20 degC in Lyon and 32 degC in Geneva with some patchy cloud
Ride: 6km; total: 1,127kmWalk: 9km; total: 401km
We were at breakfast a little earlier than usual and were riding away about 8am. We didn’t want to miss our 9:38am train to Geneva! It took us a good 20 minutes to get to the station even though it was only 4km away, mainly due to the amount of traffic. We then set up shop near the electronic information board and waited for our train to come up. Once it was there we then waited some more for it to be allocated a platform. About 9:20am, we made our way to platform I, waited for the passengers to disembark then boarded. This train had a six bike berth where you had to hang your bike up. So off came the panniers and handlebar bags and up they went. By the time the train left, there was only one spot left.
After four stops and two hours, we were at Geneva. We presumed there would be an immigration check of some sort, and there was - a sign saying to present either a passport or drivers licence; but there was no-one checking, so we didn’t even show ours. We thought we had a 7km ride to get to the hotel, however we arrived at a different station to the one on the ticket, and it was only a 2km ride, bonus. But check-in was only at 3pm, and as it was only midday, they were not going to budge. So, we parked the bikes in the garage, left the bags in the luggage room and set off on foot.
First on the agenda was to find lunch. There is a Maccas about 200m from the hotel, however, we spied a Thai restaurant right next door so we had Thai for lunch, and it was yummy. We then went back to the station to book our return ticket from Lausanne to Lyon for Sunday. It was prudent to do so as it was for Sunday and there aren’t too many bike places on a Sunday. We have to come back through Geneva to change trains from a Swiss train to a French train. Cost a little more than expected, but we don’t have the time to ride so no problem.
It was then time to just wander to kill the three hours. We found a shopping centre with a supermarket so had a wander around that. We wandered through a park down to the lake (Lake Geneva), saw an ice cream shop and just had to have one! We ate our ice creams whilst strolling along the edge of the lake looking at the boats and people. We had been trying to find a tourist info centre and eventually found a sign, however, there was another sign saying they had moved. We were going in that direction anyway. We acquired our tourist map and by that time it was 2:45pm. We arrived at the hotel one minute past 3pm and were checked-in after having to provide our passports for the first time on this trip. Room #107 at the Kipling Manotel. It’s a lovely old place and immaculate with period furniture throughout.
After unpacking and a rest, we set out again for dinner and another wander. We purchased our salads and drinks and decided to have dinner down on the water. When we got there though, we decided to just have a drink and enjoy the ambience. It was a bit hot in the sun, so we moved on back to the hotel. Dinner was had whilst blogging and chatting.
Waiting at the Lyon station for our platform
Our train on platform I (platforms are lettered not numbered)
On the train with the bikes hanging on a hook
Scenery from the train, as we approached Switzerland the mountains got more rugged
The Rhône river, flows from Lake Geneva to Lyon and beyond.
Brunswick Park, with the Brunswick Monument, a Neo-Gothic monument
in honour of a 19th century Duke
Duke of Brunswick
Leap, one of the Sculptures of Geneva
The Jet d’Eau, aka the Geneva Water Fountain, the wind changed direction late afternoon and the sun caught the spray and formed a lovely rainbow
Our room, #107 at Kipling Manotel, just a bit fancy.
The lobby of the hotel
After dinner walk
We believe this is Mont Blanc
Some nice sculptures around the lake
A little joey in our patio captured on the CCTV
