Almost home...

Left: Mont Blanc, taken as we walked down the street from our hotel to Weight Watchers.

We drove back to Geneva today -- some four and a half hours. I drove, much as I hate it, because Brad is such a good navigator -- and nobody should have to do both! While driving we listened to French pop stars -- such as “Azenavour” an 80+ year old guy who still has a huge following. Good voice, too, so it’s easy to see why he’s so popular. I don’t understand a word he’s singing, of course, and one of his songs -- one I liked, actually, seemed to be all about farmers. I wasn’t sure why he was singing about farmers, but when I could make out a word enough to sound it out, I’d ask Brad what it meant. Some of the words were “beautiful,” “special,” etc., and I thought, good for him. Farmers need lots of respect. But, when he sang about “holding them in his arms...” I knew I had misunderstood something. Finally, I asked Brad (who gets sooooo tired of answering my stupid questions) “why does this guy like the farmers so much?” Brad listened for a moment before telling me the word I thought was farmer was femme -- woman/women. I guess that makes more sense...

I will mention my “diet” in the car only because it may be of interest later -- when I tell you what happened at Weight Watchers tonight. In the car, I consumed: an entire can of Pringles (or, as they are called over here, “Pringles” -- in other words, the same as at home, except with a heavy French accent, e.g., “Preeengelles.” Also, a baguette with ham, cheese and mustard, half a bag of cacahuetes (peanuts) and a full bag of M&M peanuts. What can I say? Driving stresses me out.

Before I get to WW, I should mention something I forgot to tell you about when we stayed at this hotel last time (oh-so-many weeks ago). It’s right on top (and I’m not exaggerating) of the Super Collider. For those of you who know more than I do about nuclear physics (which is to say all of you) you may know that this is a gigantic experiment that has been going on for years and in cooperation with most European countries. Simply put, it consists of a gigantic round tunnel, deep underground (including the ground this hotel is built upon) which, when operating, will replicate the “big bang” of the creating of the universe. That should be interesting -- but I suspect it will play havoc with the TV reception and will quite possibly shut down room service for awhile. To read more: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CERN

Weight Watchers is next. Read on....