ON THE MOVE AGAIN

Back in the USA

2011-08-30T12:41:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know that I have not updated the blog in quite some time. It is not because I have lost interest or because I have been lazy. It is because life has been a bit crazy. Actually, life has been more than a bit crazy…it has been completely hectic. Running around like a chicken with its head cut off crazy! There is so much to report that I have no idea where to begin. I guess to keep it simple (if possible), I will start with the present and work backwards (most likely over several entries).

Right now I am composing this blog not from the comforts of our Geneva flat but from the not so comfortable cramped, stuffy laundrymat at the Marriott Courtyard in Washington, DC. Yes, we are in the US. And we are not just on holiday…we are back for good! After an amazing and unforgettable 3.5 years in Europe, we have said our goodbyes and have our feet planted on home soil (Ok, the feet are far from planted but they are slowly digging). While I want to describe my thoughts and feelings about moving back, I will save that for another time as the chapters are still being written in a novel that is guaranteed to rival the length of War and Peace. Facts and logistics first…

This move has been in the works for many months. However, it has been kept a small secret as major details such as where and when changed daily if not hourly as Jignesh was exploring new career opportunities. Despite moving out of our Geneva flat over a month ago and being homeless since that time, those details were just finalized late last week. I can, with confidence (I think), finally report that we were will be returning to Southern California (Orange County) where Jignesh will re-connect with the same boss and company that he worked for while we lived in San Diego!

Yes, the last few months have been absolutely nuts and but I have to admit that we have also managed to have a bit of fun along the way. Since my last entry, we have travelled to Lyon (France) and Istanbul (Turkey) for short getaways. We also squeezed in a 10 trip to Kenya for a safari and some relaxation on the coast. Finally, we were had a wonderful time with my 93 year-old Grandparents in Boston. Of course, more details and pictures on those adventures are to come!

Edinburgh, Scotland

2011-06-22T09:09:00.000-07:00

With Jignesh on a two-week plus business trip earlier this month, I found myself getting a bit stir crazy and decided to take a last-minute trip to Edinburgh. Alone! While I have always admired people who have the confidence to dine alone or got to a movie by themselves, I am just not that type of person. When I do things like that, I feel like a fish in a bowl. So, I really debated about going on this trip as I was not sure I would even have much fun. In the end, the lure of travel and visiting a city that always gets great reactions took over. So, off I went! And I am more than glad I did. I had the freedom to do exactly what I wanted when I wanted. I browsed all the cashmere and wool stores to my heart's content and stopped in every charity shop for a few mindless but enjoyable books. I practiced my photography using the most random things as subjects and scheduled in a daily run. So, I have established that travelling alone is not so bad afterall. Now, a little more about Edinburgh itself.

A small and beautiful city, Edinburgh has a distinct old and new town. Old town is filled with mazes of closes and alleys where Edinburgh's entire population lived in crowed tenements while new town is considered to be one of Europe's greatest examples of Georgian town planning. I explored both. I walked the Royal Mile of old town starting at the top with the Edinburgh castle and ending at the bottom with the Palace of Holyroadhouse (the Queen's official residence in Scotland and pictured above). Along the way, I peeked into a few churches and admired various statues and buildings. On my second day, I even took a tour of the undergound vaults where people used to live and work. With Princes Street, new town is the popular shopping district and is also filled with some great cafes, restaurants, and boutiques hidden on back streets and squares. I had a blast window shopping and leisurely checking out all the famous statues and former residences of well-known writers.

My favorite part of Edinburgh was Holyroad Park and Canongate. Arthur's Seat, an extinct volcano, dominates this area as it soars 823ft above the city. Last erupting 325 million years ago, it now provides locals and visitors with great veiw of the city and the eastern coastlineof Scotland...just don't climb it in flip flops!

While I still would rather travel with others, travelling alone is definitely eye-opening and definitely builds character. It is even fun! While I will definitely do it again (maybe soon), I do not think I will every feel completely comfortable dining alone.

Au Revoir.

Edinburgh Pics

2011-06-19T06:09:00.001-07:00

View from the top of Arthur's Seat

The path to Arthur's Seat

A Statue of a Horse

A Small Side Street

Gotta Love a Man in a Kilt!

Old Town

Some More Old Town

Grocery Stores Woes

2011-06-12T09:57:00.000-07:00

One of the most frustrating things about living in Switzerland is the lack of store hours. All stores, including grocery stores, close by 7pm on weekdays and 6pm on Saturdays. Everything is completely closed on Sundays. If you need something unexpectedly outside of opening hours, your only option is to trek across town to the airport where there is a small grocery store with extended hours. So, as you can imagine, grocery stores are completely packed on Saturday afternoons.

Since I have a bit of flexibility in my schedule, I have adapted to these hours and usually do not find them inconvient. This weekend, however, I found myself wishing (for the frist time) there was a Kroger or Super Target around the corner.

While out on a kayaking trip with Ski Club on Saturday, I discovered that Monday is a Swiss holiday and that all stores and businesses would be closed. My thoughts immediately drifted to a visual of my refrigerator and pantry and I realized that unless I could make it to the store before closing, I would be forced to survive on old green onions, a half jar of peanut butter, and a few stale granola bars for two and a half days.

Arriving in Geneva at 5:35 still in my swimsuit and wet clothes, I bee-lined for the grocery store while making a mental grocery list. All my thoughts went out the window when I was confronted with complete chaos. What I found resembled Toys R' Us on the day they release the hottest Christmas item. There was a line to just get into the store and people were practically fighting for the few remaining carts and/or baskets. It was impossible to navigate the crowded, narrow aisles while dodging carts, strollers, and running children. I did not think things could get any worse until an employee started to discount the very last of the fruits and veggies. Shoppers started to surround this poor guy as if he was Brad Pitt stripped down naked. Even though I really wanted some fresh fruits and vegetables, I skipped the produce area seeking out any area that would not leave me with scratches and bruises. Juggling the most random items (What can I make with prosciutto, yogurt, oatmeal, and cashews?) in my arms, I just wanted to get the heck out of there! I soon discovered that would not be so easy when I encounted what seemed to be a mile long wall of people waiting to check out. If I had had enough cereal and milk and at home to last until Tuesday, I would have jumped shipped but I knew that I had absolutely nothing at home. So, I braved the line and waited impatiently. Of course, the 15 people in front of me all seemed to have one problem or another. One could forgot to weigh her veggies. Another could not get his credit card to work while another one dropped a can of pasta sauce. Finally, I reached the front of the line, checked out and payed as if I was being chased by a shark. It is a good thing that I one of those random items I bought was a bottle of wine!

Au Revoir.

Munich Pics

2011-06-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

Let's Explore!

The Hofbrauhaus

Some beer...

Another Beer Garden

Surfing the Isar River...these guys were awesome!

Marienplatz, Munich's Main Square

Munich, Germany

2011-06-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Wow. I cannot believe that it has been a month since my last post! I am not sure where the time as gone. We have had a lot going on but at the same time nothing much to report. Is that possible? At any rate, I am back!

Last week, we put the Daewood to another test as we headed to both Milan and Munich. Jiggy had a conference in Milan so I (of course, Schlopy came too) tagged along and enjoyed the ammenities (gym, spa, etc) of a nice hotel. I also bummed around Milan and hit some shops of the world's biggest fashion capital. Surprisingly, Jignesh was the only one that benefited from those days out.

After Jignesh's conference, we spent the rest of the week and part of the weekend in Munich, Germany. The drive from Milan to Munich took us through four countries (Italy, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany) and treated us to some of the most amazing scenery I have ever seen. We were not disappointed in our final destination either.

A city full of history and culture, Munich is also diverse, vibrant, and liveable. Since Munich has endless things to see and do, we did not have time to tackle everything. There is, however, no doubt that we caught the contangious buzz of this southern German city. Jignesh, of course, loved the beer gardens and halls and took every opportunity to visit them. While Jignesh endulged in his vice, I was more than happy to sample one of mine. Pretzels. At the beginning of the weekend, I tried to match every beer of Jignesh with a pretzel of my own. However, a girl can only eat so much bread so I quickly gave up (not before trying a delicious pretzel soup) and started to try some of the other local specialities. Aside from drinking lots of beer and eating lots of pretzels, we also checked out all the main sights and walked around the Isar River.

An extremely friendly bike city with expansive parks and gardens, one of the best things we did was join Mike's Bike Tours (www.mikesbiketours.com/munich) for a half day tour of the city. With Matt as our trusty and entertaining guide, the tour was suppose to be a leisurely, fun way to learn about the city, its history, and its buildings. Jignesh, however, thought we was competing in the Tour de France and after attempting a wheelie, came away with some incredible road rash. Only Jignesh!

Since we loved Munich so much, it is a good thing we left some things on the list as an excuse to return!

Au Revoir.

7 Year Itch

2011-05-06T00:04:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday, May 1st, marked our 7th wedding anniversary! Despite the stigma of this particular anniversary, I have to admit that there is no itching here. In fact, it feels like just yesterday that our wedding party went missing in Tijuana and we set our hotel curtains on fire. While we normally try to take a weekend away for our anniversary, this year we decided to stay home since we had been on the go with my parents for the previous three weeks. Instead, we bummed around Geneva all day with a pub stop followed by lunch at an outdoor Italian restaurant. With absolutely incredible weather, it was a perfectly relaxing day. Typically, we do not make a big deal of anniversary gifts but we both wanted to exchange them this year. However, when the day came around, neither one of us had found the time to hit the stores. For some reason, I was a bit upset. I did not care about not receiving a present but was mad at myself for not making the effort to make the day truly special. So, Jignesh came up with the idea to turn the entire month of May into annivesary month. we have decided to surprise each other with small gifts or gestures for the next few weeks. Week one brought an hour long home massage for me and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups purchased at the American Market and snuck into his computer bag for Jignesh! Let the fun continue!

Au Revoir.

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T00:52:00.000-07:00

I am not a huge follower of the British Royal Family and definitely do not understand the obsession with them but having lived in London for a bit and currently receiving BBC television, it is impossible not to be caught up in the craziness of the Royal Wedding. And it is crazy! Today has been declared a UK national holiday. TV coverage has been non-stop since the announcement of the engagement with every detail from the flowers to the invites being disected ten times over. Souvenirs of every type have been produced to commenerate the wedding (I have even seen a refrigarator with a huge photo of William and Catherine on the front). People have been camping along the parade route for days. And lawn parties are being held in every major park as well as private gardens. Of course, this all being done in a proper, organized manner. While I am not joining others to view the wedding, I do admit that as I write this, I am curled up on the couch with a cup of coffee watching all the events unfold live. And yes, I am even getting anxious to see the dress.

I will never comprehend the hoopla over two people and their wedding (not to mention the money spent!) but it is fantastic to see the country come together and show such pride. So, I guess, without further ado...Congrats William and Catherine!

Au Revoir

Easter in Paris!

2011-04-28T07:56:00.001-07:00

The Louvre

Moulin Rouge

Enjoying our daily breakfast of croissants at an amazing neighborhood bakery

Dad and the Eiffel Tower

Mom and Dad at Place de Concorde

Out and About in Switzerland!

2011-04-20T00:36:00.000-07:00

Top of the Jura

Megeve, France

Murten, Switzerland

Which Way Do We Go?

Top of Mount Pilatus

Exploring Switzerland

2011-04-19T10:19:00.000-07:00

Since returning from our trip to Rome, We (my parents and I) have been busy exploring Switzerland (and neighboring France) by car, foot, and bike! Using the small Swiss town of St. Cergue as a starting point, we hiked the Jura and were rewarded with some amazing views of Geneva, Lac Leman, and the surrounding countryside. We also visited the French ski town of Megeve for some window shopping and a another hike. Pedaling around Lac Geneva, we ventured off the main roads and discovered a few small, idealic Swiss villages. Les Carroz, a favorite French ski resort of Jignesh and myself, was also on the list. Over the weekend, we packed our bags for an overnight trip to Mount Pilatus and Lucerne. Situated in central Switzerland, Lucerne is German speaking and feels worlds away from Geneva in both looks and attitude. Due to its location on the shores of Lake Lucerne and within sight of Mount Pilatus and the Alps, Lucerne was voted the fifth most popular tourist destination in the world by Tripadvisor and is considered by many to be the most beautiful city in Switzerland! With an old city full of character buildings and the medievil Chapel Bridge (pictured above), I would agree. We had a wonderful time just walking and taking in the scenery. Mount Pilatus, home to the world's steepest cogwheel railway, seems to explode from nowhere with a height of 6,982 ft. Although we were unable to take the cogwheel due to the snow, we did ride the gondola to the top for some amazing views. We even witnessed a skydiver take off from the top of the mountain! To return to the bottom, we opted to hike rather than use the roundtrip ticket on the gondola. On the trip home, we randomly pulled off the highway to check out the small town of Murten. Not knowing what to expect, we were rewarded with many well preserved attractions from the past...a beautiful castle, a ring wall, and numerious churches. Sometimes the best places are those that are overlooked by the travel books and blogs and this was no exception! What a week of exploring my adopted country!

Au Revoir.

Rome, Italy

2011-04-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

Mama and Papa Osz are in town for a visit so last week we headed to Rome, Italy. Since I have been to Rome before, I was able (sort of) to serve as a tourguide for the newbies. Despite some lingering jet lag from their flight from the US just two days before, Mom and Dad wanted to hit the ground running and we wasted no time seeing the sights. With gorgeous weather on our side and comfortable walking shoes, we were able to see all the major attractions in three days. While Mom was awed by the Colosseum, Dad was impressed with Vatican City and the Sistine Chapel. Of course, we also peopled watched in front of the Trevi Fountain, window shopped on Via dei Condotti, walked up the Spanish Steps, wandered through the Roman Forum, and checked out the painters in Piazza Novano. We even explored some of the more secluded areas such as Villa Borghese (Rome's answer to Central Park). Of course, you cannot visit Italy without endulging in some local food and wine. Lunch everyday was a slice of pizza and a huge scoop (or two) of gelato. Dinner was our big meal of the day and we made an effort to scope out mom and pop restaurants favored by locals. Our favorite, Dell' Omo, has been family run for 50 years and serves authentic, homemade regional dishes in a dining room that looks like a stereoptypical "grandmother's kitchen." If you are looking for a true Italian experience and are not in a hurry, this is the place! On our last day in Rome, we headed outside the city for a day trip to the ancient village of Tivoli. Since it was Mom and Dad's 39th wedding anniversary, we had to stroll through the romantic gardens and fountains of Villa d' Este and hiked through the ravine of Villa Gregoriana. Although we never found the medevil bridge that Mom wanted to see, it was the perfect escape from the crowds of Rome. What a way to end the trip! Au Revoir Au Revoir.

Rome with Mama and Papa Osz!

2011-04-10T13:08:00.000-07:00

Just Another Ruin...

The Roman Forum

The Pantheon

Trevi Fountain

Gelato...Umm, Umm Good

St. Peter's Square

Movie, Pizza, and Lots of Wine

2011-03-25T01:02:00.000-07:00

While we love to learn about new cultures, it is also fun to introduce others to a bit of American life. For some time now, Jignesh has wanted to introduce a few of his co-workers to one of his favorite movies, "Office Space." So, earlier this week we hosted a mid-week movie night.

Unceremoniously released in 1999 with little fanfare and almost no marketing, Office Space flopped at the box office. However, when released on video, it quickly found a following and soon became an American cultural icon. In fact, this movie has become one of the most quoted in the last decade. If you haven't seen this movie, go rent it today. If you have seen it, watch it again! You cannot go wrong with this intelligently constructed social satire of corporate America (or any general office environment).

Although our living room is small and seating was limited, we made up with lots of yummy homemade food and packed the frig with beer. And what did people drink? Wine. Lots and lots of wine. Only in Europe would people attend a casual movie night and drink wine. Oh well, at least Jignesh is stocked for the next 3 months!

Au Revoir

Torino, Italy!

