Mike was really interested in riding on one of the fast European trains, so one day we took a train to Geneva, Switzerland and back.
It took 3 ½ hours – it’s about 336 miles to drive so the train averaged 100 miles per hour. The train went faster than that through the countryside, but much slower when it came to the mountains. We could tell we were going fast, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable at all. And it was fun to see the countryside change so quickly.
Geneva is along Lac Leman – the second largest lake in Europe. Lac Leman is part of the Rhone River – the river flows into it from the east, and out of it on the west. Geneva is at the western end, where the Rhone flows out of the lake. Most of the water in the lake comes from the Rhone glacier, so it’s blue green and very clear.
The city maintains a 140 meter high fountain in the lake, which has become a symbol of the city, and a big tourist attraction.
The predecessor to the fountain – in 1886 – was an escape valve that got rid of excess water pressure when craftspeople stopped using the newly installed water-powered turbines at night. The escape valve created a small fountain. Later the city saw that it could be used as a tourist attraction. They moved it into the lake, and increased its size.
The fountain is fun to watch – the wind blows the water, and the sun makes rainbows in the spray.
We took a long walk along the lake and down the river.
The walkway along the lake
The roses smelled wonderful – much more than most of the roses I see in the U.S.
The fountain
Sailboats along the lake
There are many Mute Swans – they act like Canada Geese do in the US – swimming along the shore watching for handouts from pedestrians.
A pigeon in a pipe
This is called a Goosander in Europe – the same species as our Common Merganzer (Mergus merganser).
And lots of Coots (Fulica atra) – these were on the pier leading out to the fountain.
They are a different species from our American Coot, but look very similar.
We walked for a little way along the Rhone River. People were swimming and floating down the river in the strong current. (It was a very hot afternoon.)
We found a shady walkway that wound its way up the riverbank to a street at the top.
A Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) on the railing of the walkway.
One of the parks had giant chess and checker boards.
These are some views from the train on the way back to Paris.