Landing in Geneva

June 5th, 2008

After a few night with fever because my partner had unsensibly purchased about 80 pounds for each train ticket to London, the day had arrived. We caught the train at 5.20 am from Manchester Piccadilly and about two hours and a half later we had arrived in London. With several underground connections, we were in London City Airport much earlier then the plane schedule. Having a few hours to spare led to exaggerated expensive breakfast. Without tight securities and document check ceremony, everything was quick and we were checked through and waiting for the plane to Geneva in the terminal.

One hour and a half on Swiss air flight LX435, we had arrived in Geneva safely. I had read on a website that all the tourists could have free tickets to get into the city for free. Without carefully looks, We went out from the arrival hall and went directly to the swiss railway office near by and noticed that to get free tickets we had to ask inside after claiming our baggages, which it was too late now. Therefore, we paid about 3 franc (1.5 pound) to the city.

As the train had arrive at Geneva (as the signs showed on platforms), I looked down on my guide book and thought we might have to get on another train to Gare Cornavin. We walked around and I decided to ask a security staff.

me: "Excuse me, do you know how to get to Gare Geneva?"
The Staff:"What are you going to do there"
me:"Well, our hostel is close to that station"
The Staff:"It is here. This is Gare Cornavin, Geneva train station" (pointing down with her index finger to the floor)
me:"???"

How come the name of the station and the city it is located were different? Anyway, with the help of the map, we had found the hostel in fifteen minutes. The City Hostel is located not far from the city centre. There is a tram route on the main street about 20 metres from the hostel. The rooms were new, the toilets and the showers were clean. The kitchen was opposite to my room. There were lockers for every guests both in the cupboard and fridge. It is 10 franc deposit for the key.

We walked calmly around Lake Geneva today, bought some food from a supermarket and went back to cook at the hostel. I planned the trip for the next day this night.