2011-03-21T10:47:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we headed to Torino (Turin), Italy with our good friends Riefqah and Cesar (oh, Schlopy came too)! Located in northern Italy and the host of the 2006 Winter Olympics, Torino is a bustling city known for its industry (headquarters for the car companies Fiat and Alfa Romeo are here) but highlighted with a gorgeous city center. The 2.5 drive from Geneva is a beautiful one as you pass through the Alps, the Mont Blanc tunnel, and many small, rural Italian towns. The number of castles and forts perched on hilltops just off the highway is amazing!

We stayed at Townhouse 70 (http://www.townhouse.it/th70/), a small boutique hotel in the city center. The best part of the hotel? The delicous breakfast served around a huge communal table! Umm Umm Good!

While we originally had loose plans to see all the main sights (cathedrals, museums, etc), I have to admit that we spent most of the weekend shopping, eating, and taking loads of pictures... we had to escape the constant rain somehow! And yes, our wallets were a bit lighter at the end of the weekend as we all scored some beautiful Italian threads. Our stomachs, however, were a bit bigger after visiting several pizzerias, pastry shops and a more formal restaurant serving traditional (and very interesting) northern Italian dishes.

Before reluctantly heading back to Geneva on Sunday, we visited the Lingotto. Once the largest car factory in the world, the Lingotto impressed architect Cesar as with its interesting design and test track on the roof! Today, this building is home to a shopping mall, cinema, university, hotel, and concert hall.

The weekend was so short that we even missed one of the most important and famous streets in Torino. Ooops! I guess we will just have to go again...

Au Revoir.

The French Riviera

2011-03-03T00:38:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, we headed south to the French Riviera. Nice, France is located in the Cote d' Azur and shares the coast with its more famous neighbors of Monaco, Marseille, and Cannes.
For some, this area is the quintessential Mediterranean playground while others consider it overdeveloped and trapped in its expensive image. We found it relaxing and captivating. Leading up to the trip, it had been a long week and I have to admit that we were both not expecting much. At 5 hours, the drive was a bit long for only two nights and the forecast called for rain all weekend. And with such a good deal on the hotel, how good could it really be? Well, we were proven wrong the minute we arrived. Our hotel room was amazing. It was modern and surprisingly spacious. With ceiling to floor windows overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and a huge balcony complete with a lounge chairs and a table, we were in heaven. The bed seemed to be as big as our living room and Schlopy had a blast trying out all the chairs and comfy sofa. Furthermore, we were excited to learn that Nice's annual Carnaval festival would be taking place that weekend and that our balcony would provide front row seats to the all the parades and activities. Oh, and despite being a bit overcast, the weather was temperate with not a drop of rain in sight.

After a great night's and much needed sleep on Friday night, we had a long, lazy, and amazing breakfast before heading out for a long walk on along on the Promenade des Anglais (Nice's popular seaside boulevard). We meandered throught the market and then climbed the hill to the chataeu for some amazing views of the city and sea. Slowly making our way back to the hotel so we could catch the afternoon Flower Parade, we stopped at a Thai restaurant for take-out and had a picnic on the water. With a glass of wine, we were entertained with fantastic floats, dancers, musicians, and other characters in the Flower Parade. We also loved people watching as silly string and streamers filled the sky. With a few hours left before stores closed, we hit the city center for some shopping and more sightseeing. After dinner at Poco Loco, a lively mexican joint, we headed back to the hotel and caught the spectacle of Carnaval's Night Parade.

Before heading home on late Sunday afternoon with a stunning drive through Provence, we decided to spend a few hours in the famous city of Cannes. Although Nice undoubtedly has money, it is also a working city as it is the fifth largest in France. Cannes is all image. The amount of money is incredible and on display. The port is filled with boats that start at 15 million dollars and dogs wear diamond studded collars. Women are dressed in nothing but the latest and most expensive designs while men are distinctively distinguished. Although it may not be our type of place to live, it was fun to spend a few hours wandering around and imagining a life full of yacts and diamonds.

I am not sure if the weekend went by so fast because it was crazy short or because we had such a great time. We were together (with our son!) in an great city and enjoyed the benefits of a nice hotel. There is definitely something to be said for just "getting away" and I think it was just what we needed.

Au Revoir!

Nice and Cannes Pictures

2011-02-28T11:10:00.001-08:00

The famous yachts of Cannes

Carnaval's Night Parade

An interesting character of Carnaval

Carnaval's Flower Parade

Flower Parade viewed from our hotel balcony!

Some Carnaval Fun

One of Nice's Ports

Nice's Coastline

Hanging out in Nice

Fire! Fire! Fire!

2011-02-23T11:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday started out like any other Tuesday. I played tennis in the morning followed by a great run by the lake. After a stop at the grocery store, I headed home for a few hours before teaching some afternoon tennis lessons. Returning to my car after my lessons, I was looking forward to a quiet evening with Jignesh as french class was on Febuary break (yes, all Switzerland schools have a Febuary "ski" break). Well, the rest of the day did not exactly go to plan when I instinctively checked my mobile (which I had left in the car) while pulling out of the parking lot. A text from our neighbor, Frederic, indicated that there had been a minor fire in the flat directly above ours! Completely frantic and worried about Schlopy, who was home alone, I made like Mario Andretti and raced throught the streets of Geneva towards home. What I found was terrifying. Five firetrucks, 3 ambulances, and multiple police cars blocked the street. Onlookers had stopped to check out the commotion as dozens of emergency workers flooded the area. I slammed into the first available parking spot, grabbed only my keys, and ran as fast as I could to our building (yes, I might have knocked over an innocent pedestrian or two). Shaking, upse, and scared, I skidded to a halt and attemped to explain in French to the nearest firefighter that I lived on the third floor. Obviously my French was getting me nowhere as the guy just stared at me. Switching to Frenglish, I desperately repeated that my dog was in there. After calming me down, the firefighter found a English speaking colleague who escorted me to my apartment where I was relieved to find a terrified but safe Schlopy. While our flat was untouched except for some smoke and minor water damage, the flat above us was completely destroyed! Almost nothing remains in the charred ruins. The common areas of the building are a mess with broken windows, ash, and odors. I am sure the next few weeks will be filled with cleaners and repairmen. The cause of the fire is still unknown but is rumored to be caused by the older and medicated lady who lives in the destroyed flat. She was taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation while a resident from the fifth floor was rescued by ladder. Thankfully, both have recovered. I cannot begin to imagine what would have happened if the fire had lasted just a few minutes longer. While these events definitely made an everyday Tuesday a bit more exciting, I hope that next Tuesday will return to its mundane ways!

Au Revoir!

Waka Waka..It's Time for Africa!

2011-02-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

Marrakech, a city in the north African country of Morocco, is one of the most interesting and unusual places I have visited in my expanding list of destinations. Since Marrakech marked my first time in Africa as well as my first time in a Muslim country, I had no idea what to expect. Upon arrival, I found an overwhelming city of narrow alleys overflowing with donkey carts, bicycles, scooters, and kids constantly offering to show you around (for a price). But, after further examimation, I also found a city full of culture and religion that still manages to be inviting and beautiful despite the chaos. Jignesh repeatedly compared it to a calm India.

The Medina (old city) showcases traditional Morocco. Convential dress of head scarves and djellabas (long, loose-fitting robes) are abudant and five times a day the call to prayer from various mosques fill the air. Women are seen carrying buckets on their way to and from hammams (local steam baths) while men are either making or selling local goods. While there are a few sites to see (Saadian tombs, Ben Youssef Madrasa, and Koutoubia Mosque), the main highlights of the Medina are the Souks and the Djemaa el Fna.

The Souks (markets) can easily be a two day event on their own! Set in small, winding back alleys that are not always found on maps, thousands of vendors sell everything from spices to lanterns. It is a never ending madness of colors, shouting, and speeding scooters. While it is a fun to simple get lost while window shopping, it is a blast to actually enter the stall and bargain! Bargaining is expected and if you master the game, you can score some great deals while simultanously getting to know the locals and their culture.

Djemaa el Fna, one of Africa's busiest squares, is the heartbeat of the Medina. By day, locals and tourists gather to watch dancers, musicians, acrobats, and story-tellers while enjoying fresh squeezed orange juice from one of several stands. And yes, there are snake charmers throughout the square hypnotizing cobras with various instruments. By night, Djemaa el Fna becomes a huge open air restuarant as food booths take over.

If you want to escape all the mayhem of the Medina, there are a few options. One of the most popular is to stay at a riad. Riads, traditional Moroccan homes with interior courtyards and rooftop terraces, are commonly remodeled into restaurants and B&B's. Riad Safa (http://www.riad-safa.com/), our chosen home for the weekend, was a wonderful oasis. Our first night we enjoyed an amazing tajine dinner and every morning we started our day with a traditional Moroccan breakfast. In the evenings we got relaxed with some other guests and learned a lot about Moroccan culture, politics and everyday life by the riad's caretaker, Brahim.

If a riad does not do the tick of calming your nevers after a day of bargaining and nearly getting killed by a scooter, then head to Gueliz. Gueliz, a neighborhood outside of the old city, is modern and liberal. Fashion reflects western influences as store sell popular name brands. New and renovated flats/houses line the strees. Restaurants even sell alcohol and a few nightclubs provide an active nightlife.

While not necessarily relaxing, this trip was undoubtedly eye-opening and demonstrates one of the reason why I love to travel...to see and experience different cultures, religions, and ways of life.

Au Revoir!

Marrakech Pics

2011-02-08T10:20:00.001-08:00

The heart and soul of Marrakech are the souks (markets)

A popular mode of transporting goods

A bearded Jignesh was often mistaken for everything from a local to an Italian

Traditional tajine pots

An unusually calm Medina alley

Locals making and selling their wares

Jemaa-El-Fna Square, Marrakech's heart of the old city

Just two of the thousands of stray cats

Marrakech is known as the "red city" because of its numerous red buildings

You Have Lived in Geneva Too Long When

2011-01-26T23:57:00.000-08:00

1. You think $25 for an individual pizza is reasonable.

2. You don't blink twice when you see a Ferrari or Bentley parked on the side of the road.

3. You don't expect to get anything less than a 100chf bill from the ATM.

4. You think Swiss wine is good.

5. You know the operating hours of the Jet d' Eau.

6. Skis become an extension of your feet starting December 15th BUT you only ski in absolutely perfect conditions.

7. You plan your entire week around grocery store hours (or lack of them).

8. You automatically allow yourself 30 extra minutes to find parking.

9. You buy a Swiss watch (or two).

10. You eat cheese fondue only in the winter.

11. You feel guilty for disobeying the crosswalk signal even though there is not a car in sight.

12. You are not surprised when someone tells you it took them 6 months to secure a flat.

13. You drive to France to save money on just about everything.

14. You know the location off the all speed cameras on your regular driving routes.

15. You are afraid to flush your toilet after 10pm because it might upset the old lady upstairs.

Au Revoir.

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

2011-01-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

Over the past week, I have logged onto the blog numerous times with the intent of writing a new entry on 2010 giving way to 2011. But, for some reason, I just cannot seem to express what I want to say. A few times I managed to formulate an opening sentence or two. Mostly, though, I just sat and stared at the screen even though my mind was racing with thoughts. Yes, I could have skipped writing this particular entry althogether. But, I think 2010 was an important and exciting one and that 2011 might give its predecessor a run for its money. I may ramble, lose my thoughts, or write complete nonsense (Maybe that is not so different from my other entries?) but I am going to give it a go nonetheless.

2010 brought some huge changes for Jignesh and I. Moving to Geneva in late 2009, 2010 was a year of adventures as we settled into a country that we knew very little about and where we did not speak the language. From simple things like finding baking powder at the grocery store to big things like securing a place to live, Geneva certaintly presented us with challenges. Although many cultural differences (lack of business and store hours, strict rules, etc) frustrated us, we slowly adjusted to a new Swiss-American life with both some laughs and tears along the way. Heck, we now actually think $25 for an individual pizza is reasonable! On the flip side, our new life also provided us with some amazing opportunities. We bought a car (the Daewood is still going strong) and took some fantastic road trips through Europe, began twice weekly French lessons, and purchased our first set of skis! We also met and made friends with people from all over the world. While Jignesh busied himself at work and hit the gym again, I joined a tennis club and also took some photography lessons. I further used my free time to experiment in the kitchen a bit more. Oh, somewhere in of all this, we also celebrated are 6th wedding anniversary (in Lake Como, Italy!). It was undoubtedly a year to grow personally by learning and experiencing many new things but simultaneously re-conneting with some old interests.

Now, on to 2011. To be honest, I have no idea what to expect in the coming year. Just when things seem to become clear, they quickly get all rattled once again. Regardless, I am fairly confident that 2011 will be yet another year of big changes. As for resolutions, I am not the type to make formal ones. Yes, I have a few things that I would like to accomplish but I also think that goals change depending on your circumstances. And, knowing us, our circumstances can change unexpectedly! So, I think I will keep my "resolutions" personal and simply see where our life takes us over the coming months.

Bonne Anee!

Christmas in Israel

2011-01-05T11:14:00.000-08:00

While being away from family during Christmas is very hard and always produces a few tears, visiting close friends in a place you never thought you would see definitely makes it a whole lot easier. With our time in Europe possibly coming to an end (more on that later....), we decided to spend the holidays not in the States or even Europe. On the generous invitation of Jay and Galit who allowed us to crash with them and their adorable daughter, we found ourselves in the Middleastern country of Israel! And, wow, what a country! And what a trip! While Israel is the home to many important religious sights, it is also a lively country with great diversity and cultures. The beaches, restaurants, and weather also fantastic. Thanks to Jay's intense clipboard of fun, we saw and did so much. In this post (or over a few), I am going to try and cover all the details (ok, at least the highlights). So, here it goes....

Day One- This crazy, event-packed day started with a walking tour of Jerusalem's Old City. This tour covered the four quarters (Jewish, Muslim, Armenian, and Christian) of the Old City. While there is no distinct seperationg between the quarters, the architectural and cultural differences are noticable. Some of the highlights of the tour include The Church of the Holy Sepulcher (the sight where Jesus was crucified, buried, and then rose from the dead), Dome of the Rock and Temple Mount (and Islamic Shrine), Via Doloroso (the route Jesus walked from the place of trial to the site of his crucifixion), and the Western Wall (considered the most important Jewish Shrine). We also briefly saw the room of the Last Supper, Tomb of David, and a traditional Arab market. The tour also included an amazing, all-you-could-eat lunch at an authentic Arab restaurant...we will talk about this lunch for a long time! After the tour concluded, Jay took over guiding duties and showed us around the Shouk (traditional outdoor maket selling a bit of everything) as well as the outskirts of the Old City. Dinner was some Shwarma in the Old City. The day ended with a a tour of the Western Wall Tunnel. This tour allows visitors to go underground (you are actually walking below houses!) and see parts of the Western Wall that cannot be seen from the main plaza while getting detailed information on the Wall's construction and significance.

Day Two- An early start again, day two opened with a free, muncipality-sponsored tour of Jaffa. A neighborhood just outside of Tel Aviv, Jaffa is mentioned in the Bible as a connection with many significant events (Jonah set off from Jaffa before being swallowed by a whale, the cedars used in the construction of Temple passed through Jaffa on their way to Jersalem) and is home to one of world's oldest ports. Today, Jaffa houses individuals from every religion and has both a thriving artist community as well as a popular flea market. In Jaffa, we also enjoyed a delicious lunch of Shakshouka and veggie couscous. Here, we also met up with Galit's Dad (who runs a business in Jaffa) for some coffee and pastries!

Day Three- The Vad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust history memorial museum, is an amazing place and a must see for anyone visiting Israel. While the museum is free to all visitors, it is worth the money to hire a private guide. Otherwise, it would be almost impossible to nagivate the grounds and understand many of the exhibits. Although she kept calling Jiggy "Gigi" and had me married to Jay by the end of the tour, Hazy not only lead us through the museum but also shared some amazing stories on many Holocaust survivors. After an emotional but educational morning, we lightened the mood with a long lunch followed by an evening light show at the Tower of David.

