Geneva - Day 1

We wake up bright and early, and have breakfast all together at the table. It’s a great spread, with fresh croissants, butter and cheese, jam and eggs. It takes us forever to get ready to leave, as is always the case when the Monster is around. It’s not that she’s uncooperative, although sometimes she is, but she hates being rushed and when I’m holiday, I hate rushing her. It takes too much out of me to argue with a her 2 year old stubborn self, that I reserve that energy for when I need it during the week. We leave the apartment, on our way to see the botanical garden, stopping at almost every playground along the way. The day is bright and sunny, warm but with a comfortable breeze. I take picture of the Monster, my little photography project, and Fargah and I walk and talk, about everything and nothing.

We pass by the United Nations. I know I should take pictures, pictures to document what I’m seeing and pictures to try to improve on my photography, but I don’t really want to, so I don’t.

At the botanical garden we let the Monster lead the way, she running on the gravel, pushing her own stroller, looking for the animals we promised would be there. We arrive at the playground and I let her slide to her heart’s content, climbing up and sliding down until finally she’s convinced to leave and have some coffee. We sit at the cafe just as Nima joins us. The Monster is completely obsessed by Nima. It doesn’t matter how much attention Fargah give her, all she asks about is Nima. “Where’s Nima? Where’s Nima?”

​​After coffee we head out to see the animals. There aren’t very much of them, a few peacocks who stubbornly refused to open their tails, some sheep and deers. But we enjoy the sun and the Monster picks flowers and tries unsuccessfully to put them in her hair. It warm and relaxing and beautiful.

​After that we walk to the Geneva lake, a lake big enough to be a sea. The water is so pure and blue, the sky so clear and bright. Nima points out Mont Blanc in the distance. We watch the ducks in the water, the little Monster leaning a little too far out. She tired and grouchy but stubbornly won’t go to sleep. Evenutally she does and we go to have lunch, burgers.

After lunch we walk through the city and go home. We spend the rest of the afternoon lazying around in their sunny apartment and after the little one goes to bed, we have some fantastic fondue.