Montreux day 5

Day 4 in Montreux was the clearest yet:











Apart from taking those photos, it was all work.....

Day 5 was the least clear day..... my last day..... Most of my work was done, so I went in early, made sure there was nothing in my email... made my excuses and left. My flight is from Geneva... so after Tuesday's travelling adventures... I've decided to spend a few hours in geneva city before I head off for my flight.... I've tried to have a swatch around on the internet to see if i can find out what there is to do in 3 hours in Geneva... but other than having a huge jet of water coming out of the harbour, I can't find out much...

I head off anyway.... it feels good to cut loose from the conference and head off again... Its a much different train journey back... the weather is driech... a word invented in scotland because we have weather this bad - grey - drizzly - non descript. There's very little to see, and it;s hard to believe it was about 15 degrees just 36 hours ago..... speaking of 15:

15 days to go - now follows a gratuitous Pearl Jam picture....



I arrive in Geneva and stick my holdall in a locker.... I'm back into travel mode and I'm grooving along to moreeeee Pearl Jam.... This time live at the fox theatre Atlanta.. 1994:




The city just seems like a big French(ish) city. It reminds me of paris... wide broad streets. big grandiose houses... I make it down to the river.... I've not managed to find a map in any of the bus stops that makes any sense... either that or I'm in too carefree a mood to care. It's raining pretty heavy now, but I turn up my collar and get on with it.

I pass a hotel called the four seasons... it's full on 5 star and the concierge is handing out umbrellas to guests who are exiting into the rain... I let my hair down(literally for once) and head in the door.... I ask reception is they have a double room for the night.... they do, so I tell them I'm heading out to park my car. When I exit, my jacket is over my arm. My bag is over the opposite shoulder and my hair is tied back..... The concierge hands me an umbrella.... I DID NOT STEAL IT!! It was offered to me....

Next door is a Starbucks, and guilt makes me head inside to make sure no work has arrived at my email while I've been skieving... I check they have wifi(the only reason to be in starbucks), and order a large coffee..... my powerbook soon tells me that the wifi costs money!!!! I'm thoroughly pissed off but enter the credit card and check my email and Pearl jam news while skyping Mowgli to exchange excitement about the Astoria gig.... The 30 minutes internet time disappears pretty quickly.... the Lonely Planet site tells me about the big jet of water in geneva too. I come out of Starbucks, and try to get my bearings... I;m totally winging it. I'm beside a river. The water is flowing from left right. Given that then Jet is in the harbour and I assume the water is coming from the mountains I assume right would lead me to the mouth of the river... and also the harbour. I head along to the right... after 15 minutes... I'm pretty glad of the Umbrella, and even more glad of Eddie giving it his all in my ears...

I seem to be getting out of the centre a little. There is no sign of the river opeing out... but there's some interesting constructions around the water - which is flowing pretty fast:






I decide to look at a bus stop.... trust my luck.. there's rivers winding all over the place. I'm clearly meandering rather than moving towards the Jet of water. This Jet better be impressive.... cos it's about 3 degrees celsius, and if that nice man hadn't given me this umbrella... I would be soaked. I start following the train tracks back into town... At least I've got a feel for the city. It seems pretty boring...



When I finally make it to the station I use my new found bearings and work out on a map which direction to go in. I'm cold and scunnered.... but pearl jam keeps me grooving and it seems to make more sense to see the city than to go and sit in the station.

I keep on walking(in the other direction this time). After what seems like ages looking for a big turn right... I get to the end of the city centre again... there's a park and a sign pointing right to "Lac"... now since the only French places I've ever been are Paris and Brussels, I am not sure that this means Lake... but it seems like a good enough excuse... so I head through a little park and get down to the lake side... it looks like a scottish family holiday.. There's water spraying in my face, you can't see anything, and the wind is making my arse numb... There's no Jet of water in sight... which either means it's miniscule... or they didn't pay their electricity bill!!!

I continue along the lake side.... it is feeling more like ayr beach with every step.... but Eddie has just kicked into I believe in mircales at Buenos Aires....and I'm beating the jogger's....

I'm sure on a good day there's mountain's here.....





....and a f@c king Jet fountain......

I keep walking until i eventually come upon the four seasons fancy schmancy hotel:



Since I stole their umbrella.. I have... taken several wrong turns... found out that the Jet was off and frozen my arse off walking long distances for very little reason. I'm starting to believe in Karma.... and given that I don't have these in my hand yet.....



..... I decide not to piss Karma off and return the brolly to the bucket at the door, since it's stopped raining anyway. I don;t make a very good thief!

From here... it's back on the conveyer belt of travel..trains, planes.... airport lounges... I nearly cause and international incident when my return flight is filled with 18 yr old american school kids "discovering" Europe, but I stick on the iPod and just enjoy the view: