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Sunshine and Blue Sky

It’s as if Geneva knew the sunshine and blue sky would make me smile.

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My friends and parents have been a wonderful support system this weekend, filling the void of Bo’s departure.

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Yesterday morning I headed out for a 10k run with Amy and Sandra. These girls did a great job keeping pace and before I knew it we’d conquered the rolling hills of Coligny and were sipping Starbucks iced green teas and goofing off.  The run’s 9:04 average pace was strong, and the views were gorgeous. 

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The run was the perfect pre-game for Caves Ouverts, the annual event that is a wine lover’s dream. It seems as if everyone in Geneva heads out to the vineyards for a day of relaxation, sunshine and tastes of local wine at participating vineyards. Each weekend a different canton, or community, hosts the event that allows people to enjoy tastes for the small cost of 5 francs.

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Yesterday’s white dress was a recent purchase that may quickly become my favorite Summer dress. White and light, this airy TopShop dress has a cute cut-out back that is thick enough to allow for a regular bra.

We spent the afternoon at Domaine des Molard, a vineyard that has been making wine since 1352! Their Riesling- Sylvaner was perfect for the warm afternoon without being too sweet.

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I headed back to Geneva four hours later to meet my mom and dad, who drove in from Chianti. We relaxed last night with dinner and gelato before a fun-filled Sunday fun day today.

We sipped cappuccinos while catching up at Le Pain Quotidien before spending six glorious hours outside.

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I felt like a child again chasing bubbles and feeding swans.

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We played tourist, taking pictures in front of the Jet d’Eau and the flags on Mont Blanc Bridge.

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We walked five miles through Geneva, twisting and turning through the lakeside streets, stopping to enjoy the views and people watch.  My parents’ legs don’t like me right now, but we certainly had fun! 

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As soon as my dad saw the small boat rental, he knew we had to take advantage of the quiet morning. We rented a motor boat for two hours, perfect for enjoying today’s sunshine and low humidity while waving to fellow boaters and admiring the gorgeous, lake-front homes.

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Geneva, thank you for being perfectly on point this weekend.

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History’s Worst Marathon

Happy Thursday! The weekend is almost here. This week is all work and no fun, as I am trying to complete 12 looming items on my work To Do list before we fly to New York City. I hope you enjoy today’s post from Bo, which will take you down a bit of Olympic history as well as giving you another spot to add to your Travel board on Pinterest!

Yesterday, I learned that at the 1904 Summer Olympics, the 3rd Olympic games following the 1896 Athens games and the 1900 Paris Games, Thomas Hicks, the Gold medal winner of the marathon, ran a 3 hour and 28 minute marathon. However, to be fair, he came in second, though was given gold after it came to light that the winner traveled a third of the 26 miles in a car!  These days, his 3:28 marathon time wouldn’t have even qualified for Boston!

Thomas Hicks

Switzerland is well known as the land of fondue and chocolate as well as a country in which you can find world-class spas, skiing, and some of the most awe-inspiring views in the Alps.

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Due in part to its historical neutrality, Switzerland is also home to a great many important global institutions. The United Nations, FIFA, (watch the John Oliver video if you haven’t seen it), The Red Cross, and the International Olympic Committee all call Switzerland home.

Olympic Museum

Though I love the Olympics, and have called Geneva home for almost two years, until yesterday I had not yet made it to The Olympic Museum. Located in Lausanne, only a 45-minute train ride from Geneva, the official museum of the Olympic Movement sits on a hill with amazing views of Lac Leman and the Alps beyond. I first learned about the Museum last winter in a New York Times article that the Olympic Museum had then just recently reopened after a two-year $60 million renovation. I finally made the short journey to Lausanne yesterday, and it was well worth it. I love the Olympics, so perhaps I’m a bit biased, but I would recommend this as a must-see for anyone spending some time in Western Switzerland.

The museum is relatively small, and it is easy to see everything in just over an hour though you could spend significantly longer if you watched all the videos. It is split into three levels, each with a different theme. The first, “Olympic World” begins with a history of the Olympics starting with its origins in ancient Greece and continuing with Pierre de Coubertin’s inspired vision and successful Olympic revival with the 1896 games in Athens. In “Olympic World” you also find the history of the Olympic symbols such as the motto “Citius, Altius, Fortius” (Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger"), the five rings (representing five interlocked continents) and the flame.

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The Olympic flame relay torches have definitely shrunk over the years!

The next level is the “Olympic Games.” The exhibit is intentionally sparse and intended to celebrate the athletes of the games. As you enter, the right side celebrates the Winter Games, the left side celebrates the Summer Games and a small area in the back celebrate the Paralympics. Both the summer and winter sections are split into 3 – 4 small displays of memorabilia from a date range. These displays are surrounded by screens on which you can learn facts and watch highlights of the games from those years.

How would you like to compete in a major cycling race on this nice fixed gear model?

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Who knew that modern rifle competitors needed such a complex optical apparatus?

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The final level, called the “Olympic Spirit,” celebrates what it takes to be an Olympic athlete. Displays here range from life in the Olympic Village to the mental and physical preparation that the athletes undergo, to the evolution (and sometimes banning) of technology related to competition.

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This bike design was banned after the 1992 Games in Barcelona.

It is on this level that you can also find replicas of all the medals dating back to the 1896 games in Athens made from the original molds.

Overall, this was an amazing experience. It is exactly the right level of depth to hold your interest for the entire time and will leave you inspired and looking forward to the next Olympics.

Your turn: What is your favorite Olympic memory?

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ashleyd /

48 Hours in Zermatt

The winner for most picturesque ski area in Switzerland definitely goes to Zermatt! After enjoying a late season ski weekend in Zermatt last year, we couldn’t resist going back again this year. Gorgeous views of the iconic Matterhorn, delicious Swiss mountain food, skiing of all levels, and an adorable town, beckon many people to Zermatt each year.

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This year we decided to save a bit of money and stay in Tasch versus Zermatt. Tasch is just an 11 minute train ride from Zermatt which means that as long as pay attention to the train schedule, it’s a great way to save money. Our hotel, the Swiss Budget Alpenhotel, was perfect for our weekend needs – working hi-speed wireless internet, a full breakfast each morning and just across the street from the train station. It was quite basic, but when your goal is to ski each day, you don’t need much more.

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We were on the lifts earlier than usual, leaving the hotel by 9am each morning. We stayed on the Swiss side this year, versus getting lost in Italy again. We really enjoyed skiing around Glacier Paradise, Gornergrat, Sunnegga. It’s hard not to enjoy skiing when the weather report is 100% wrong. We went expecting overcast, snowy weather but instead had another weekend of Spring skiing – temperature in the 40s, blue sky, white snow and sunshine both days!

IMG_7528 IMG_7545 IMG_7532 IMG_7530After a long day of skiing, we stopped at Chez Vrony for a late, afternoon lunch.  Our friends Lauren and Ryan have raved about this restaurant for years, claiming that it is the best ski lunch they’ve had in Europe. Only accessible via ski slopes, this mountain gem did not disappoint!   IMG_7566IMG_7568[1]

We enjoyed a glass of wine on the balcony, before the fading sun and cooler temps forced us to move inside.

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Our entire group was amazed by the food, enjoying a taste of everything from their menu. Bo and I shared our meals, so I was able to enjoy some of the Bloody Mary soup and the fish stew to start. For our main course, we shared their take on the meatloaf as well as the lunch winner, the lamb curry.

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We skied for another hour or so before enjoying a glass of wine at what has to be the coolest mountain side shack I’ve seen. You want me to sit in a lounge chair, prop my feet up, enjoy the sunset and sip champagne? Yes please! The Champagne Bar is a great spot to pause on your way down the Sunnegga side of the mountain.

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After our glass of champagne and some fabulous skier watching we headed down the mountain for après ski at Papperla Pub. At 4pm each day this spot serves its signature mulled wine and cocktails on the outside terrace and inside. At 6pm the live band take the stage, playing covers and requests from the crowd.

Papperla Pub in Zermatt

Our final stop of the evening was Restaurant Julen where our group had the chance to sample Swiss German cuisine in a cozy, warm atmosphere. This was our second time dining at Restaurant Julen and it was just as wonderful as we remembered. The lamb shank and rack of lamb were the winners, in our opinion, as the food was so delicious everyone thought their entree was the best.  On the side of our lamb entrees, we enjoyed cheese, in the form of raclette, as no good Swiss mountain dinner isn’t complete without a little bit of cheese.

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If you have the opportunity to ski in Switzerland, do your best to make it over to Zermatt. The views, food and character will deliver the ski experience you’ve always imagined.

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