A good thing to know about traveling Europe is that North Americans can get a really good discount on travel by obtaining a pass for the Eurail system here. These come in many denominations of days within 1, 2, or 3 months. For example, you can travel with what I bought-10 days within 2 months, or something similar within 1 or 3, OR you can buy an unlimited travel pass within 1, 2, or 3 months. The first pass cost me about 450 USD while the next one I purchase will be about 870 (2 month unlimited). The 10 day-2 months worked out really well, and I still have one more day left after two big road trips. The thing about the pass I have right now is that the days are not consecutive, which totally rocks cause it's easier to plan my trips. AND, the specialty of the pass is that after 7pm, the pass day you fill in is for the next day; this worked out for trips where I only wanted to be there for a day (like Vienna because it was a pass through), so I would arrive on a train that departed after 7pm, and then I would leave the next day on a train before 7pm to my next location. AWESOME.
The reason I have explained this system is simple: it explains why I took a DAY TRIP to Geneva, Switzerland; simply because I CAN ;)
I had an extra two days left on my pass and need to use them before I leave to Ireland, Scotland, London, and Wales because the rail systems there are not worth the use of the pass-it's easier to bus Ireland and Great Britain doesn't use Eurail Passes. I figure I needed to take a day trip somewhere and then I could use the other day on the pass to get to the airport in Tours on Sunday.
Alright, so Geneva was very nice. I knew I wanted to go to Geneva, not because of the Swiss Alps, the great chocolate, the loads of watches, the 400 foot high spurting water fountain, the beautiful lake front, or the medieval town houses. I NEEDED to go to Geneva for the historical aspect of the Geneva Peace Accords, the United Nations location, and ESPECIALLY the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Museum. You see, the Red Cross headquarters are HERE because this is where it was established by that guy... I am so sorry that I forgot his name... I will have to edit this later-but I do remember that Clara Barton was the first President of this non-profit organization, and she was an American woman living abroad.
In the states, my parents got me into volunteering, especially my mom because she was an instructor with the ARC, and my dad because he is a blood donor with a rare blood type (O+ I think). I volunteered off and on for many years throughout high school, and ended up founding the ARC Youth Council at the Burlington Chapter. I was Vice President because I had so many other things going on that I couldn't take over the chair of President, but that's okay cause I was Head chairman of both the Blood Drive and Disaster Committees. Ironic because I was too young to ever be certified in Disaster training cause you have to be 18 to travel on location.
The museum was BEAUTIFUL, and gave a very in-depth look to the philosophies and history of the RC/C. I took the audio-guide tour and was able to get through the whole museum in 2 hours, as well as watch numerous videos and listen to sound clips of the efforts they have made in the past and continue to do now. Surprisingly, nothing has been put up about the Tsunami efforts, but I inquired about this afterwards and that is because the effort is still going strong over there-they are waiting to release an exhibition until after things have worked themselves out a bit more.
However, there WAS a very good photography exhibit on the Iraq War showing the locations in Afghanistan and Iraq where towns were blown up, soldiers and bystanders were killed, and Saddam's abandoned palace. This exhibit was very emotional because the photos were so graphic; for the first time I was actually able to fathom the pain and suffering of what our troops and those environments have been going through throughout Bush's fight on terror.
This physical WAR ON TERROR was an awful war, and just because it is over does not mean that the violence has stopped. The recovery processes is always the time of more chaos, especially when you are trying to establish a new government. Every day we must remember that there are more injuries and deaths, not only of the US troops, but Iraqi troops AND the citizens of these towns. I feel that no matter what side you are on during war, no one should be denied either a proper burial or proper medical treatment-this comes not only from me being a human being, but from the experiences I have had volunteering. We have to remember that the other side looks at us the same way we look at them. Actually, they probably hate us more because we publicly degrade them to the worst degree AND we are pushing a new way of life on the same people. Democracy works in some places and not in others, and the people of that country are the ones that should make that decision in the end, not a foreign country. I do understand their need for guidance, but, America is only 200ish years old, and GB is over-domineering, but financially more successful. Who says our way or there way is the right way? I would like some input here!
Now, the exhibit was an over all success because it showed all sides, which is a very important concept for the IRC. They showed the citizens, deaths of OUR troops, deaths of THEIR troops, and many that feel in between. I felt that some pictures really put a negative stamp on the American side, but in times of war, inhumanity is a common occurance, and one should never hide the truth of what really happened on any side, even if it is degrading.
After the museum I was able to get back to center city with enough time to walk around and have a nice look at the waterfront. I also got a peak at the beautiful snow-covered Alps, which I didn't see too much of on the train because they are on the other side of the city. Wow, they were a sight for sore eyes. You could really breathe out here.
I stalked up on some Swiss chocolate and drank a lot of water. I was on a huge sugar high by train time, so sitting for 3 hours didn't sound to appealing; that worked out because I definitely wasn't allowed to sit straight through it anyway.
I had gotten to the ticket window to make a reservation for the train, and all spots were filled for the next 3 times. MEANING, I would have gotten back to Paris after midnight if I waited until the next available. Not happening cause I needed some serious sleep to prepare for my next trip on Sunday! So I paid for a reservation on the 9 o'clock train and jumped on the 4:43 anyway just to be fair to the person's seat I was going to steal. It worked for the first 7 out of 10 stops, but I had to play musical chairs many times, and then ended up getting stuck in a seat between the cars. It was cold, but not as bad as after I used the bathroom because I had to leave the seat and someone took it. So then I was stuck on the floor in between cars and my butt was really cold.
However, I made it back to Paris in one peace and with a great phone call. I had just started listening to "Hey Mama", which Tina is notorious for break-dancing to, and just as I was starting to visualize her stupid Cabs dance to it, she CALLED ME. HAHA. LOL. She said she had a huge impulse to call-and this is before I told her about the song. That is definitely some twin telepathy. BOY DO I MISS HER AND ALEX!
She told be about how she and Kerry were meeting up together to party cause its HER 21st BIRTHDAY on the 19th (I got that right I am pretty sure). HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERRY! I AM SO HAPPY YOU MADE IT IN ONE PEACE; I HEART YOU LIKE A SIS, you know-even though I have been replaced by my own sister :( That's okay, I will be back soon and you get two of me!
I am also very happy to announce that Tina will has been accepted into the Rutgers Study Abroad program (or almost anyway, she just needs to get the essay to them but the word from the advisor is that she's in), and she will be in PARIS this summer. This totally works cause I will be in Prague, and we are going to meet up for weekend trips and such all over the friggen continent. When her and Kerry get here, we are doing an 8-10 day world-wind tour of Spain, Italy, and Paris with pass throughs POSSIBLY in Amsterdam and Germany. We will see how many days they have-the more the merrier, and once I know for sure when they are getting here, the better of an idea I will have. I am wickedly excited cause they are flying back with me on Air India, so it's going to be soooooo fun to arrive back in Jersey together. What a finale!
Sunday, Mary and I are leaving on our last trip before the Christmas settle down when Missy arrives. Our 12-day tour for some reason or another fell through on the part of UKI Tour Company, but we are working with Wild-in-Scotland Tours to at least do that part. So, no matter what we are starting in London, doing all that, and then going up through Wales. We are GOING TO DO SCOTLAND ON A TOUR (darn it, cause it sounds so fun), and then backpacking Ireland like originally planned. Let's see how budget permits both of us to get around for that long, not on the tour ;)
YAY FOR BUDDY TRAVELING!
More thumbnails ...
6 votes 