Day Four-Every trip needs a day dedicated to shopping! After three full days packed with programmed activities, day four of our trip was the perfect day to head to a few of Tel Aviv's popular markets. After wandering through the flea market, we then headed to Nachalat Binyamin. An artists outdoor market, Nachalat Binyamin is special as all the artists are required to man their own booths. So, you get to talk to all the artists about all their various creations. Jignesh walked away with a modern painting by a Spanish guy and I scored some great earrings made of seashells. The day ended with a sunset on the beach!

Day Five- Day five brought an untraditional Christmas to say the least. Instead of enjoying Santa's gifts and a huge meal, we visited the Dead Sea! The ride to the Sea led us through the Negev Desert where we saw some traditional Bedouin houses and stopped to take some pictures of young boys on donkeys herding the family's camels. Now, on to the Dead Sea itself. First, you need some you need to know some facts on this world wonder. Also called the Salt Sea, it borders Jordan to the east an Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are 1,385 ft below sea level making it the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface on dry land. With 33.7% salinity (8.7 times more than the ocean), it is a harsh environment where animals cannot live (hence its name!). We certaintly were not the first visitors as it is recognized as one of the world's first health resorts. The experience of floating (swimming is almost impossible) is undescribable and one of the strangest things I have ever done. You feel like you are wearing a life jacket as you have to make no effort to float. In fact, for older people who may not have strength in their legs, it is quite difficult to change from the floating to the standing position! It is perfect for people like Jignesh that usually need a few noodles and multiple life jackets to feel comfortable in open water. You cannot go to the Dead Sea without covering yourself from head to toe in the therapuetic mud! So, we joined all the other tourists and spread the sulpher smelling mud over every inch of exposed skin. What an amazing Christmas!

Day Six- Our last full day in Israel was a relaxing one. We started with a late breakfast and then headed to one to small, quaint neighborhood where we did some windowshopping. After bumming around for a few hours, we had a tour and tasting at Carmel Winery (Israel's largest producer of wines). Before reluctantly calling it a night for our early morning flight, we enjoyed a stroll and some hot chocoloate at a beautiful marina lined with restaurants and shops.

We cannot think Jay and Galit enough. They were amazing hosts and the trip would not have been the same without them! They opened up their home for us and went out of their way to show us all the different aspects of Israel. Thank you so much!

Au Revoir!

Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

2011-01-05T01:08:00.000-08:00

The Western Wall

Mount of Olives

Yad Vashem

Jerusalem

Temple Mount

Tel Aviv Beach

Eating Well in Israel!

2011-01-03T02:14:00.001-08:00

Let's Eat!

Shakshouka, a Tunisian dish of eggs cooked in a sauce of tomatoes, onions, peppers, and spices

Flat pita bread straight out of the oven!

Anyone want dessert?

Fresh veggies and spices at at the market

Falafel (one of Jiggy's favorites)

Homemade hummous, pita, salad and other sides

The Dead Sea

2011-01-03T01:58:00.001-08:00

That is all Salt!

Jiggy and Jay just Floating Along!

Some Fun in the Mud!

A Little Too Much Fun in the Mud!

The Dead Sea!

A Local Camel Herd

Christmas Markets in Stuttgart!

2010-12-15T11:05:00.000-08:00

Two weekends ago, our planned trip to Dusseldorf to visit friends and explore the famous German Christmas markets was cancelled due to bad weather throughout Europe. Since I LOVE everything Christmas and have been talking about the markets since we moved to Europe, I was definitely disappointed. So, this past weekend, we (Schlopy included, of course!) loaded up the Daewood and headed north through Bern to Stuttgart, Germany (it is so great being driving distance to so many interesting places). With more than 200 booths set on the edge of the expansive main square, the Stuttgart market is said to be one of the oldest (more than 500 years) and prettiest in Europe. While I was overwhelmed by all the handmade crafts, christmas ornaments, and other interesting trinkets, Jignesh's thoughts were consumed with the booths offering mulled wine, German sausage, and traditional desserts. The elaborately decorated booth rooftops, chilly weather, and crowds of friendly locals all helped to create a fun and festive atmosphere. We spent the entire weekend strolling, people-watching, booth browsing, and eating with thousands of others doing the exact same thing. While we did come home with a few small, inexpensive buys from the market booths, our biggest purchase was ironically from a huge department store that could be found in any American mall. Hey, at least our new Henkel knives are made in Germany! Since we are heading to Israel for Christmas, the market was a great way to get a taste (European style) of Christmas.

Au Revoir

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-27T01:22:00.000-08:00

This time last year, we were enjoying the Thanksgiving holidays with family back in the states. With no trip home this time around and few American friends in Geneva, we were going to bypass the holiday alltogether and carry on like any other day...work, evening French class, etc. Well, on Thanksgiving morning I was feeling a bit blue and really missing being a part of all the festivities (thanks a lot Facebook!). So, at the last minute, I decided I would prepare a full (yet modified) Thanksgiving dinner. I pulled out my newly organized recipe binder and went to work on what would turn out to be a quite a feast. The menu included rosemary mashed sweet potatoes with shallots, homemade sausage and sourdough bread stuffing, citrus green beans with pine nuts, cranberry sauce, and parsley and parmesan rolls. The dessert was a purchased apple pie with vanilla ice cream (yeah, give me some credit...we would have been eating at midnight if I had a made a pie too). We even opened a nice bottle of wine that we had purchased in Lake Como, Italy. What about a turkey? While you can find turkey here, it is not common and very expensive. The one lone turkey in the two stores near our house was HUGE and way overpriced. So, I opted for a roasted chicken (it is stilfl a bird, right?). With one recruited dinner guest in the form of Jignesh's co-worker (thanks for putting your stomach at risk, Ioseb), we had a small but wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. Maybe next year I will plan ahead and even attempt to cook a real bird...or, if we are in States, I will leave that up to someone a bit more experienced.

Au Revoir

Prague, Czech Republic

2010-11-26T11:29:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we knocked Prague off our "must see" list. The capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, Prague (or locallay known as Praha) can be described as beautiful, old, impressive, and vibrant. Despite the large number of tourists, it remains friendly and even feels like it could be home. Similar to many European cities, Prague is full of small, winding streets that always seem to spill onto a main square that is identified by its church or cathedral. We found the buildings in Prague,to be particulary intersting. They all had different but interesting facades with unmissable details that included things like doorknobs and house signs. Yes, there is lots of sights to see in Prague and we did not leave without visiting most of them. We crossed the Charles Bridge, meandered through the Prague Castle, had brunch in Old Town Square, and shopped in the modern Wenceslas Square. However, due to the somewhat chilly (but bearable) weather, we also found ourselves ducking into many fabulous cafes and pubs for a both a drink and warm-up. Since Prague is a relatively inexpensive city (especially compared to Geneva) and is increasingly being considered one of best culinary cities in Europe, we were able to enjoy some wonderful lunches and dinners. One vegetarian restaurant was so good that we went twice! We also enjoyed a traditional Czech meal and night out with one of Jignesh's EY Prague co-workers. Ok, I have talked about the food and the sights. What I have not mentioned is the shopping! It is impossible to walk more than a few blocks without stumbling across some adorable little shop filled with Bohemian glass, marionette puppets, or other handmade Czech products (ask Jignesh about the hand painted eggs!). Prauge is one of the cities that I could visit time and time again.

Au Revoir.

Soft Towels Never Felt So Good!

2010-11-11T11:52:00.001-08:00

For the past year, we have gone Euro and dried all our laundry with good ole' natural air. With only one small drying rack to our name, some items got a first class seat on the rack while others were regulated to second-class and draped on furniture, layed on beds, and hung from the bathroom shower curtain rod. As you can imagine, these clothes literally took over the flat. Even worse, many items would take longer than imaginable to dry and remained scattered about for days. It has been so long since any our clothes have seen a drier that we almost became accustomed to crunchy towels, stiff t-shirts, and jeans that could stand on their own! All of this, of course, was not by choice. When we originally purchased a washer/dryer, we headed to Fust, a well-kwown electronics and home goods stores. After looking at several models of washers and dryers, we decided to save some money and select a combination washer/dryer (yes, one machine that does both)! Despite the length of time it took to do one load, our first batch of laundry came out clean and crisp with on apparent problems. After that, it was all downhill. After completing the wash cycle on the second load, the machine displayed what would become my worst nightmare after only a few minutes of starting the dry cycle....ER12. No worries, right?! The machine was under warranty so we promptly called the repairman. A nice French-only speaking technician was dispatched and "claimed" to fix the machine even though he had never seen the ER12 display before. Well, our fixed machine worked for all of one load. Again, on the second load we received the same ER12 display on the dry cycle. So, after another call to the company the repairman returned. And returned. And returned. After several months, multiple calls to the company, and countless visits from the same French-speaking repairman, we finally received a replacement machine. Story done and over with? If we could only be so lucky. AGAIN, after only one load, my worst nightmare returned on the new machine! So, the repairman returns. And returns. And returns. He is baffled. We are baffled. The company is baffled (and of not much help). So, finally, we decided to do away with this model and replace it with a new seperate washer and dryer. Our machine arrived last week and (I don't want to jinx it) but so far, so good. While a working dryer has been wonderful, the rack will not become obsolete. I will continue to go Euro and dry most things on the rack. However, there are certain items that are simply not the same without technology. Soft towels have never felt so good!

Au Revoir.

Wonderfully Little To Do

2010-10-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

An hour from the busy city of Milan, Lake Como is a popular getaway for both Italians and tourists. We headed there last weekend for my birthday weekend. Although the weather was not ideal (rainy and overcast), it really did not matter as we wanted to do nothing other than relax and take in the sights in a leisurely pace. To accomplish this goal, we decided to stay at a family run bed and breakfast (our first experience at a B&B). Located in a sleepy hill town (Trezzone) on Lake Como, Villa Tres Jolie is an absolutely stunning stone property that was painstakinly restored by the owners about 6 years ago. This was not just a bed and breakfast but a retreat as it has multiple terraces overlooking the lake, a hot tube, a turkish bath, an extensive library, a complete gym, and mountain bikes for guest use. Dani and Giulio were a wonderful resource on the area and were always willing supply information or ideas. Schlopy even made friends with their dogs Judy and Dido.

While it would have been very easy to not leave the B&B for the entire three days, we did manage to explore the area a bit. We travelled on the lake ferry to the small, quiet town of Varenna where we walked along the lake as well as the more posh town of Bellagio where we did some window shopping and had a great lunch. We also visited the medievel town of Chiavenna where we went for a short hike in the hills and enjoyed a wonderfully rich hot chocolate. On the last day, we drove the entire length of the lake through many small villages and finally saw the sun while bumming around the larger town of Como. The best part of the weekend was the fact that there was no big sight to see or artwork to stare at. We basically slept, relaxed, ate some (ok, lots!) great pizza, drank some wine, and enjoyed the scenery. Now I know why George Clooney loves this area so much!

Au Revoir.

Lake Como, Italy Pics

2010-10-23T12:38:00.001-07:00

View from our Bed and Breakfast

Hiking in Lake Como

Small town of Chiavenna

Another view from our B&B

Village of Bellagio

Impulse Shopping and a Good Cup of Joe

2010-10-10T06:59:00.001-07:00

I am neither an impulse shopper (some people even call me cheap!) nor a huge coffee drinker. So, this makes yesterday's events a bit unusual. While out and about with the intent of running a few mundane errands, Jignesh and I headed to Interdiscount with the hopes of finding an adapter to replace one that recently blew out. Well, we did not leave with an adapater but with a Nespresso coffee machine! Yes, we have been wanting one for quite some time. Yes, it was on sale and very reasonably priced. Yes, it is a small, basic model. And yes, it is the beginning of my birthday week. Despite these excuses, there is no denying that this was an impluse buy. When (if ever), I do make an impulse buy, I hold off on opening the package or tearing off the tags in case I want to return it (which I usually do). However, these was no chance this was going to happen this time around as Jignesh tore into the box as soon as stepping into the house. He also fixed a fuse that has been broken for weeks and rearranged our kitchen all to accomodate our new gadget. I have to admit that for the first time, I am not thinking twice about this impulse buy. I am looking forward to waking up every morning, popping a small capsule to the machine, and enjoying a tiny but delicious cup of joe!

Au Revoir.

Desalpe

2010-10-02T10:44:00.000-07:00

Since moving to Switzerland, I have developed a huge love for cows. So, of course, we could not miss Desalpe! One of the most well-known moutain festivals, Desalpe celebrates the end of the grazing season for all the local cows. After spending four months in their moutain homes, flower decorated herds parade through the streets as they return to the lowlands for the winter. Adorned with thundering bells, huge groups of cows leave their mark (literally) on the village. St. Cergue, a small village at the base of the Jura and only a short drive from Geneva, is where we witnessed this Swiss tradition. We had sun filled morning watching the cows take over the streets, browsing the booths selling local specialities of chesse and meats, and listening to folklore music. Except for Schlopy getting kicked by a cow and finding it impossible to avoid the overwhelming cow dung (it is like sand from the beach...you find it everywhere for weeks!), it was a great way to spend a Saturday!

Au Revoir!

Desalpe Pics

2010-10-02T08:58:00.000-07:00

Let the cow parade begin

A cow bell display...some of them are huge!

Moooo over, cows are coming through!

Do you like my hat?

The St. Bernard, a common dog in Switzerland

Using cow bells to make music!

The Alphorn, a traditional Swiss musical instrument

Till The Cows Come Home

2010-09-27T10:34:00.000-07:00

On Saturay morning, we decided to escape rainy Geneva and head to the moutains. Unfortunately, the rain followed us to the mountains and even seemed to get worse at times. However, that did not stop us from exploring the Grindelwald, Interlaken, and Murren. Staying in a wonderful family owned hotel outside of Grindelwald, we experienced some fresh moutain as our window framed nothing but grassy hills, wooden houses, and cows! With cow bells seranading us all night, we had the best sleep in quite some time. It was perfect! On Saturday afternoon, we sloshed through the main streets of the Grindelwald and enjoyed a delicious lunch of pizza and the famous Onkel Tom's Hutte. After lunch we headed a short distance to Interlaken and decided to work off our lunch with a long, rainy walk along the river. The day ended with an absolutely fantastic dinner back at our warm, cozy hotel. Our original plans for Sunday were to take the cable car all the way to Schilthorn, one of the highest peaks in Euorope. However, due to tremendous fog and the first snowfall of the season the view would not have been worth our 100 bucks. We did, however, go up halfway to Murren. Despite the thick fog, we walked around a bit and imagined what the view would be like on a sunny, clear day! Our weekend ended with a late lunch in Lauterbrunnen before heading back to Geneva. Even though the trip was short and the weather was far from ideal, it could not have been a better weekend. We got to escape Geneva and spend some time together in the quite countryside.

Au Revoir.

Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Murren

2010-09-27T10:23:00.000-07:00

View from our window at Hotel Aspen

One of the many waterfalls coming down from the moutains

Murren and first snow of the season

Grindelwald

MOOOOOO

Grazing on a lazy afternoon

Yes, just another cow going to the village for a pint at the local bar!

Madrid, Spain

2010-09-14T11:01:00.001-07:00

For a major European country, Spain is rich in history and culture, affordable, beautiful, and vibrant. Madrid, the capital of Spain, is a huge city with tons to see and do. Known for late night dinners and clubs that don't close until 8am, we were delighted when we learned that our hotel was in the quiet area. Although Recoletas is known as an affluent area, the hotel was reasonably priced, modern, and well staffed. Since Recoletas is not a tourist destination, we were able to dine in some local establishments...it is always more interesting and fun to be the only tourists in the restaurants! For once, Jignesh was happy with the our pick.

On day one of our trip we walked the area around our hotel and through the amazing Parque del Retiro. We ended up at the Prado, one of the world's most famous art musuems. Since neither Jignesh or I are huge art fans, we usually skip all the musuems. However, since this one was free after five, we decided to pop in for a short walkabout. Surprisingly, we both enjoyed the visit. For true art enthusiasts, the Prado would be a complete dream! The end of the day ended with the first of many meals of tapas and sangria!

On day two, we headed outside Madrid to Segovia. A beautiful little city, Segovia is highlighted by an ancient Roman aquaduct, a huge cathedral, and an adorable castle. We explored it all and enjoyed lunch in the main plaza where we witnessed a spanish wedding. It was a great side trip...easy to get to and lots to see.

