Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
A walk around Geneva
It is great to be back in Geneva! Here are some pics from walking around...
Jade and the entrance to Old Town
Public drinking fountain
Museum
Advertisement for the arts
Lovely apartment building
Center Square of Old Town
Church in the background of the center square of Old Town
Madison Store
Cool 3 Wheel Bike
You can Recycle your bottles and your Pets?!
Branches that have grown around a metal fence
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Back in Switzerland
Well I am back in Switzerland at the Cargill apartment after surviving my worst flying experience so far. Since it is a comedy of errors I thought I would share it with you.
Firstly, at the Calgary airport I was flagged for not having a VISA in my passport. So the AirCanada employees took my passport to discuss it further while I waited with my baggage. They concluded that it is the decision of the Swiss Government to let me into the country even though I kept explaining that I have been approved for a residence permit. So that got me a bit excited before I went through security. After I said my sad goodbyes to my parents I headed through security for my lucky “random” Pat Down…ugh!
The flight was very pleasant this time, no smokers in the bathroom or flight attendants breaking down in tears but I didn’t sleep. So when I arrived at Frankfort I was running on empty, so like a robot I moved towards my gate. Since Germany is part of the EU and Switzerland is not, I have to go through security again and yes I received another lucky “random” Pat Down…grrr!
As I arrived at my gate the sign at the desk said Geneva so I gave the attendant my connection flight ticket and off I went thinking wow smooth timing with the flight connection! Mid air I decide to look at my ticket again and I notice that I AM ON THE WRONG FLIGHT!! I had managed in my exhausted state to board on to a two hour earlier flight to Geneva. So now I am in a panic, what do I do? Should I wait till my proper flight lands to go through passport control? Will my luggage come now or with my later flight?!
I decided to wait an hour in a little chair before going through passport control. I gave my best Canadian dimple girl smile and they waved me through to the luggage claim. Phew! So I waited an hour in luggage claim outside of Customs. As I lurked over the baggage carousels I received various looks from travelers till finally my flight arrives! I waited with the passengers as the bags rolled around and around and YUP my bags ARE NOT THERE!
So after not sleeping for 24 hours and going through security twice and getting on an incorrect flight I made my way to baggage claim in a very distraught state. They gave me my reference number and told me to go to bed. I headed to the apartment and had a nap and later that night I was called to pick up my baggage. Phew what a day!
Firstly, at the Calgary airport I was flagged for not having a VISA in my passport. So the AirCanada employees took my passport to discuss it further while I waited with my baggage. They concluded that it is the decision of the Swiss Government to let me into the country even though I kept explaining that I have been approved for a residence permit. So that got me a bit excited before I went through security. After I said my sad goodbyes to my parents I headed through security for my lucky “random” Pat Down…ugh!
The flight was very pleasant this time, no smokers in the bathroom or flight attendants breaking down in tears but I didn’t sleep. So when I arrived at Frankfort I was running on empty, so like a robot I moved towards my gate. Since Germany is part of the EU and Switzerland is not, I have to go through security again and yes I received another lucky “random” Pat Down…grrr!
As I arrived at my gate the sign at the desk said Geneva so I gave the attendant my connection flight ticket and off I went thinking wow smooth timing with the flight connection! Mid air I decide to look at my ticket again and I notice that I AM ON THE WRONG FLIGHT!! I had managed in my exhausted state to board on to a two hour earlier flight to Geneva. So now I am in a panic, what do I do? Should I wait till my proper flight lands to go through passport control? Will my luggage come now or with my later flight?!
I decided to wait an hour in a little chair before going through passport control. I gave my best Canadian dimple girl smile and they waved me through to the luggage claim. Phew! So I waited an hour in luggage claim outside of Customs. As I lurked over the baggage carousels I received various looks from travelers till finally my flight arrives! I waited with the passengers as the bags rolled around and around and YUP my bags ARE NOT THERE!
So after not sleeping for 24 hours and going through security twice and getting on an incorrect flight I made my way to baggage claim in a very distraught state. They gave me my reference number and told me to go to bed. I headed to the apartment and had a nap and later that night I was called to pick up my baggage. Phew what a day!
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