Gretnablog: Switzerland and France

Way back in the dreary dark winter we decided to take a fall trip to celebrate our 20th anniversary. We chose the University of Minnesota Alumni Association trip "The French Alps - Provence, Burgundy and Beaujolais" So, off we were October 18-29.

Checking in no-hassle at Harrisburg International, 8 minutes from door to gate, through security.

Geneva

Geneva - Hotel de la Paix

We took the streetcar out to a suburb to CERN... their 2 hour tour was about to start and we got in! People schedule months ahead. It was great to see the international collaboration of scientists at work.

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Its business is fundamental physics, finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. At CERN, the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments are used to study the basic constituents of matter — the fundamental particles. By studying what happens when these particles collide, physicists learn about the laws of Nature.

The instruments used at CERN are particle accelerators and detectors. Accelerators boost beams of particles to high energies before they are made to collide with each other or with stationary targets. Detectors observe and record the results of these collisions.

Founded in 1954, the CERN Laboratory sits astride the Franco–Swiss border near Geneva. It was one of Europe’s first joint ventures and now has 20 Member States.

Some 10000 visiting scientists, half of the world’s particle physicists, come to CERN for their research. They represent 608 universities and 113 nationalities.

The exhibit hall

Anniversary dinner redo at Vertigo. The first in PA was a bust. Scallops, veal, venison... delicious!

Limoncello!

Ceiling art at the United Nations in Geneva

One of several conferences, this with the ceiling by the Spanish Artist ....

There's one in every crowd - the fellow in green was the nemesis of the guests and the guides.

Annecy, France

Imperial Palace Hotel

Annecy, the town

Boat ride around the lake seeing castles and mountains

Day trip to Chamonix

We took the Aiguille de Midi cable car up to 12,600 feet to see French, Swiss and Italian Alps

We saw an airplane flying below us

Our guide, Wim (Vim) Smits, from the Netherlands

It was chilly!

Cozy lunch at Le Nouveau Restaurant De Cuisine Naturelle

Parasailors

Montenvers Railway up to glacier - see reflection of Dave?

Chalon-Sur-Saone town walk before boarding the Rembrandt

Beaune

What a surprise this was - visiting the Hotel Dieu, opened in 1443 as a hospital for the poor and needy

"Last Judgement" by Rogier Van der Weyden

Devil climbing the cross

The crest of Nicholas Rolin and his wife Guigone de Salins who built this as a passageway to heaven

Cluny Abbey, A.D. 910 only remnants remain of a center of medieval Christianity, a casualty of the revolution in 1793

While docked some of us walked up to see this beautiful 12th century Abbey in Tournus. It was worth the walk.

newly discovered mosaics

The Minnesota contingent on the boat

One night we went to the top deck and saw this lovely bridge all lit up, enjoying the fresh air

Château Montmelas and the Duchess

The Duchess led the tour of the Chateau, then a clavichord concert played by a gal from Oregon

Beaujolais des Pierres Dorees, the land of the "golden stones"

Boucieu-Le-Roi
A beautiful untouched medieval hamlet. Father Pierre Vigne, a legendary 18th century missionary, founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to educate the young and the sick. Still in operation, the convent hosts people of all faiths for retreats.

The Mairie (town hall)

The Convent

The Sisters hosted us for wine and cheese and sausages, along with nougat

Lyon

OK Barry, you may want to fast forward through the Basilica of Notre Dame (it makes Dolmabace look tasteful). It is dedicated to Mary. Our tour guide, Marion, who sang to us like Edith Piaf, asked us what style the Basilica was... Answer: It's everything!