Sunday morning we headed straight to the famous street market, El Rastro. This colorful street market is simply crazy. One of the largest in Europe, El Rastro is street after street of stalls selling everything from antiques to underwear! Locals and tourists come here in the thousands to both take in the scene and do some serious shopping. The best part of the market was the stallholders shouting at the top of their lungs to promote their wares. You can easily spend an entire day winding the streets and browsing the stalls...just be careful of the pickpockets! After the bustling market, we slowly wandered through the Madrid streets towards Plaza Mayor. Capable of holding 50,000 people, Plaza Mayor is impressive. It is the perfect place to get a drink and watch the world go by. It is also worth checking out some of the stores and bars that line the plaza. One of the most interesting was La Torre del Oro, a tapas bar decorated with mounted bull heads and gory pictures of bullfights!

Our fourth and final day in Madrid started with a visit to Palacio Real. Madrid's Royal Palace, Palacio Real is still hosts many state functions on a weekly basis (the King and Queen live outside the city). We took the obligatory tour and were not disappointed with grand rooms lavishly decorated with tapestries, antique furniture, and painted ceilings. After the Palace we spent the remaining hours of our trip shopping and enjoying the city! What a perfect trip.

Au Revoir.

Madrid Pics

2010-09-10T01:29:00.000-07:00

Palacio Real

Plaza Mayor

El Rastro

Segovia's Roman Aqueduct

Parque del Retiro

Megeve, France

2010-08-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago we were invited by Jignesh's boss to spend the weekend at his amazing mountain chalet in Megeve, France (Yes, this is the same boss who has a house in Corsica!). A massive 5 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms complete with a ski room bigger than our living room, the chalet is located a short drive from the main village with amazing views of the upscale ski area. The chilly, rainy weather gave us all an excuse to curl up by the fire playing games, reading, and enjoying both the scenery and company (the entire Corsica gang was reunited!). In the evenings we were spoiled by our hosts with amazing meals of grilled meats, fresh salads, and mouth watering cheeses! Oh, I cannot forget to mention the endless supply of wines from the huge wine cellar. The weekend was filled with two main events. The craziest was Friday night's dance party USA in the living room while the most epic was our Sunday afternoon "walk." Somehow, the short "walk" turned into a trek down the mountain on one very suspicous looking trail. With rain coming down by the bucket loads and not quite fitted with proper hiking gear, we found ourselves crossing large rivers and climbing steep banks. Three hours and one extremely cold, wet dog later, we finally made it back to the parking lot where a dry, warm car awaited our arrival. The moutain, however, did take one victim in Jignesh's brand new sunglasses. All I can say is that we had another memorable weekend that we will certaintly have to repeat!

Au Revoir!

A Whirlwind Trip to the States and Fete De Geneve

2010-08-09T00:29:00.001-07:00

I have been offline and out of touch due a long trip to the States. The whirlwind vacation started with a long plane ride from Europe to Denver where I got to spend the night my sister, brother- in-law, adorable niece Sam before meeting up with Jignesh (who had been in D.C. for work). The next four days were spent in the Colorado mountains hanging out with Jignesh's family at Rivendell. With seven adults and six kids (our nieces and nephews are growing up so fast!), it was quite the crew. Despite sharing two small bathrooms, it was great to all be together at the same time. We hit the outlet malls, played lots of games, and enjoyed the mountains. The next leg of trip took Jignesh and I to Boston to see my Grandparents. At 92 years old, my grandparents continue to amaze me. My Grandfather still putters around the house fixing things, tending his garden, and socializing with the neighbors. My Grandmother still makes three meals a day and gets dressed up for simple meal out. After three nights in Boston, Jignesh and I parted ways for the rest of the trip. Jignesh headed to Chicago to spend some more time with his family and to see some old friends while I made my way to my parent's house outside of Knoxville. As always, the lake was pure heaven. With my whole family there, we simply relaxed and enjoyed long hours on the water skiing, swimming, playing some Dorosz family tubeball.

Returning to Geneva last Friday was a bit of shock. I am not sure if it was the jetlag or the fact that I was back in a french speaking city but I was a bit confused and completely exhausted. I am surprised immigration control let me through as I looked like a complete zombie passing through the airport! The timing of my return, however, allowed us to experience the last few days of the Fete De Geneve. A huge 10 day annual festival, the Fete de Geneve brings out more people that I have ever seen in Geneva. The entire lakefront was lined with games, rides, and food booths. Stages throughout the city provided various concerts and other entertainement. The highlight of the Fete, however, is the amazing fireworks display on the last Saturday. Almost an hour and half in length, it was the the best display I have ever seen. The best part? We got to enjoy it with one of my long lost college friends and her husband who were visiting Geneva while on a European vacation!

AHHHH...the our trip to States over and the weekend done, it is now time to catch up on some much needed sleep and slowly return to everyday life in Switzerland.

Au Revoir.

Corsica

2010-07-14T09:08:00.000-07:00

Another weekend, another trip! This one was last minute and unexpected. Somehow a 5 day business trip for Jignesh turned into a Corsican getaway when Jignesh's boss invited us (along with a few others) to his beautiful holiday home. Situated west of Italy and southeast of the French mainland, Corsica is full of unpaved (and very bumpy) roads, hidden houses, and remote beaches. As one of my friends said, "it is a whole bunch of nothing and simply fabulous." With Jignesh's boss as our host, we found some quiet beaches and did nothing except for build sand castles, swim in the sea, find shade under beach umbrellas, and picnic on local specialities (Corsican ham and cheese served with an amazing fig spread). During the evenings we either grilled on the terrace or dined on fresh fish (head and all) from beachside restaurants. Except for groceries, we did not step inside a store the entire weekend nor did we bump into a single tourist. While I am usually someone who gets bored easily and would rather explore villages rather than sit on the beach, I have to admit that it was completly relaxing and peaceful (ok, it did not hurt that Jigneh's blackberry was broken and out of service) and now understand why so many people escape to seaside resorts for their annual holidays. The scenery, company, food and accomodations were all fantastic. It does not get any better than that.

Au Revoir.

Corsica Pictures

2010-07-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

The scene from a beachside restaurant that we tried

One of the quiet beaches we visited

A Corsican sunset

The incredible terrace overlooking the sea

Weekend in Zermatt

2010-07-05T00:42:00.000-07:00

Since our last few trips were outside of Switzerland, we decided to explore some more of our host country. This weekend's destination of choice was Zermatt. Nestled at the foot of the Matterhorn (one of Europe's most recognizable peakes with its steep point) and surrounded by moutains over 13,000 ft, Zermatt is a ski paradise in the winter and a center for hiking and mountaineering in the summer. Since Zermatt is completely closed to motorized traffic, we did not see a single car for 2 days!

Located about 2.5 hours from Geneva, the drive to Zermatt is almost an event all on its own. The first half covers the entire length of Lac Leman while the second half winds through the back roads of the Swiss countryside and foothills. What amazing scenery! The town itself did not disappoint either. A main street provides all the restaurants, bars and shopping that you need while the side streets are full of typical wooden chalets complete with A-frame roofs and perfectly manicured flower boxes on every balcony. There is also a beautiful town church and cemetary honoring those killed while climbing the Matterhorn.

With only two days and one night in Zermatt, we did our best to do and see a bit of everything. On Saturday, we walked the streets and ducked our heads into some family run shops. We enjoyed the views of the Matterhorn and people watched as the very mixed crowed did their own thing. We ended the day with dinner at Le Mazot and drinks at a local pub while watching the World Cup.

On Sunday, we (Schlopy included!) took the Gronergrat railway to Switzerland highest open air railway station. At the top, we spent some time taking in the views and enjoying a declicious lunch. Instead of opting for the return trip back to Zermatt via train, we decided to take in some nature and hike down! With Schlopy in tow and happy as a clam to be off leash with an entire moutain to explore, we took our time making our way back to town. About 4.5 hours and two sore butts later, we arrived in Zermatt after a perfect day of hiking complete with sightings of sheep, deer, and badgers! Before heading home we were able to catch the last few games of the Wimbledon final while enjoying a cold drink on main street.

Au Revoir.

Zermatt Pictures

2010-07-05T00:29:00.001-07:00

The Matterhorn

Snow in July!

At the top of Grongergrat

Our little mountain dog

A cloud covered Matterhorn

One of the many scenic rivers in the area

A rest stop on our hike

Schlopy making friends with a cow!

Dubrovnik, Croatia

2010-06-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

Last weeked, we headed to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Although it sounds like an exotic location, it is actually located just west of Italy on the Adriatic Sea and is a short 1hr 40 minute flight from Geneva! With impressive infrastructure (despite being heavily damaged just 20 years ago due to war), unmatched scenery, and friendly locals, Dubrovnik is a popular stop for tourists and cruise ships. And, if you stay away from the old town, the city is remains relatively cheap due to the Kuna (Croatia's currency).

We arrived on Friday late morning, checked into our seaside resort, and started our trip by sampling the local speciality, cevapcici. A dish of grilled minced meat (often pork and beef), cevapcici consists of 5-10 small pieces and is paired with a homemade sauce of red pepper, garlic and olive oil! Let's just say that Jignesh ate way too much cevapcici over the weekend! After lunch we ventured to old town to explore on of Dubrovnik's highlights. Although the old town is small, it is filled with beautifl, narrow alleys that house numerous restauarants and shops. The best part of old town, however, is the wall walk. Orignially used as method to protect the city against invaders, the old town's wall now provides visitors with amazing views of both old town's traditional architecture and the Adriatic Sea.

Day two of our trip called for some simple relaxation. We explored the area around our hotel with a long walk and then spent the rest of the day relaxing at the hotel. I swam in the Adriatic Sea and Jignesh practiced his floating in the pool!

On day three, we became a bit more active and joined a daylong sea kayaking tour. After a short boat ride to a small island near Dubrovnik and a quick lesson in basic kayaking from our trusty guide (Thomislav), we loaded our kayaks and hit the seas. As Jignesh and I were in a double, it took us a few minutes to find our rhythm but we were soon crusing the beautiful sea! About an hour and 45 minutes later and with very full bladders, we landed on the small island (only a few hundred inhabitants) of Sipan where we hiked to an old, beautiful chuch that provided a home for bats! After a long lunch of yet more cevapcici, we traded the kayaks for some bikes and pedaled across the island where I swam across the bay and Jignesh again practiced his newly found floating skills (the high salt content sure does help!). The day ended with more kayaking and a sunset boat ride back to Dubrovnik. What a great day!

Even though we woke up to rain on Monday, it did not make it any easier to leave this amazing place. However, we had a flight to catch and reality to return to. Lucikly, we did get have some time to enjoy a late breakfast overlooking the sea and quick browse through some shops where we picked up a few things to help us remember a great weekend.

Au Revoir.

Dubrovnik, Croatia Pictures

2010-06-26T02:55:00.000-07:00

Old Town's Wall Walk

Old Town

A scenic shot of the Adriatic Sea

Old Town Harbor

Some more of Old Town Harbor

One of the many small alleys in Old Town

World Cup Mania

2010-06-17T00:25:00.000-07:00

I grew up playing football (soccer) as a kid and loved running around the field and chasing the ball (ok, I also loved the post game snack and knew whose mom brought the best stuff!). During football season, my Saturday mornings were spent at the fields and my parents ran from game to game as they tried to get glimpes of both mine and my sister's games. However, like many kids, I lost interest at a certain age and moved on to other sports and activities. With almost no coverage in the US media, I certaintly did follow football at the professional level. Instead, I enjoyed attending the occassional Red's game and doing my homework while watching American football on Sunday afternoon. In Europe, things are completely different. As the one main sport, football is the heart and soul of Europe. Parks and backyards are filled with football nets instead of basketball hoops. Young kids can discuss the defense of their favorite football team in depth. So, as you can imagine, the World Cup is more than popular. Country flags can be seen hanging from balconies and stores are jammed with jerseys. Offices have brackets similar to those popular in the U.S. for the NCAA basketball tournament. Jignesh's company even installed a big screen tv in the lunch lounge for the event! Last night, Switzerland defeated World Cup favorite Spain in a shocking upset. The minute the whistle blew, the city became completely crazy. I am convinced people were just driving around the streets so they could honk their horns (which is illegal except in the case of emergency) and wave the Swiss flag. People were yelling in the streets and shouting from balconies. And, guess what? I love it! I probably will never be able to discuss a team's defense or name more than 10 players but I have come to respect the athleticity of the players and the intensity of the game. I think it is safe to say that I am a football fan. Go Switzerland! Go USA!

Au Revoir.

Cruising Lac Leman

2010-05-29T09:19:00.000-07:00

Cologny, the "Beverly Hills" of Geneva

Bain de Paquis

All aboard!

La Suisse, celebrating its 100th annisversary

Jignesh enjoying a spring cruise

Where is the Swiss flag?

Jet d' Eau

Today, our neighbor invited us aboard La Suisse for a short cruise on Lac Leman. Celebrating its 100th year annisversary, La Suiss recently underwent a two-year and multi-million dollar restoration. The restoration team did an amazing job of perserving as many original features as possible including wood paneling, lighting fixtures, and safey railings. Because our neighbor is friends with a member of the restoration team, we were even able to visit the meticiously spotless engine room! What a great afternoon on a beautiful boat!

Au Revoir.

Paris and Roland Garros

2010-05-27T01:17:00.000-07:00

We loved Roland Garros so much last year that we decided to go again this year! So, this past weekend we hopped in our trusty Daewood and headed to Paris. On the first day of the tournament, Monday, we roamed the grounds and were able to see some good matches and lots of great players practicing (including Roger Federer, Jelena Jankovic, Andy Murray, etc!). But it was Tuesday for which we really had to warm up those neck muscles! With tickets to Court Suzanne Lenglen (the second biggest stadium court), we were in store for an amazing day of tennis starting with Fernando Verdasco. The second match of the day had the entire stadium on the edge of their seats with the 39-year-old Kimiko Date Krumm finally upsetting former #1 Dinara Safina. The match of the day, however, was Rafeal Nadal. The score did not reflect the battle between one of the world's greatest and a young Frenchman appearing in his first Roland Garros. It was truly amazing to watch one of history's most talented tennis players in his element. The fourth and last match of the day featured Maria Sharapova. Wow, is she intense! In between all those great matches on Suzanne Lenglen we also caught a parts of a few other great matches on the outside courts. With so much tennis happening throughout the grounds, our senses were on overload the entire two days!

While we did go to Paris mainly for Roland Garros, we did have some free time to re-visit the city that is quickly becoming one of our favorites. We enjoyed some sushi in the lively Latin Quartier and joined millions of others to check out the agriculture fair on Avenue Champ Elysee. If you want have a craving for some delicious, authentic Napoli pizza while in Paris, we know where to send you! Jignesh is also now in love with the business district and the Grand Arche. Despite the fact that we drove home in the middle of the night and arrived back in Geneva after 4am, it was well worth it! What a weekend!

Au Revoir.

Roland Garros Pictures

2010-05-27T01:00:00.000-07:00

Maria Sharapova playing her first round match

If you look closely, Roger Federer is sitting down after a practice session

Dinara Safina practicing

I love Roland Garros!

Rafeal Nadal playing his first round match

Jelena Jankovic practicing

US's newest tennis sensation, Melanie Oudin

Just Plugging Along...

2010-05-13T01:08:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a while since I have posted but not much as been going on here. We have been winding down from my parents visit and just plugging on with daily life...life in Europe is not always fulls of thrills and adventures!

Today, Thursday May 13, is a random holiday in Switzerland so Jignesh has a much needed day off from work. We hope to use the time to plan our summer trips (States in late July/early August and a bunch of other smaller trips!) and just relax. On another front, I joined a nearby tennis club and love playing on red clay! We will be seeing the professionals play on the stuff next weekeend when we go to Roland Garros (i.e., the French Open) in Paris. Aside from tennis, I have been running and swimming quite a lot and hope to add some cycling to mix as the weather improves...maybe I will even find a triathlon to enter. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening, you can still find Jignesh and me sitting in French class pretending to understand the teacher (ok, I think Jignesh is getting it but I am still waiting for that moment when it all clicks).

