Back to the Mountains

Switzerland, April 25-28

With Georgia at the wheel, we drove from Italy through the Mont Blanc Tunnel, reputed to be the longest in the world at 12 km, and emerged in France en route to Crans, Switzerland, a Geneva suburb, to enjoy the hospitality of our friends Heidi and Robert Middleton, whom Todd had met during his assignment to Geneva in the early 1970’s. Recalling the days when passports were required at a border crossing, Todd was bemused to find the Swiss officials only interested in the payment of approximately $60 for a sticker entitling Valeriu access to the Swiss autoroutes, autobahnen, and autostrade, depending on the canton.


Robert & Heidi at home

We spent the first day visiting some of old Todd’s old haunts in Geneva, especially the Palais des Nations, the UN’s European headquarters, where Todd had held forth in defense of US interests at meetings of GATT and UNCTAD. Across the street from the Palais is the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross, where we had lunch amongst reminders that this organization, sadly enough, still has a major role to play in maintaining a shred of humanity and decency in the world’s conflicts. We ended the day in downtown Geneva, where we visited the old city, where Calvin ruled; the Reformers Wall, a tribute to the Protestant Reformation; and the beautifully flowered quais along the lake.


Museum of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent


Geneva Vielle Ville


Reformers' Wall in Geneva


Quai Wilson in Geneva

The following day Robert and Heidi took us on a tour of their part of Canton Vaud with stops at a winery, a chocolaterie, and a sidewalk restaurant close to Lake Geneva, where we lunched on filets de perche with a bottle of a local white wine. The chocolaterie featured a number of unusual but delicious chocolate declicacies, including one augmented with Earl Grey tea. After lunch we visited the Middletons’ golf club, whose clubhouse, on the shores of the lake, was originally built as a residence by one of Napoleon’s nephews. (No, we didn’t learn his handicap.)


Todd & Georgia at the chocolate factory


Napoleon's nephew's golf course

On Friday we were off to Zermatt, a 2 1/2 –hour drive from Geneva with a brief train ride at the end since cars are banned in the town. When we arrived, competitors from around the world were competing to demonstrate their mountain rescue skills with a Swiss Army band playing for the closing ceremonies. The following pictures also show that the Matterhorn can be visible (mostly) in late April and that Sun Valley has a following in Europe. (Maybe the Holdings should sue.)


Swiss Army band in Zermatt


Sun Valley in Zermatt


The Matterhorn