city.of.watches

you are now in switzerland, the city of geneva.

first impression of the city - clean, small and expensive. 

the airport gives you the impression that geneva's economy is based on watch industry. almost all hotels provide free shuttle pick up service from the airport and upon check in, the hotel provide you with the free transportation pass. quite an interesting concept, a hospitality that you didn't expect.

anyway, last night, the first day of your arrival in geneva.  you arrived in late afternoon but the winter time didn't give you any extended day light. by the time you settled in the hotel it's dark. but that didn't stop you from checking out the city.  so you went to the city center.

 get off at place bel air and walked along the water front, not much light but all that illuminated are the brand name of the watches and some reflection on the water...

 you walked further and finally arrived at the clock garden. you wanted to check out jet d' eau but you didn't walk on because looking at the map you didn't know how far and the area is not lit up. so no jet d' eau this trip. 

you walk towards the slope and hit the city center or the shopping streets.

 not laduree, not PH but some pretty yummy swiss made macarons.

 the christmas decoration already up, and you just love how these watches are decorated in the winter wonder land....

you went into the basement of the department store to check out the gourmet session and there are plenty of chocolates, most brands are foreign to you.... but it's interesting to browse till the closing hour.

the city is not as exciting like paris or london. it's a fine city but just lack of the vibrant that you are looking for or perhaps you just haven't uncover the dynamic of the city as yet.  you didn't do your homework about the city because the trip is rather last minute and thus without knowing which restaurant to dine in town, you return to your hotel and dine at the restaurant.

a glass of champagne on the house since you are the member of the chain hotel. and you ordered a beef tartar made of local produce....dine among the many solo business travelers.  the swiss beef is succulent and full of awesome swiss flavors...

if nothing goes wrong you should be back here again next week, but then again business decision changes every minute. for now geneva is another city that you have conquered, a ticked off the box of european cities.