What about Schlopy? Our "son" is doing great. He loves that I am home more to take him for long walks and enjoys making friends at the nearby dog park. On the rare occassions that we eat out, he loves to come along. He also has found a love for shopping as he often accompanies me when I need to run errands (except for the grocery store, dogs are welcome just about anywhere!).

So, that is a short and random update from the land of chocolate and cheese. Stay tuned as the summer kicks in and we set off on some more adventures!

Au Revoir.

Gone as Fast as they Came!

2010-04-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

My parents, that is! Although they were here for a little over two weeks, it seemed like they were only here for a few days. I am not sure if it is because we had such a great time or if it is because we stayed incredibly busy the whole fortnight. Regardless, it was hard to say goodbye (ok, maybe not so hard for them as the are now in Alicante, Spain sailing with good friends!). After our trip to Italy we stayed in Geneva for a few days and visited the picturesque town of Annecy, France and gave our legs a test hiking the very steep trail of the Saleve (a mountain just 15 minutes away with great views of the Swiss/France countryside). It did not, however, take us long to hit the road again. This time we headed to Interlaken. A small mountain town meaning between two lakes, Interlaken is true paradise for hikers, cyclists, skiiers, and adventures seekers. On our first day we discovered the village of Wilderswil (pictured above) and fell in love with the old, wooden chalets and a small hotel set against a babbling brook. On our second day we had planned to take a train up the mountain and hike down. However, our plans were altered with heavy snow. So, despite Mom's hurting legs from our hike up the Saleve, we hiked a trail in the valley and found ourselves ascending a tough trail once again. At least we had plenty of amazing views to use as excuses for rest breaks. After returning from Interlaken, we FINALLY had a rest day where we relaxed and did absolutely nothing (ok, we did stuff ourselves with chesse fondue)! However, with only days before my parents departure (despite the volcano), we spent each day researching and then exploring nearby towns in the French and Swiss coutryside (including Rolle and Nyon). Despite the volcano (no, we could not see ashes in the sky), my parents got lucky and their flight to Madrid left as scheduled (well, a few hours late but were not complaining). It was definitely hard to bid them farewell and the flat now feels quite empty. I guess we will just have to make plans for our next visitors. Any takers?

Au Revoir.

Mama and Papa Osz Visit Switzerland (and Italy)

2010-04-16T00:57:00.000-07:00

My parents are currently in town for a little over two weeks. Since their arrival, we have been going non-stop. Just a day after landing we packed into our small car and headed for Italy. With a quick stop in Milan to pick up Jignesh (who was there for work), we continued to Tuscany. Our first day was spent in Florence where we stayed at a small hotel set back in a stunning neighborhood full of old Italian villas. Since Jignesh and I were there about this time a year ago, we were able to act as tourguides and show my parents the sights. One our second day, we decided to leave the big city behind and head to the coutryside. Siena and San Gimignano are two towns that should be on everyone's list when visiting the area. They are both quaint little villages full of scenic alleys and quiet, undiscovered little spots. Yes, there are musuems and churches to visit but we just strolled and strolled (usually with Gelato in hand). Oh, I do have to mention Jignesh's wild goose chase for a computer power cord. Finding a computer power cord in small italian village on a Saturday afternoon is not easy but 8 hours and $120.00 later, we were successful! Day two in the countryside found us in the walled city of Lucca. Despite the dreary weather, we were troopers and enjoyed a walk on the wall and lunch at a casual pizza joint. On our way back to the hotel, we stopped in Pisa where dad took about 1,000 pictures of the Leaning Tower and then needed some V8 juice after climbing to the top.

From Tuscany, our road trip took us to Cinque Terre. Set on the mediterrian, Cinque Terre is a collection of 5 tiny villages connected by a 7 mile cliff hike. The only word that I can use to describe the area is stunning. The scenery is undescribable and villages are full of character. While Jignesh bailed on the hike after village #3, my parents and I trekked all the way to the end and were rewarded with an almost empty trail and unspoiled views. What a perfect way to end our Italian getaway. Stay tooned for more details of my parents trip to Switzerland including a hike up the Saleve.

Au Revoir

Another Italian Roadtrip

2010-04-14T12:36:00.000-07:00

The Duomo, Milan

The Tuscan Countryside

Lucca, Italy

Tuscan Countryside

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Via dell' Amore, Cinque Terre Italy

Vernazza, Cinque Terre Italy

A Victorious high five after the 7 mile Cinque Terre hike

April Fools Day!

2010-04-01T00:32:00.000-07:00

Happy April Fools Day! While I am no jokester, I do love April Fools Day! I love this day because, for me, it is the first real sign of Spring. Over the past few weeks, Geneva has seen both sunny and rainy days. We can finally go outside without the bundling up in multiple layers complete with hat and gloves. In fact, I have been able to run by the lake in shorts! Although I will miss being able to hit the slopes, I am looking forward to breaking out my bike and exploring the Swiss countrysides, discovering nearby hikes, and having lunch at an outside Old Town cafe. The best part, however, about April first is that it maks 5 days until our first Geneva visitors arrive and test the newly purchased guest bed! Starting Tuesday, my parents will be here for a little over two weeks. While they are here, we are going to take a road trip to Italy (Florence and Cinque Terre) and spend a long weekend in the mountains. If time permits, we might even hit Marsielles, France for a night. We cannot wait to show them a bit of our Geneva lives.

Aside from preparing for my parents visit, we have both been simply plugging along and still adjusting to living abroad. I am slowly making friends and contacts and may even join a tennis team! Jignesh is busy, as always, at work. We are looking forward to summer when the days are longer and we can take advantage of the beautiful lake just minutes from our front door. We also hope to pack the summer with tons of travel! So, Happy April Fools Day and enjoy the Spring!

Au Revoir.

PS. The above pic is of some of the hundreds of swans that call Lac Leman home.

Skiing!

2010-03-20T15:26:00.000-07:00

Where is the Double Black Diamond?

My ski buddy and friend, Jamie

Cloudy day in the mountains

Jignesh with hot air balloons in the background

The French Alps

Skiing in this part of the world is not just a hobby for some. It is a part of the culture. Kids learn to ski almost as soon as they learn to walk and ski racks on cars are about as common as tires! With dozens of first class ski resorts within 1 to 2 hours of Geneva, it is easy to leave home after breakfast and be back for dinner! Jignesh and I have adapted the mentality of the locals and often hit the slopes on the weekends (ok, I have also been seen on the mountain on a random weekday as well!). While neither one of us will even come close to competing in the 2014 Winter Olympics, we are improving. I have graduated a level with the International Ski Club of Geneva and like the occasional challenge of mogul or two. Jignesh, who has only skiied a few times until this year, is finding his form and his spending less time on his butt and more time on his skis! Au Revoir.

One Interesting Hotel Room...

2010-03-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

When you travel as much as Jignesh has been of late, you stay in an array of different places and quickly learn to expect the unexpected. This hotel room in Zurich, however, completely shocked him and he emailed this picture almost as soon as he walked into the room. The first thing that came to my mind was a bird crashing into a window! Maybe the hotel ran out of money during renovation. Or maybe they are trying to cater to the sleepy traveller who continuously bumps into the bathroom door when trying to find the shower early in the morning. This is definitely one to ponder! Au Revoir.

Lisbon. Take Two.

2010-03-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Before moving to Europe, I never thought that I would be able to visit Lisbon. Now I have been there twice! Last year, Jignesh and I escaped to Lisbon for a fun weekend getaway. This past weekend, I tagged along while Jignesh attended a work conference (How could I possibly pass up the opportunity to stay in the Four Seasons for free?). I loved Lisbon the first time and it did not disappoint the second time either. While Jignesh was stuck in meetings all day, I spent my days working out in the hotel gym that overlooked the entire city, studying my French, and getting a slight tan under the Portugal sun. Oh, and I even got a cheap haircut. Yes, I am one lucky person. I also finally met some of Jignesh's co-workers and clients (Yes, I crashed a conference dinner to two!) and now know why he is happier than ever in his job. The best part about the trip was that there was no pressure to see all the sights since we did it all the first time around. It was amazing to be able to leisurely rome the streets with no agenda. Unlike some other destinations, Lisbon will always be a clear picture in my mind. While it is great to explore new places, I have to say that I can also see why people often holiday in the same location year after year. There is definitely something to be said for truly getting to know a city and discover the hidden areas not usually seen by the everyday tourist. So, here is to Lisbon!

Au Revoir

More Cheese Please!

2010-02-25T23:55:00.000-08:00

Switzerland is not just known for skiing and chocolate. They also love their cheese and have managed to create one cheesy dinner dish! Fondue, a communal dish shared at the table in a eartenware pot over a small burner and eaten with bread, is hugely popular. There are fondue restaurants on every corner and fondue mixes crowd the store shelves. Getting together with friends for fondue is more of an event rather than just dinner. While Jignesh experienced this swiss tradition during a business dinner, I was a fondue virgin until last night. Jignesh surprised me with a date at Cafe du Soleil, a popular restaurant specializing in fondue. While I was a bit unsure about eating just bread dipped in warm cheese for dinner, I have to admit that it was delicious! Over our pot of fondue and using Jignesh's first fondue as a baseline, we experimented and discovered the keys to perfect fondue. First, the cheese has to be high quality and the right temperature. Second, the bread has be fresh and torn into the small pieces. Finally, you have to use the long, skinny fork to completely soak the cheese. If you are going to have bread and cheese for dinner, you have to go all the way! Don't even think about just lightly dipping the bread. I am afraid that we missed the best part. If you finish your entire pot, the server will scrape it and allow you to eat the thin, crackerlike layer of toasted cheese. I guess we need to bring a bigger appetite next time! While I loved fondue, I don't think that I could eat it every night. It will have to be reserved for special occasions and outings with friends. I only have one more thing to say. Where is the chocolate fondue?

Au Revior

Weekend escape to Poland

2010-02-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

This past week, Jignesh was in Poland for work. So, I joined him and we extended the visit into the weekend. While there are certaintly some tourists sights (castles, musuems, etc) to explore, we decided to toss the clip board of fun and just relax. Our trip began in Warsaw where we enjoyed a night in one of Poland's most luxurious hotels, Le Meridien Bristol. We enjoyed a huge suite, an amazing breakfast, and the service of a doorman dressed in a funny robe and hat. The best part...it was free! While in Warsaw, we dined at a traditional and unusual Polish restaurant. The restuarant used to be a full service hotel until it lost its hotel license. However, the owners were able to retain their food and beverage license and began operating a resturant literally inside the hotel's old kitchen. While the walls were bare and there were no other decorations to please the eye, the atmosphere was still fantastic as all the food was prepared at your table and servers weaved between the closely placed tables carrying all sorts of ingredients. We did manage to a little more (ok, not that much more) in Warsaw than stay at nice hotels and eat lots of food. We also experienced a bit of Warsaw's nightlife with Jignesh's co-workers and wondered through the beutiful streets of old town.

Since we had the fancy hotel for only one night, we decided at the last minute to hop on a train and head to Krakow for two nights. The train was a nice 2 1/2 hour ride through the snowy Polish countryside. Upon arriving in Krakow, we discovered our hotel luck would continue as we were able to use Jignesh's points for free nights. Score! Krakow is an amazing city with charming arcitecture and friendly locals. The Rynek, Krakow's main attraction, is the largest medieval town square. It is the perfect place to grab a coffe or do some shopping. It also holds the famous cloth hall. One of the original centers of international trade, today cloth hall is home endless booths selling amber jewelry, lace, and other various trinkets. Krakow also allowed us to sample some of Poland's traditional foods. Bigos, a savory stew of cabbage and meat, has no standard recipe and is often prepared with whatever leftovers are found around the house. It is common for Polish households to keep a large pot of bigos for over a week and just refresh it with additional ingredients when necessary! Our bigos was overflowing with cabbage, onions, sausage, mushrooms and various spices. It was surprisingly light and so so yummy! In addition to bigos, we also had some delicious pierogies and hearty, homemade soups. Oh, I cannot forget the round, bagel like things sold from stands on the street.

Our weekend was short but perfect! It was nice to getaway from the expensive restaurants and shops of Geneva and enjoy a slice of eastern Europe!

Au Revoir

Poland Pictures

2010-02-23T12:34:00.001-08:00

A snowy day in Krakow

Krakow's old town

A park near Krakow's old town

Pierogies, a traditional Polish appetizer. Yum!

Warsaw's old town

More of Warsaw's old town

Warsaw's main square

French for Dummies

2010-02-15T12:53:00.000-08:00

While you can undoubtly survive with English in Geneva, French is still the official language and used in most stores and businesses. To truly integrate into the community and feel at home, I feel that it is imperative to speak French (or at least try!). So, in an attempt to do just that, Jignesh and I are a few weeks into a group class that meets twice a week. I never thought that learning a new language would be easy but I did not think that it would be this hard! The pronunciation is proving to be almost impossible. I feel like a tongue-tied giraffe when attempting to pronounce words that sound nothing like their spellings. And the french "r," simply forget about it! On top of it all, there is just so much to remember. Despite the frustrations, we are really enjoying the challenge and are SLOWLY making progress. Thanks to a very good and patient teacher, we have mastered (umm...maybe mastered is a bit of a strong description) some basic phrases and questions. We can also say the alphabet and most numbers. We are even beginning to congugate some verbs. We even had a conversation in French the other day. (Ok, the conversation was with a 6 year old boy and involved no more than 4 words but, hey, it is a start!). There is no doubt that we have a very long way to go and the phrase, "Je ne parle pas fracais," (I don't speak French) continues to be my favorite sentene. As I think I may benefit from daily practice, I may even take a more intensive class after our current course ends. Will I ever become completely fluent in French? Probably not. Will I ever adopt the beautiful French accent? Definitely Not. However, I would love to walk away from this experience with, at the minimum, coversational French. So, with that in mind...my french homework is calling!

Au Revoir!

Only in Switzerland...

2010-02-03T23:50:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was an unusually sunny, warm day. So, I headed out the door for a long walk with Schlopy complete with a stop at the dog park for the little guy. As we were leaving the park and heading for home, the loudest sirens imaginable started to fill the air. These were not your average emergency vehicle or car alarm sirens. I honestly thought that the city was under attack and expected to soon see men dressed in black and holding guns running through the streets. I looked around for safety and seriously thought about making a run for a nearby maintenance building. However, none of my fellow dog owners seemed bothered by these air raid like sirens. So, not wanting to be a crazy expat I discreetly rushed Schlopy out of the park, picked up the pace, and headed for home. Although the sirens only last about 10 minutes, my ears were ringing for the next few hours. As soon as I arrived home, I used the trusty internet to discover the reason for these sirens. Apparently, these air raid warnings are tested once a year on the first Wednesday in Febuary. What would happen if there actaully was an attack on the first Wednesday in February?

Au Revoir

What's for Dinner?

2010-01-20T01:55:00.000-08:00

With a little time on my hands and restaurants being bloody expensive in Geneva, I have been exploring the art of cooking as of late. Until now, I have always been a very basic cook....pasta and premade sauce, grilled ham and cheese, etc. Since my newly ordered Cooking Light magazine arrived in the mail a few weeks ago, I have discovered a new hobby. Now, don't go crazy and think that I am creating masterpieces. I still have not braised anything and I certaintly have not attempted to caramlize anything. My pantry, however, is slowly starting to fill with ingredients (white wine vinegar, fresh chives, fennel seeds, etc) that would have been non-exsistent in the past. Did you know that a shallot is a small member of the onion family mild in taste and used in sauces and salads where the strong onion might overpower the dish? Cooking Light's "40 minute or less" dishes have been my best friends so far as I am not quite ready to brave Mahimahi with Pineapple Chutney. I did make one mean Dijon Croque Monsieur with Haricots Verts Salad (including a homemade vinaigrette dressing) the other day! My Roast Chicken with Balsalmic Bell Peppers and Mascarpone Masted Potatoes (pictured above) wasn't too bad either. Well, at least neither Jignesh nor I got sick from it and I managed not to set the place on fire! I am even starting to create my own gucamole recipes. Of course, this new hobby is even more interesting cosidering I am working with a kitchen the size of a broom closet and I have to find all these strange ingredients in a grocery store with labels in French. I am not sure I will ever become the next Gordon Ramsey but I at least I am filling our bellies with some homedmade, flavorful, and healthy meals. Don't worry, if you come and visit, I always keep a frozen pizza tucked away just in case...

