A warm coat for Geneva!

Our very last leg of our Europe trip was Switzerland. Since I really wanted to see Annecy (another post on that coming this week!), logistically, it was most convenient to fly home from Geneva. John has traveled to Geneva (and all over Switzerland) many times, and touted the city as just Ok. Expensive, with not much to offer like its neighboring countries, France and Italy, besides the picturesque Alps. We had originally planned on going to Zermatt, but since it takes a little bit of planning to get there (only by train since its a car-less town), we opted against it as were were lugging the baggage required to travel as a family of 3. But it was actually nice to have two days to do nothing since the last 10 were go, go, go!

We had no specific plans but to check out the city! John was right…everything is pretty expensive. But he was wrong in that Geneva does have a specific charm that I can’t quite put my finger on. The people are so nice, the service impeccable (almost uncomfortably so because the hotel staff stalks you in case you in need ANYTHING at ANYTIME!) and the chocolate is TO DIE FOR! And I can’t forget to mention the shopping. The sights of Rue du Rhône‘s numerous designer boutiques are enough to fulfill any handbag dreams of mine.

We perused the stores for a bit, ate lunch and spent most of time walking around the Old Town and Lake Geneva. We checked out Geneva’s most famous landmark, Jet D’Eau. This is the water jet that shoots water up over 400 feet in the air and can be seen from various parts of the city and even when flying over Geneva at cruising altitude (30,000 ft.). Jaxson loved all the birds around the lakes. He would chase after them and make the saddest face when they all fly away just inches before he would actually touch them. So funny! His favorite part of Geneva was probably the chocolate….takes after his mama that way! 🙂 You could smell a chocolatier from blocks away, and once you walk in and see all the sheets of chocolate in every flavor you can imagine, the sweet smell is an instant mood lifter. There is no chocolate like Swiss Chocolate and I tried to bring home boat loads as a souvenir but we ate so many of it there…after dinner, before bed and after breakfast. ha! It was that good!

I brought along my packable down coat from Bernardo down jacket thinking the weather in Europe would be perfect for a super warm coat. But it actually was in the high 60s throughout our whole trip, and Geneva was the first opportunity I could appropriately wear it without sweating profusely during all our walking. I really wished I could have worn it more! It fits so well and so very comfortable! It cinches slightly at the waist giving me some shape and prevents that bulky feeling of winter wear. And the best part….it packs so light, I just put in my purse! Definitely the best travel jacket around!