First few months

Assorted pictures from our first few months in Geneva

This is the shipping container all our worldy posessions were transported inOn one of our first days in Geneva, we were at Parc des Bastion. These university students were surveying people, asking opinions on what we thought about playground equipment being used to generate electricity. Seriously.
Our peps friends. We'll miss them!One of the many apartments we looked at. Thank goodness we found the place we're in now - this one was in the middle of nowhere.
Cool building we found on our walk to CarougeThe Ronald McDonald house, in Geneva
With my friend Paige at a restaurantOn Paige's deck
At the toy library. It's a neat thing they have here - a place kids can check out toys, and also play with them. Great for rainy days, and Wednesdays, when there's no school.The famous statues of Protestant leaders at Parc des Bastion
It seems like we've seen the "Occupy XXX" in every major city we've been in recently, including Geneva, Paris, and LondonSome pictures of the move into our new apartment
our goods were transported on this elevator to our apartmentPeter loved this little merry-go-round. It wasn't the safest piece of equipment around. That's probably why he liked it so much.
Peter is not happy with mom in this picture.Something I've never seen before - a hot panini vending machine
A the History of Science musuem. We just discovered this place serendipitously, and enjoyed it. Lots of old scientific instruments.Right next to the History of Science museum, there's usually some young people doing tightrope walking on weekends
Also there's a parabolic sound reflector in front of the museum. It's amazing how well you can hear voices, even whispers.The kids and Eric went to a flea market type Christmas sale, where kids sold their own toys. They ended up buying a few things (Power Ranger guys, etc) that they really liked.
A the south end of Lake Geneva is the English Garden. There's a beautiful, bountiful persimmon tree there which I'd love to harvest a few fruits from, but they were far out of reachSome pictures from the Escalade parade that happened in the Eaux Vives neighborhood
Pictures from the Escalade in Geneva. The Escalade is a fascinating festival that commemorates Geneva's victory in 1602 against attackers from the Duke of Savoy. Lots of Genevans dress up in period costumes, and lots of kids just dress up in all kinds of costumes.
Everything seemed very authentic, down to the candles
It was a little funny to see all these people in period costumes, taking pictures with their cell phones
During the Escalade, the Tower of St. Peter's cathedral is open to visitors, free of charge. It was a little crowded, but there were also some areas that are ONLY open during the EscaladeWe got to ring this bell
View of Geneva, including the Jet d'Eaux, from the bell towers
The apartment block centered in this building is where we live....and here's a close-up of our building
The monster music box that plays tunes on the bells.On the outer balcony of the bell tower
This tiny passageway, Passage de Monetier, is open ONLY during the Escalade.
The view of the Jet d'Eaux from our apartmentA concert for Peter's class at school
Christmas at our new apartment. It was pretty rushed and not very traditional, because we flew to London the same dayBut Peter really enjoyed his new scooter!
And Kenny was very happy with his Star Wars Lego model
At the CERN visitors center. Eric had a long discussion with a very engaging retired physicist who volunteers thereWe saw this amazing cauliflower-like vegetable at the Migros supermarket in Annemasse, France. Thinking back - why didn't we buy it? It was so cool looking, like a fractal vegetable.
Kenny on his scooter - we're about to take the ferry across the water.I don't think it would have been possible for the tightrope walkers to traverse this one. It was hitting some kind of resonant frequency with the wind