Au Revoir.

Italy

2010-01-16T10:27:00.001-08:00

Since we stayed in Europe this year for Christmas, we decided to put our newly purchased car to the test and take a driving trip through Italy (the picture to the left is of Vatican Square taken from the top of St. Peter's cupola). So, on Christmas day we (Schlopy included!) loaded the car and headed to Venice. Relying on a borrowed GPS (thanks Hans), we quickly found ourselves passing through France with mountains in the distance. Within an hour of leaving home, we came upon the Mont Blanc Tunnel. After paying the €35 toll and receiving a pair of work gloves (yes, we are still trying to figure out what those are for), we proceeded through the 7.25 mile long tunnel and were rewarded on the other end with some amazing views of the Italian Alps. After winding through the mountains and then the countryside we arrived at our hotel in time to enjoy a delicious Christmas dinner.

Venice- What a truly unique and magical city! Built on a series of low mud banks, Venice is a maze of small alleys and canals. The old buildings ooze with character. The only mode of transportation within the city is by vaporetto (water bus) or water taxis. Or, of course, you can also hire a gondola if your pockets are deep enough (€80 for 50 minutes). We started our Venice experience by taking the water bus down the Grand Canal for an overview of all the great sights. We disembarked at the famous Piazza San Marco where we explored the basilica and some of the luxurious shops filled with Murano glass. For the remainder of our visit, we simply got lost among the alleys and canals, ate lots of pizza and pasta, watched the boats drift by, and admired the architecture of this northern Italian city.

Sorrento/Amalfi Coast- From Venice, we headed south to the resort town of Sorrento. The drive proved to be a bit difficult as we encountered some wrong turns and quite a few crazy Italian drivers. Upon arriving in Sorrento, we quickly rewarded ourselves with some local pizza and great wine. With only two full days in this area we decided to split the time between sights and relaxation. The first day we headed to the ancient ruins of Pompeii. In AD 79 nearby Mount Vesuvius erupted burying Pompeii in 20 feet of pumice and ash, ultimately killing between 2,000 and 3,000 people. Today, Pompei is filled with artifacts and buildings virtually untouched since the day Mt. Vesuvius erupted. On our second day in Sorrento, we slept in and then braved the famous Amalfi coast drive. Jignesh was convinced that there could not be anything much better than the California’s Highway One. Well, within five minutes of driving this winding, coastal road, he admitted that the drive was best he has ever seen. The views of the sea and the small towns along way were breathtaking. We drove for a few hours and then stopped in the town of Amalfi for a classic Italian lunch and some window shopping. We ended our trip to the Amalfi coast with dinner in the beautiful town of Sorrento and a walk through the main streets that were adorned with holiday lights.

Rome- We arrived in Rome on New Year’s Eve and headed to the Coliseum for a New Year’s concert and fireworks. Well, our New Year’s was cut a bit short when the skies opened up with some of the most torrential rain that I have ever experienced. We were completely soaked all the way up to our knees and my shoes took three days to dry! Despite the rain, we had a wonderful New Year’s and arrived back at the hotel in time to celebrate with a glass of wine. We spent the first day of New Year just walking Rome as all the main sights were closed for the holiday. We walked up and down the Spanish Steps and threw coins into the Trevi Fountain. And of course, we ate some pizza! On our second day in Rome, we stood in one long line to enter Vatican City. Did you know that Vatican City is the world’s smallest state with about 500 residents. It has its own post office, banks, currency, and judicial system. There, we climbed the cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica for an amazing view of the entire city and toured the basilica itself. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to see the Sistine Chapel (I guess that is a good reason to return someday!) but did have time to enjoy an amazing dinner at a recommended restaurant! You cannot visit Rome and not see the all the ancient ruins. So, our final day in Rome was spent in Ancient Rome. Our first stop was the Coliseum where we took a guided tour and spent time taking a ton of photos. As it was the end of our trip and overloaded with on tourist attractractions, we decided to skip the Forum. Instead, we just strolled through streets and stopped in a cafe for a cappacino and dessert. Our final night in Rome was spent at wherelese…a pizzeria (ok, it was at mall that looked like it belonged in any American suburb but it was still pizza made with fresh ingrediants and cooked to perfection in a wood burning pizza oven)! Rome is such a vast city filled with endless numbers of sights and museums. It would take weeks to see it all! I guess that just means that we will have to return...

Au Revoir

Italy Pictures

2010-01-08T09:28:00.001-08:00

Venice's Grand Canal

Italy= Pizza and Wine

Venice's Grand Canal at Night

Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius in the Background

Amalfi Coast

Ancient Rome

The Coliseum

We have Wheels!

2010-01-01T15:06:00.000-08:00

In a rather sudden fashion and only days before leaving for our road trip through Italy, we decided to buy a car! Jignesh came home late one night and announced that we (with the help of his friend at work, Hans) were going to look at a few cars the next day. Before I knew it, we were putting a deposit on a small 2001 Daewoo (yes, a Daewoo...the same car company that went belly up in the US in less than 10 years!!!) and only days later, securing Swiss registration (quite a process in and of itself), insurance, and purchasing snow chains (required in most parts of the Alps in the winter). With only 2 doors, 94,000 km, and a couple minor scratches, it does not come close to competing with all the shiny Porsches and BMWs all too common in Geneva. It will, however, be more than sufficient (we hope) for the next year or two. While we still plan on using public transportation on a daily basis as parking in Geneva is difficult not to mention extremely expensive (please refer to previous blogs), the newest addition to our family will be used for future getaways (did I mention that Paris and Milan are each only about 3.5 hours away?), weekend ski trips to the mountains, and just plain exploring Switzerland. While I was (and maybe still am) unsure about the need for a car, I have to admit that it does feel liberating to have a car at my disposal when needed. We can now buy bigger household items (note to self: Google nearest location for Costco) without worrying about how to get them home and make larger grocery trips. And we can easily bring Schlopy along too (stay tuned for Schlopy’s first European road trip adventure)!

For those of you who know me well, I like to name our cars (past cars include Razzy, Sputnik, and Little Lightning). Usually, these names come to me quickly and easily. However, I am having a bit more trouble with this one and could use some assistance. Any suggestions would be welcome and seriously considered! If it helps, a picture will of course be posted soon as well. The winner will be awarded an honorable mention on the blog and will earn a free all expense paid trip to Geneva, Switzerland. *

On a different note, we are currently in Italy (putting the car to the test) for the holidays. So, stay tuned for all the details and pictures from our trip to Venice, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, and Rome...

Au Revoir

* Winner is responsible for airfare, taxes, and may be asked to buy us things while visiting. Award includes a warm bed and a map of Geneva, Switzerland.

Where is Christmas?

2009-12-21T11:19:00.000-08:00

With only a few shopping days left, I have to admit that it does not feel like Christmas. Yes, we have some snow on the ground and downtown Geneva is sparkling in lights and other holiday decorations. However, our flat remains void of any signs of Christmas. For the first time in many years (possibly forever) I do not have a proper Christmas tree and all the other decorations remain boxed and sitting on the top shelf of our hallway closet. Because we were in the States for two weeks over Thanksgiving and we will be in Italy for Christmas and New Year's, I figured it would be silly to spend time and money on adorning our half-furnished and disorganized flat with random Chirstmas paraphanelia. Well, for someone who usually loves Christmas, this was an awful decision. I truly miss having a Christmas tree filled with all the ornaments that I have been given over the years from my great Aunt Helen. I miss my Charles Dickens' Christmas village as well as my red and green stockings. I even miss attempting to untangle all the Christmas lights and then eventually giving up and buying new ones! So, with only a few days left before Christmas, I decided to take matters in to my own hands and today I bought a small Christmas cactus. I know it is not your typical Christmas tree but at least it is loosely associated with the holidays! Even though I have no one to pawn them off on, tomorrow I might even bake some cookies! Merry Christmas!

Au Revoir!

L'Escalade

2009-12-13T14:17:00.000-08:00

This weekend, one of Geneva’s biggest events took place. L’Escalade is the annual celebration of the defeat of the surprise attack by troops sent by the Duke of Savoy during the early mornings of December 12th, 1602. The Savoyards marched on Geneva and tried to enter the city walls by scaling tall ladders (a climb in French is an “escalade”). The night guard in Geneva rang the church bells to alert the townspeople, who joined the fight. According to Genevois legend, a local mother of 14 children who lived above the city gates, seized a large cauldron of hot soup and poured it on the attackers. This heavy soup landed on the head of a Savoyard attacker, killing him. This commotion further roused the townspeople. Only a few of the Savoyards were able to enter the city gates. The rest became confused and cold. They were all forced to retreat. During the attack, the Genevois lost 18 men during the attack while the Savoyards suffered 54 fatalities. Thirteen invaders who were taken as prisoners during the attack where hung the next day as thieves.

Modern day celebrations of the attack from 1602 take place throughout the weekend closest to December 12th. People break chocolate cauldron filled with marzipan vegetables and candies wrapped in the Geneva colors of red and gold. It is customary for the youngest and oldest person to hold hands and break the cauldron while reciting Ainsi périssent les ennemis de la République! " (Thus perish the enemies of the Republic). Other traditions include hot, spiced wine, vegetable soup, and children in Halloween- like costumes singing Escalade songs for money. There is also a massive running race the weekend before all the other Escalade celebrations. While Jignesh I were unable to participate in the road race last weekend (we were experiencing some jet lag from our trip back from the states), we did attend some of this weekend’s events. We sampled some of the yummy veggie soup and joined thousands in watching the Sunday evening parade. The parade portrayed many of the individuals from that night in 1602 including the local housewife and her 14 children, the attackers of the Savoyard, and the Genevois militia on horseback and holding tourches. All were dressed in period costumes and carried lifelike weapons from that time period. There were even characters that represented the attackers who where hung, complete with shackles and nooses around their necks! Who needs a Mickey Mouse parade when you can have fire, nooses, cannons, and 10 foot spears!

Au Revoir.

Aisle vs. Window

2009-12-06T11:56:00.000-08:00

Until now, I have always been a window type of gal. The thought of curling up against the window for a long nap while avoiding the constant barrage of service carts and flight attendants always seems appealing. (In reality, I can never get comfortable no matter where I am seating and I can never get a wink of sleep regardless of how tired I am). Well, after this most recent flight, I am officially a changed person. Attempting to be a good international traveler, I followed all the tips by eating healthy and drinking plenty of water. I boarded my 9 hour flight with visions of curling up with my pillow and dreaming the night away. Yeah right! Just moments into the flight, the overweight, middle-aged and balding man next to me fell into one of the deepest sleeps that I have ever witnessed. I am convinced he was not a person but a bear in hibernation. He snored so loudly that he was getting stares from people more than five rows in front of us. Of course, the cup of coffee and over 60 ounces of water that I had drank leading up to the flight started to catch up with me! At first I waited it out and thought that the man blocking my way to bladder comfort would soon wake up. Well, I was wrong. He slept right through dinner and some rocky turbulence. I tried all the tricks in the world to gently wake the man up. I "accidently" hit his arm while fumbling through my backpack. I turned my overhead light on and off serveral times in a row. I loudly coughed and cleared my throat. And as I had heard on tv, I even laid down and played dead. Nothing worked. It was useless. So, I waited a bit longer convinced that Spring was around the corner and this bear would eventually emerge from his den. Who can sleep this well on an airplane? (Oh, I later found out that Jignesh was on a flight only miles in front of mine with three seats to himself enjoying a winter's rest of his own). After no sign of life from my seatmate and with my bladder about to explode, I was no longer going to play nice guy. I literally shoved and kicked him to get him to release me from my pain. Still, no luck. I thought about climbing over him or asking the flight attendant to help but decided that neither were the best ideas. So, I spent the next 7 hours watching two bad movies and one not so funny episode of Whose Line Is It Anyway trying to distract myself but actually staring at this bear for any sign of life while simultaneously crying from the immense pain. I even got so desperate that I considered using the barf bag as my personal toilet. FINALLY, with exactly 54 minutes left in the flight, my neighbor woke up when the smell of pastries filled the cabin. I politely asked him to let me out and then sprinted down the aisle to freedom. That was the longest and most satisfying pee that I ever taken! So, from now you will always find me in an aisle seat!

Au Revoir.

A Colorado Thanksgiving!

2009-11-29T18:29:00.000-08:00

Our Niece

A Scenic Hike

The Whole Family

Hiking Along

For the first time in many years, I spent the Thanksgiving holiday with my family...my entire family! My sister Lauren is enjoying some time in the States on a break from her Peace Corps adventures in Ecuador and my parents exchanged their Tennessee lake house for some time in the Colorado snow. My sister (Jen), my brother-in-law (Brian), and their 8 month old daughter (Sam) did not have to travel quite as far as they live in Denver. To experience a truly magical Thanksgiving, we rented a cabin in the mountains and were spoiled with amazing hikes, runs, and evenings in the hot tub. Of course, I cannot forget to mention the amazing home cooked turkey day dinner that we are all still trying to work off. Jignesh was unable to make trip due to important meetings in Europe...well, so we thought! Imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang at 7pm on Thanksgiving night and we opened the door to find a tired but happy Jignesh standing on the stoop after a week of bouncing around Europe followed by a 13 hour flight from Frankfurt and then a long drive to the mountains.

While the Thanksgiving holiday is winding down for most, I still have another week in the States. I am going to help my sister move into her new house, fill my empty suitcase with all my new purchases, and simply enjoy a taste of American life. Jignesh, on the other hand, is going to surprise his family in Chicago for a quick stay before flying to New York for a conference. We will both return in Geneva within 5 minutes of each other next Saturday!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Au Revoir

Our New Digs

2009-11-18T07:42:00.000-08:00

The Entrance to our Building

Our Building

The Living Room

The View from our Master Bedroom Balcony

Master Bedroom

One Tiny Kitchen

I know it has been a while since I posted a blog, but I do have a good excuse! Last week, we finally said goodbye to our temporary flat and moved into our new digs. Thus, we have been without internet until today.

Flat hunting in Geneva is not as simple as logging onto Craigslist or opening your local newspaper to choose from hundreds of options. Places in Geneva go off the market just as quickly as they went on the market. In many cases (including ours), flats do not even go on the market as they are snapped up by a friend (or a friend of a friend) of the owner as soon as the old tenant gives notice. Because of the extreme housing shortage, most flats in Geneva are old and outdated (landlords don't bother putting money into places because they know they will easily get rented) and come with almost nothing (including ceiling lights, kitchen appliances, etc)!

Our place is on the 3rd floor of a 7 story building. The building is about a 10 minute walk from the city centre and is a short 25 minute bus ride from Jignesh's office. Compared to London, this place is quite big. We have a large living room, three bedrooms (one tiny with room for only a single bed), two good sized bathrooms, two balconies, and one very tiny kitchen. While I love some of of the old characteristics in the crown moldings and glass panel doors, I could do without the salmon colored bathroom and the dingy, small kitchen. In London, our flat was tucked away on a quaint side street and came with a garden. Here, we are on somewhat of a busy street and have to go down either three flights of stairs or one slow elevator to bring Schlopy out! We still have a lot to do make it a home (hang pictures, get curtains, buy some more furniture, ect) and it may be far from perfect but at least we have loads of room for visitors!

Au Revoir!

A Few Updates!

2009-11-07T23:48:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would fill everyone in on what we have been up to recently...

*We signed a lease on a flat and will officially get the keys tomorrow. We will then move in later this week! Stayed tuned for some pics and a description of our new digs.

*I found a beautiful 50m pool and have been swimming a few times a week. Although, unlike my sister in Ecuador, the charge is $6.00 per swim and it does not come with a free lunch or a takeway package of fresh fruit.

*We opened a Swiss bank account. Too bad it does not have as much money as most Swiss bank account. In fact, to date it has NO money in it.

*I have attended a running club full of English speaking expats. Although it is a bit unorganized and very laid back, it is nice to run with others.

*Jignesh has been extremely busy at work and was in Zurich at the beginning of the week for a meeting. He seems to really like his co-workers and is working on some good projects!

*Schlopy was almost abducted by the local security while I was in the grocery store for less than 5 minutes. Try explaining to some non-English speaking security guys that you have only been living here for 3 weeks and are in the process of registering the dog. It made my brain hurt!

Au Revoir!

The Price is Not so Right

2009-10-29T11:49:00.001-07:00

As I have mentioned before, the cost of living in Geneva is simply outrageous. Since we re-located from another expensive city in London, I did not think the difference would be too extreme. Wow, I was wrong. Below is a list of some common item/services and their price (US dollars) in Geneva. There is a reason why people who live in Geneva drive to France for groceries and haircuts! Let’s just say that when I am in the States for Thanksgiving, I will be bringing an empty suitcase to fill up from one major shopping spree.

Men’s haircut- minimum $40.00
Manicure- $55.00
McDonald’s Value meal- $13.50
Ski Pants- $450.00
1 small frozen pizza- $8.00
1 beer at a local bar- $9.00
Meal for two at a basic Italian restaurant- minimum of $75.00

Don’t get me wrong, not everything is ridiculously overpriced. Wine, public transportation and rent are a few of things that seem to be about the same as in London. I guess if all else fails and we find ourselves digging in our pockets for coins, we will just pick up a bottle of wine and ride the bus around for entertainment!

Au Revoir

A Week Down...

2009-10-24T12:08:00.001-07:00

After living in Geneva for a little over a week, I have to admit that I have some feelings of concern. The city itself is not the prettiest, most interesting, or biggest. I am very frustrated that I cannot speak the language and find myself trying to avoid talking to people. I feel completely helpless everywhere. At the grocery store I cannot read the labels or communicate with the cashier. I have been trying to get a frequent users card from our local grocery store for a week now to no avail! Calling a public swimming pool for hours and prices was a complete disaster. I have no idea how I am going to meet people and make friends. I am scared that I might actually have to join the American Women`s Club and learn to quilt. I am quickly realizing that any small hopes of finding a job have most definitely flown out the window. To say that I am worried about the cost of living is an understatement. The cheapest men`s haircut that we could find today was $35.00 (Jignesh used to pay £6 in London…that is about $10.00). Even though the only thing I have bought is food, I feel like money is just flying out of the bank account quicker than a mouse running from a cat. I also have to mention some of the strict rules in Switzerland. There are some residential buildings that forbid you from flushing a toilet after 10pm (I will let you think about that one all by yourself).

With all this being said, I have to remember that we have only been here a week. I am sure that once we are out of our sterile, dark temporary flat and in something more permanent with all of our things, Geneva will feel more like home. I know that with some classes and a lot of practice, my French will become usable (I hope). If I really reach beyond my personality and put myself out there, I am sure that I will find a friendly running or triathlon group similar to the one I left and loved in London. If all else fails, Swiss chocolate always makes for good therapy (oops, I forgot that I cannot afford the chocolate either).

As for Jignesh, he has been thrown into the fire at work. He has already been put in charge of a major project and has had hours of client meetings in his first week alone. He once again has his own office and really likes the co-workers that he has met so far. His commute from home to the office is almost half of what it was in London. So, thumbs up for Jignesh and work.

I guess the only thing left to say as of now is….to be continued.

Au Revoir.

More Pics From Our Last Days in London

2009-10-18T13:33:00.003-07:00

Entering the Hampstead tube station for the last time

Goodbye 17a Willow Road

Leaving our flat for the last time

Some more leaving do drinks

Some Pictures from Our Last Days in London

2009-10-18T12:56:00.001-07:00

Having fun at our leaving do!

A little more fun...

Jignesh and Schlopy on moving day

Our London lives all packed up!

Origin: London

Desitnation: Geneva

The best movers!

Hello Geneva!

2009-10-17T07:21:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it! We have officially been residents of Geneva for a little over 48 hours. The London side of the move was surprisingly smooth. We dropped Schlopy off at British Airways cargo 4.5 hours before the flight and then proceeded to the terminal where we enjoyed one last breakfast in the UK. Once we arrived in Switzerland, things got a little more interesting. After landing we made our way through customs, collected our luggage, and boarded a bus to collect Schlopy at cargo. Well, after about 5 minutes on the bus we discovered that we were on the wrong bus AND going the wrong direction. So, we quickly got off at the next stop. While we were standing on some random street with way too much luggage trying to figure out how to get to cargo, Jignesh received a phone call. Apparently while we made the flight, Schlopy did not! Schlopy was stranded in London! How is possible that BA could not get Schlopy to the plane on time despite having over a 4 hour window? Luckily, BA was able to get him on the next flight so we found ourselves drinking some wine in the Geneva cargo staff restuarnat while waiting for Schlopy to arrive. Although he was shaken and definietely confused, he was otherwise healthy. Wih our son and all our luggage, we hailed a taxi to our temporary flat where we will be until finding a permanent place to live.

After just 48 hous in Geneva, here are some of our initial observations on our new home!

*The place is bloody expensive! Our bill at an average italian restaurant totaled $65.oo. Yes, $65.00! That did not even include dessert, appetizers, or coffee! We only had one main and one glass on wine each. How are we going to survive here?!

*EVERYTHING is closed on Sundays. If you want to buy anything (milk, clothes, gas) simply forget about it. Hours for stores during the week are not much better. Most businesses close for 1.5 hours during luchtime and lock their doors for the days by 4:30pm or 5:00pm. When do these people actually work?

*Apartments are extremely difficult to find. It is not unusual to have over 20 applicants bid for the same apartment. Most people have to bid on several places before securing something.

*People here love their little, perfectly groomed dogs and you can bring them everything...including restaurants! I think that I may have to bring Schlopy to a professional groomer (no more Mom cuts) if he wants to fit in.

Stayed tuned for some pictures from the move!

Au Revior

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-10-13T04:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I celebrated my 29th birthday (yes, I will always be turning 29 for the rest of my life)! Despite that fact that the we had a ton of things to do before leaving London on Thursday, we still managed to hit the theatre one last time. The selected show was Jersey Boys. We were a bit worried when we found our seats only to realize that we were completely surrounded by an audience with an average above that of my parents! But I guess that happens when you go to see a show about a popular band (The Four Seasons) from the 60's. Despite our lack of knowledge of the band, the show was fatastic. The musicians and actors were incredibly talented and the direction was simple but interesting. It amazes me how each theatre production is so amazing yet so different. We have have enjoyed taking advantage of London's West End and are certaintly going to miss having a huge selection of quality theatre productions at our doorstep. The evening finished with a glass of wine at home and few phone calls from friends and family! What a perfect birthday!

Au Revoir

Goodbye London!

2009-10-13T03:46:00.000-07:00

Today is moving day and our London lives are quickly and efficiently being packed away. In just a few hours, we will watch our surprisingly few number of boxes drive away for a final sendoff. I thought that I would be a bit more sad on this day but I am shockingly ready to leave London. In fact, I wish we were directly following the truck instead of waiting until Thursday to board the plane. I guess I cannot really say why I am ready to leave when I have absolutely loved this experience and this city. Maybe it is because we have alreay said our goodbyes. Or maybe it is because for the last 6 months this move at times as been a "go" and at other times a "no" and I just want the whole process to be over and done with it. Or maybe I am simply anxious and excited to begin writing the next chapter of our lives. Regardless of my mixed feelings, there is no doubt that this move is happening. The packed boxes, the cancelled utilities, and the booked flights confirm that there is no turning back now!

Au Revoir!

Our Days are Numbered

2009-10-09T02:11:00.000-07:00

Well folks, the time has almost come. Our visas have been approved, our one-way flights are booked, the movers are scheduled, and our goodbyes to friends have started. This time next week, we will wake up in Geneva for the first time. Last night, Jignesh's co-workers had a fantastic farewell party for him (which I, of course, crashed!). As we were walking along the Thames River with the Tower Bridge as our backdrop, I began to think about all the things I will miss about London. The list is truly endless. I will miss my long runs and walks (with Schlopy) on Hampstead Heath, the unusual words and phrases used by the Brits, and the buzz of central London on the weekends. I will miss the architecture, history, and diversity of the city. I will miss the markets (a ostrich burger from Borough Market sounds so good right now), the shopping, and Marks and Spencers. I think I might even miss going to the grocery store almost everyday and lugging my bags of food home! Of course, I cannot forget about all the friends we have met through work, running club, and other random ways.

With all that being said, I am looking forward to so much about Geneva. I cannot wait to hit the slopes, hiking trails, and cyling paths that are so abundant in Geneva. I am excited to learn a language and throw myself into a true foreign experience. I am already planning all our weekends away as we will be centrally located in Europe.

I have been trying to remember what I was feeling when we were only a week away from moving to London. I am sure I was having all the same feelings that I am having now...excitement, sadness, nervousness. While I may not know what to expect of our new lives in Geneva, I do know that we are incedibly lucky to have this opportunity.

Au Revoir

An English Weekend

2009-09-30T10:21:00.000-07:00

The Tower of London

Cambridge's famous mathmatical bridge

A scenic shot of the River Cam

Trinity College and set for the movie Harry Potter

Colin, our trusty tourguide

With our days in London numbered, this past weekend we explored parts of London that we have been wanting to see since we arrived. Our first stop on Saturday was the Tower Of London. One of London's most popular tourist sights the tower's original function was a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison. It has also served as a place of torture and execution (two of Henry VIII's wives were beheaded here), a treasury, a zoo, and Royal Mint. Since 1303, it has also served as the home of Crown Jewels. We were actually able to see many of the past and current crowns used by various UK royalty during coronations and other royal ceremonies. I have to admit that the collection was quite impressive. We even saw the two largest diamonds in the world! We were surprised by the size of the tower...it is not just one building but an entire complex and we spent over 4 hours exploring the area. We finished the day with drinks in Camden Town, an area of London known for great people watching.

On Sunday, we headed to the scholarly town of Cambridge. We started our tour of Cambridge by getting belts made at the outdoor craft market and feasting on ostrich burgers. We then headed to the River Cam for a punting tour. Punting, a method of driving a boat by pushing off the botton of the river with a long, skinny pole, is a true artform. We were going to rent our own boat but were happy with our decision to let someone else do the work...especially when we saw several people take an unintentional swim when the boat when one way and the pole went the other! Along our tour we saw several of the 31 colleges that make up Cambridge University. Each college has its own history, traditions, and personality. They all, however, have some amazing architecture. Since we had not rested quite enough on the tour, we found a nice green patch on the river's edge and watched all the tourists attempting to guide their boats down the river. We then headed to a local pub for yet some MORE resting. What a great weekend!

Au Revior!

Fany Dress

2009-09-26T14:20:00.000-07:00

Last night, we attended a farewell party for our friends Steve and Teresa who are returning home to Australia after a two year stay in London. In true British fun, the party was "fancy dress" famous characters. Similar to Halloween, fancy dress is an excuse to become someone else by dressing up in some ridiculous outfit. Here, it is done all year long and it is not unusual to see Batman while traveling on the underground on a random Friday night. As with almost everything that we do, we waited until the last minute to secure outfits. While I kept it simple as Wilma Flintstone, Jignesh went over the top as Elvis. He completely transformed himself with a jumpsuit, wig, sunglasses, jewelry, and guitar! By the end of the night, he even had some of the moves down. Check out some of the photos for a good laugh!

Au Revoir!

Wicked

2009-09-24T12:08:00.001-07:00

Yesterday afternoon while at work, I received an unexpected email from Jignesh stating, "Meet me at Victoria...6pm sharp!" Since I was having a bit of a rough week, I was looking forward to spending what I assumed would be an evening with my husband. Well, I not only got to spend the evening with my husband but also with Glinda, Elphaba, and all the other characters from the hit production Wicked! Jignesh had escaped work during his lunch break and secured tickets that day! We have been talking about seeing this production since first arriving in London. But, with many things, life just got in the way. Well, the wait was more than worth it. The show was simply amazing. Every time I go to the theatre I am amazed at all the talent on stage. I am not just talking about the actors but also about the writers, directors, musicians, costume designers, etc. There really is nothing better than spending an evening at the theatre....especially when it is a radom Wednesday night.

Au Revoir!

Learning a new Language

2009-09-17T00:20:00.001-07:00

Switzerland has four official languages: French, German, Italian, and Romansch. Our future city of residence, Geneva, is primarily French speaking. In attempt to integrate myself in the culture as much as possible, I have begun my quest to learn French. Unlike Jignesh who has an uncanny knack for languages and picks them up way too easily, I struggle a bit more. So, this should be interesting.

Monday night, Jiggy came home from work bearing a fantastic gift. Rosetta Stone French is a complete language learning program that teaches you to learn a language similar to how children learn their first languauge. It is suppose to be one of the best systems out there (the price proves it!) and even has a voice recognition system that will not let you continue until you say the word correctly. I quickly downloaded the program onto Rocket, my trusty laptop, and was able to say simple things like "the girl swims" in minutes! Ok, don't get me wrong...I have a very long way to go. I feel like a tongue-tied giraffe when trying to pronounce these words that sound nothing like the way they are spelled! I know that I am in for a complete shock when we actually land our feet in Geneva and I know that I will have no idea what people are saying. But, I have to start somewhere and I have admit that it is nice to use my brain (even if it does hurt). Rosetta Stone is just a supplement to my language quest. I plan to take classes once we arrive in Geneva but for now I hope to at least pick up some bits and pieces. Since we are speaking of languages, I guess this is as good a time as any to change the blog's official entry sendoff. So.....

Au Revoir!

Things are About to Get Crazy!

2009-09-10T11:47:00.000-07:00

Over the past two weeks, a lot has happened regarding our move to Switzerland. The most important item and the one that we have been waiting on before making additional plans is Jiggy's work permit. We originally thought that this would take 6-8 weeks to obtain. Well, after just a few weeks, it was approved this past Wednesday! With this approval came a both a huge sigh of relief and whole new list of worries.

Even though we do have have an exact moving date, I also handed in my resignation at the club. I am counting down the days to my last day of September 29th. I definitely have mixed emotions about this one. While I will not the miss the job itself, I will undoubtedly miss the people and all the laughs that the job provided. While the job has not been perfect, it has allowed me to truly experience the British culture, keep me busy, and make some extra cash (in pound nonetheless!). Finally, in our quest to learn French, we ordered Rosetta Stone French (a language learning system) last night. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Schlopy even applied for a pet passport today! Wow...this move is real.

With Jiggy's work permit approved and the resignation of my job handed in, things are really going to get crazy. Since we did this whole move to another country thing less than 18 months ago, I would like to think I know what we are getting ourselves into. I also keep telling myself that I know what to do and not to do this time around. Clearly, I am fooling myself. Over the next month, we have a list as long as a giraffe's neck of this things to complete. And I don't even want to think about all the things that will need to be done once we have arrived in Switzerland! Let the fun begin.

Cheers!

They're After me Lucky Charms!

2009-08-31T12:53:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we took advantage of a Bank Holiday weekend and made the short journey to Dublin, Ireland! In case you are wondering...yes, it rains a lot! The rain, however, rarely washes out an entire day and does not seem so bad when you are surrounded by extremely freindly people and lush, green landscapes.

Our trip started early on Friday after a quick flight from London. We spent our first day exploring the city of Dublin. We slowly meandered from our hotel to the centre of the city. Along the way we stopped at St. Stephen's Green, a small but perfectly manicured park and Trinity College, Ireland's most well-known college. We also did a little window shopping on Grafton Street and people watch in the busy area of Temple Bar. After a lunch at Bewley's, a popular cafe, we headed to the Guinness Storehouse where we learned about the history and brewing process of the this popular Irish beer. Of course, the best part of the tour was the free pint of beer that we enjoyed at a 360 degree bar overlooking the entire city! The day ended at Botticelli, an Italian restaurant recommended in several tour books. The restaurant did not disappoint. Although the atmosphere was far from fancy, the food, wine, and service were impeccable.

