One March morning in Geneva

Rolexes and Chocolate

That was all the sightseeing time I got during a work conference trip. Not one to complain: I walked alongside the riverbank trying to reach the Jet D'Eau fountain - unfortunately, Jet D'Eau was closed as it was a windy day.

I stopped by the requisite Bucherer jewellery store to ogle at the Rolex watches and Jaegre Le Coultre clocks. After diligently converting the Swiss Franc prices to USD and finding out about the Swiss sales tax, realised that prices were not going to get any better than Hong Kong.

I made my way into the old town - my goal was to reach St. Peter's Cathedral and climb the North Tower for a 360 degree view of Geneva. Now this is old Europe! The lanes leading up to the Cathedral were cobble-stoned and seemed at least 500 years old. On an old city wall, a carved plaque proudly proclaims that "Julius Caesar passed this point on his way to France".

The cathedral was built on top of the hill overlooking Geneva from 1160 to 1232 AD. During the Reformation, it was stripped of all its ornate furnishings and became a seat for John Calvin. Luckily, the beautiful stained glass windows were spared. To climb the North Tower, I paid 4 Swiss Francs and started making my way up the 157-step narrow circular staircase.

The view from the Tower did not disappoint - a contrast between different times and ages. The Old Town and the cobble-stoned lanes were still in the shadows, unchanged from medieval times. Yet far ahead on the horizon, signs of the modern world - sunlight sparkling on Lake Geneva, cruise ships and cars busily crossing the various bridges across the Rhone river.

Walking back to the hotel from my brief sightseeing excursion, I loaded up on Swiss chocolate for friends and family. Is this the best chocolate in the world? That's what it felt like when I got back to the U.S. Try eating some Hershey's first and then you'll see. No contest.
If only I had bought more....