old friend from my MBA program. She and her husband live in the community of Springfield, about 25 minutes from the Newark airport. I knew that she worked remotely and asked if she had time to meet for lunch. Immediately she responded that she would take a few hours off so we could have coffee and catch up.
The Uber dropped me off at her apartment. While she finished her call with her team, her husband DJ drove me to a coffee shop in downtown Springfield where we chatted for a while until Shuba came to meet us. We spent a few hours catching up. After a delicious lunch, I got a ride to the airport. Everything went smoothly from there. No flight delays, no long lines, no issues at all. My bag made it safely to Geneva. In fact, I even got upgraded! To Premium Plus. It was a nice surprise.
After reflecting on my day, I truly believe that my nightmare journey was not a detriment to my travel itinerary. In fact, it was an improvement to my trip.