On day two, we decided to head out of the city to the small fishing village of Howth. We explored the town and its amazing seafood stores and even made friends with some of the its most popular residents....seals! We then decided to check out the popular cliff "walks." Of the 4 "walks" available, we opted for the 10k (6.2 mile) trek. The sign estimated about 2 1/2 to 3 hours for the entire journey. Well, either the the estimate was severly off (maybe the person who determined estimate had just had a few pints of Guinness!) or we are just really slow hikers but we finally reached the end 4 1/2 hours later! Oh, did I mention that we were not exactly outfitted in proper hiking gear?! Regardless, we had a wonderful time and enjoyed the breathtaking scenery. Heck, we even managed not to throw one another off the cliff! The trail conviently ended near the door of a poular pub (do you see a theme here?). Before heading back to Dublin, we picked up some fresh fish and chips, headed to a bench overlooking the harbor, and watched the sunset.

Day three, our last full day in Ireland, we headed to another small costal town. Malahide is quaint village with a quiet beach and intercoastal way. We browsed some shops and checked out some of the local pubs (shocker, I know!). Since it was Sunday (everything is closed on Sundays in Europe) and rather quiet, we decided to finish some of the forgotten sights in Dublin. We listened to some traditional Irish music in Temple Bar and checked out the Liffney River. We even visited Mulligan's, home to the "best Guinness in Dublin" and once a host to President John F. Kennedy. Our day and trip ended with yet another dinner at Boticelli....this time followed by homemade gelato and tirmasu!

Ireland was a truly relaxing and enjoyable weekend away. We were able to escape the city and explore some areas not always frequented by tourists. Also, there was no pressure to see some famous castle or musuem. Until our next trip!

Cheers!

Ireland Pictures

2009-08-31T12:34:00.001-07:00

The sign that greeted us at the beginning of our trek

One of the many seals of Howth Harbor

The beach town of Malahide

A scenic shot of our 7 mile hike

A furry friend that joined us for a part of the hike

A shot of the Howth lighthouse

You need strong arms to drink all that Guinness!

The Gravity bar at the Guinness Storehouse

Renting Pains

2009-08-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

For the last 6 months, we have been experiencing some renting pains. It all began when we (along with our next door neighbor) started to notice yellow stains developing on walls throughout the flat. When the stains climed the walls and turned various other colors, we our landlord finally decided to listen to us. He sent out numerous builders, contractors, and surveyors to determine the cause. They all came out looked at us, looked at each other, and scratched their heads. Some claimed there was leak in the tub while others swore there was a leak in the floor pipes. A few even blamed it on the flat next door. With no identifiable cause we have been visited with a constant parade of workers (mostly at ungodly hours in the morning). Jignesh was even caught in his underwear! Our bathroom floors have been ripped up and replaced. Pipes have been dug out of floor and re-fitted. Bathtubs have been cut out and then returned to where they were. Until now, we have been understanding and let this continue with no significant gripes. However, this week has pushed me to my limit. Right now I writing this while confinded to my bedroom while all the hardwood in living room is being completely ripped up and replaced. Since the room needs to be empty, all our furniture and other belongings are crammed into the very small second bedroom and conservatory. It is a struggle to just get to the garden to take poor Schlopy out. After the living room is complete, they are moving on to the conservatory! We have no TV and only have internet after 5pm. I don't even want to talk about the thick layer of dust and debris that is covering the entire place. I think Schlopy even looks a bit dirty. Even though they claim that the problem has been found, I am not convinced. Let's just say that if this happens again, we are not going to be so nice. I think it is time to move...oh wait, we are moving! Hopefully, leaks do not exist in Switzerland.

Cheers!

Hampton Court

2009-08-08T14:02:00.000-07:00

Jignesh and the palace in the background

Some of the manicured gardens

More manicured gardens

Another shot of the palace

The palace and the gardens

We made it!

Henry VIII

In an attempt to see more of the UK before our move to Swizterland, we headed outside of the city this weekend to explore Hampton Court. One of the main residences of Henry VIII, Hampton Court is a palatial complex filled with history. Unlike many of the other palace and castles that we have visited, Hampton Court treats visitors to re-enactments of special occasions that occured within its walls. We were lucky enough to be invited to the Order of Service of the marriage between King Henry VIII and his sixth wife to be, Katherine Parr. We followed the costumed actors throughout the palace as they prepared for the big day. In the process, we learned about many details of the life during the those times. After the tour, we explored the rest of the palace on our own, including the vast kitchens and private aparments of Henry VIII. Our day ended with a fantastic lunch at an outdoor cafe (London was enjoying an unusually warm, sunny day) and a long stroll through the amazing gardens. We even found our way through the famous Hampton Court maze and watched some locals play on the the royal tennis court (a cross between racquetball and tennis). We are also tempted to pick some grapes from the world's longest grape vine. It was great to escape the city and see a bit of the English countryside.

Cheers!

On the Move Again...Again!

2009-07-30T11:21:00.000-07:00

Well, our European adventure is about get a whole lot more adventurous! At the end of September, we will be packing up our stuff and uprooting our lives for the second time in just 15 months. Instead of moving back to the States, we will be heading a bit further west to a region known for chocolate, skiing, and watches... Geneva, Switzerland. Orginating from a random conversation between Jignesh and his boss, this is definitely one move that neither one of us saw coming! While Geneva has been in the works quite some time now, it has been somewhat of a highly regarded secret (even from me at one point!). Our weekend getaway to Geneva was more than just a vacation...it was an informal site visit. Now, after some back and forths, the move is official. I am excited and relieved to finally share the news.

I know that many people (Mom and Dad?) think that we are complete nuts who just cannot seem to settle. I cannot say that I disagree. Then again, if an opportunity presents itself at the right time, you simply cannot pass it up. We were originally planning on spending at least 2 years in London. Yes, this will probably extend that time by a year or two but we are simply not ready to return to the States quite yet. So, why not experience a true expat life in a city with a completely different language and culture!

I am not naive in thinking that this will be an easy move. I am sure it will be almost impossible for me to find a job and the language barrier will be frustrating at times to say the least. It will also be hard to say goodbye to London, a city that we have gotten to know and love. Regardless of the challenges, I am ready to embrace the city and all the new experiences complete with both cries and laughter.

So, here is to the next chapter in our lives. Stay tooned as I am sure the blog will be full of constant updates over the next few months!

Oh, keep our address in pencil...you never know where and when we will end up next!

Cheers!

A little fun in London

2009-07-23T15:07:00.001-07:00

The girls

Did I grow extra arms?

A group shot

A little table dancing

Even though Jiggy is a regular at the pubs around London, it is not often that we go to dance clubs/bars. This past weekend, we met up with some friends in one of London's busiest areas for some good food, a few drinks, and a little dancing! Leicester Square is a massive area with endless streets of clubs, bars, restaurants, and theaters. On any Friday or Saturday night, it is almost impossible to navigate your way through the thousands of people that are out enjoying London's nightlife. I have to admit that the night started a little rocky when I was late to meet Jiggy because of one very slow train. After finally finding Jiggy and starting our trek to the restaurant, my shoe strap broke! I had to stomp (the only way to walk without killing myself) for 3o minutes through the crowded streets of Leicester Square. Jiggy also came to the rescue with some intermittent piggy back rides. To most people, I would have looked like a complete fool. However, just about anything goes in London and I don't think anyone even gave me a second look! When we finally reached the Korean BBQ restaurant, I was definitely ready for a few drinks! We dined on some interesting food and enjoyed the company of our friends. After dinner, we meandered to a nearby bar/danceclub where we finished the night off!

Cheers!

Where is Home?

2009-07-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

My niece (Jubilee) and nephews (Spencer and Sammy) from Jignesh's side of the family

I was lucky that Jignesh's sister and Mom were able to stop for a night in Tennesse

Captain Dorosz and his boat

Sam with great Grandmom

My 3 month old niece, Samantha

I am back in London after a wonderful and relaxing 10 day trip to the States which was mainly spent with family. My luggage (which is getting rather worn from all this traveling) returned with some new clothes and mixed emotions. After living and working in London for a little over a year, I think it is safe to say that I am well intigrated into the British culture. In fact, I can further say that I LOVE living here and I actually prefer many aspects of European life over American life. However, my trip back home has also taught me that I will as much I sometimes want to deny it, I will always be an American at heart. Although I cannot name the newest American TV shows, my accent will never go away and I will probably never think that getting a pedicar at a place like Wal-Mart is strange. Dealing with traffic on the right side of the road will always be more natural and sleeping with air conditioning during the summer months will always be more comfortable. While on the plane back to the UK, I was thinking about my trip and comparing all the differences between the UK and the US in my head. I was trying to decide where "home" really is. Well, that question was answered when I walked into my flat after a long trip immediately followed by an even longer day at work. When I saw Jignesh I knew I was "home." Of course, I miss my family immensly and had tears in my eyes when I said goodbye to my parents in Knoxville. In a perfect world, Jignesh and I would be living within a few hours drive to all of members of our families. Unfortunately, that is just not possible. So for now, home is where the most important person in my life is. That is with Jignesh in London.

Cheers.

Home Sweet Home

2009-07-07T04:41:00.000-07:00

For the first time in little over a year, my feet are touching American soil. And, wow, does it feel great to be home! It is not the huge stores (although I did put a nice dent on the credit card yesterday), easy transportation, or roomy abodes that I have been missing the most. It is my family.

I spent the fourth of July weekend in Boston (very patriotic of me!) with my grandparents, sister, brother-in-law, and baby niece. At 3 months old, baby Samantha is absolutely adorable. I finally got to hold, kiss, and love her! It almost (almost being the key work) wants me to pop out one of my own. We had a wonderful weekend of simply relaxing and enjoying one another as a family.

After a short weekend, I boarded yet another plane and flew further south to Tennesse where I am currently taking advantage of my parent's lake house. Even though this is not the house I grew up in, it stills feels like home and is one of my favorite places on earth (ok, Paris gives it some good competition!). I don't know if it is my Mom's cooking, enjoying the activities (waterskiing, swimming, cycling, et) that we are always done as a family, or just the familiarity of being around people you love but there is something special about being home. For the rest of the week, I have no plans. I am just going to swim, hike, ski, cycle, kayak, and jetski to my heart's content. I have to get my fill and more since it might entire year until I return! Of course, this trip would truly be perfect if Jignesh could have joined me. I hope he is behaving himself in London without me!

Cheers!

Wimbledon 2009

2009-06-26T00:44:00.000-07:00

Jignesh holding our official queue cards

The Wimbledon 2009 draw

Where should we go?

Maria Kirilenko with centre court in the background

Some doubles action

Since we had such an amazing time at Roland Garros, we had to check out some more tennis this week at Wimbledon! Because we failed to get tickets through the official ballot, we had to join the queue early in the morning to secure tickets. Wimbledon is one of the only major sporting events that reserves a number of tickets for same day sale. For show court tickets, you have to camp out. Otherwise, you simply pay your 20 quid and get groundspasses (these allow you see all the outside courts). The process of the queue is taken very seriously and an entire 50 page pamphlet on the rules and regulations of the queue is handed to you as soon as you join the queue. Even though play did not start until 12 noon, we arrived at 7:30am. We immediately received our queue cards..numbers 4,464 and 4,465! This year I was more prepared for the long wait and spent the wait time enjoying a picnic breakfast of fresh fruit, croissants, bagels, and coffee, sleeping on a soft blanket, and reading the paper. It was actually a painless process and the time actually went by quite quickly. Before we knew it, were inside the grounds and enjoying a sun filled day of fantastic tennis. Because it was only the third day of the tournament, many great players were on the outside courts and we were able to see players like Vera Zvonareva (#7 in the world), Nadia Petrova (#10 in the world), Agnieszka Radwanska (#11 in th world), Tommy Robredo (#15 in the world). and the Bryan Brothers (#1 ranked men's doubles team in the world).

Cheers!

Happy Dad's Day

2009-06-21T08:59:00.000-07:00

Dad, Happy Father's Day! As I write this, I am sure you are either enjoying a float on your boat, a long bike ride, or a scenic hike through the Smokies (in just a few weeks I will get to do all these things with you!). Hopefully, you will also be rewarded with a delicious Mom cooked meal. You certaintly deserve all of the above and more! You have taught me so many things through the years that I cannot even begin to list them all. I often see a lot of myself in you and for that I am grateful. You are are truly someone that I respect, admire, and love more than words can say. Don't worry, your present is on the way (I could not show favoritism and have your gift show up on time when Mom's Mother's Day gift was late!). We (Jignesh and I) wish we could be there to celebrate with you. Have a wonderful day.

Of course, I cannot forget to mention my Grandad. At 91 years old, he is amazing. He recently made it through cataract surgery with flying colors and is looking forward to having his other eye done so he continue to all his daily projects around the house. I hope that I am still alive at that age much less changing water heaters and cultivating a huge garden. And thanks to my sister, my Grandad is now a Great-Grandad. I love you and will see you in 8 days!

To Jignesh's Dad....Even though you are no longer with us, Jignesh and I think about you all the time. You were an extremely generous person and were always so loving and accepting of me. Of course, you helped to produce an amazing son as well for which I cannot thank you enough.

To both our Dad's....we miss and love you dearly.

Cheers!

Stowaway to Geneva

2009-06-15T12:42:00.000-07:00

Last week, Jignesh had a two day business trip to Geneva, Switzerland. Well, I decided to stowaway in his luggage and forced him to turn his two day trip into five. I have to admit that I was not sure what to expect of Geneva. Admittedly, I had only really heard of Geneva in conversations involving the United Nations and other large international organizations and thought that it was purely a city that revolves around business. I was proven wrong. Geneva is set against the huge Lake Geneva (Lac Leman to the locals) that provides endless activities such as sailing and waterskiing. The path that lines the entire lake is a great place to rollerblade, cycle, or simply stroll. And, of course, with the Alps just a short drive away the scenery is amazing (not to mention the skiing). While Jignesh was slaving away in the office, I took advantage of the lakefront with some long runs in the morning and some window shopping (I am dreaming of a Swiss watch) in the afternoon. Don't worry, Jignesh was not all work and no play. One night we joined one of Jignesh's co-workers for some great weather and music at the Caribana music festival. We also spent Saturday exploring some towns outside of Geneva, including Lausanne. Another thing that surprised me about Geneva was the cost. Depending on what list you look at, Zurich and Geneva are usually on the top ten of list of most expensive cities in the world. But I always thought that no city could really be much more expensive than London. Right? Wow I was terribly wrong. The number of Ferrari's that we saw was outrageous. However, it was not more outrageous than the $4.00 coffee at Starbuck's! Yes, $4.00 for a basic coffee. All in all, we had a great trip and I am glad that I decided to stowaway for the weekend.

Cheers.

Geneva, Switzerland

2009-06-15T12:07:00.000-07:00

What time is it?

Lausanne's Cathedrale Notre Dame

The view from our hotel room

Did you know that the Swiss flag is square?

Our last meal before leaving for the airport

Jet d'Eau, Europe's tallest fountain

The lake with the foothills of the Alps in the background

An attempt at some creative photography

One Year Anniversary

2009-06-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

Today marks one year from our move to London! Well, it is not exactly one year as Jiggy would have been here for a few weeks already this time last year and I was still a few weeks from arriving. But this does mark Jiggy's one year anniversary of his start date at work so I figured this was good compromise!

As I look back on this year, the first thing that comes to mind is how fast it has gone! Life really does fly by at the speed of a fighter plane. Another thing that comes to mind is how easily we have adjusted to life in a different country and how much we have come to love London. Of course, I have to mention all the great things that we have been able to experience. Naturally, there have been some frustrations and times when we wish were back in the States but we have not regrets about this decision.

As we leave our first year in London behind and look ahead to our second year, I am not sure what is in store for us. There may be some changes that Jignesh and I never even saw coming (stay tooned for any news!). Regardless of where these next 12 months take us, I am sure our adventure will continue and we will relish and appreciate every opportunity that comes our way.

Cheers!

Oh, we do have one regret from this year....not using our guest bedroom enough. For all you that have not visited, that was a HUGE hint!