Geneva Day 2

So let's discuss what's really important: food. Here's a sampling of our continental breakfast at our lovely hotel.

Breakfast of Champions!

That's pineapple yogurt with little bits of pineapple, a mini-nutella (that I want to keep in my pocket for chocolate emergencies), and the lightest, flakiest, melt-in-your mouth croissant that has ever existed. Take that sponge-y eggs at the Holiday Inn in Iowa; this is how you do breakfast. And what would a morning be without:

Not as good as my dad's but still does the trick

Now in contrast, here's a photo of what Mom and I have been eating for dinner for the past 3 days:

So we pretty much felt like queens at our breakfast feast. Even now, I might be slightly drooling while looking at these photos. Yum...So moving on, our second day in Geneva was a as jam-packed as all our previous vacation days. First stop-flower clock in English Garden:

Flower Clock?

We were a little disappointed by the lack of flowers in the flower clock, but around the corner was a beautiful fountain that offered seats and a cool breeze.

We then took the bus (!) up to the Ariana Museum of Ceramics and Glass. It's near the United Nations Headquarters, so here are a few photos of around the plaza:

As is most of Geneva, the area around the United Nations seems perfectly planned. There's a smattering of trees that gives you the sense you're in nature without feeling lost in a forest. There are monuments and large scale art scattered along the plaza, and there are fountains that squirt water intermittently, much to the delight of the 2 kids in their swimsuits waiting on the next burst. The museum is just around the corner, and it was just as surprising and delightful as our previous museums. 

Entrance to Ariana Museum

Art pieces in the entrance

It's full of bowls and glass art from the middle ages to modern day, and it even had a special exhibit on Swiss ceramics. Here's a few of my favorites:

It reminds me of the 40s war posters, and I liked the idea of fighting with cookware

I couldn't even tell you. Something about having all the famous Swiss battles painted on it.

A bowl from the 1400s

After learning more about the pottery making and glazing process, we went for a lake cruise that showed famous houses, like Baron Rothschild's estate and where Lord Byron stayed, and monuments.

I think it's a monument, but it looks like a lighthouse

Water Jet, up close and personal

A view of the mountains surrounding Geneva

The day rounded out with a tram ride around Vieille-Ville which helped me figure out what some of the buildings were and how they related to Geneva's history. More cathedrals and the like, but the best part was when our tram inadvertently caused a rather large traffic jam. Apparently our tram couldn't fit through somewhere, but the bus blocking the way couldn't move. All I know is I hear horns honking behind me, I see all the other passengers getting off, and our driver just gets out of the car and starts walking away. Mom and I looked at each other, wondering if it was then end of the tour or what. Finally our driver came back and buses moved and everyone was happy again, but I was a little nervous that we were going to be firmly escorted out of Switzerland for disrupting the peace.

Me at a more serene moment of our tram ride