Living It Up in Geneva

I am having an amazing time in Geneva with Ali so far!  The weather has been a bit rainy and cloudy, but we have still stayed busy with site-seeing and partying, so I can't complain.  Europe is truly a unique place...everyone is so stylish and polite.  My favorite thing about Switzerland is how the men kiss women three times on the cheek upon meeting them.   It seems a bit excessive at first, but then you realize that they are taking the time out to greet each person with care...something that a handshake in the U.S. could never express.  Chivalry isn't dead in Europe!  Another great aspect of Swiss life is the dedication to having a good time and enjoying alcohol.  The bars and pubs are hustling and bustling with livelihood until the wee hours of the morning as the Europeans enjoy (good quality) drinks, listening to music, and dancing.  Geneva is specifically distinct in that the majority of the population is from somewhere else in the world.  Walking down the street, I always hear a handful of languages at once. English, Spanish, French, Japanese...the list goes on.  Overall, I have found Geneva to be a vibrant, beautiful town.  The rest of this blog post details my activities for the past few days...

Dancing at Dinemec Studios

June 16th, 2011
I accompanied Ali and her parents at a swanky party at Dinemec Studios in Geneva, where famous performers like Alicia Keys and Phil Collins record.  The event was like something from a movie with unlimited drinks, a buffet of delicious food, and couches positioned around the room.  The studio was entirely black, with bright lights shining on the walls to create a unique effect.  Two performers (one singer and one rapper) entertained us and a DJ kept music playing throughout the night. 

Rooftop view of Nyon

June 17th, 2011 
We started the day touring the historic town of Nyon--a quaint village that lies on the coast of Lake Geneva.  We shopped a bit in the boutiques (which left me feeling highly unfashionable and bland).  Afterwards we walked around the town taking pictures of the architecture.  Each building was painted a different shade and had brightly colored shutters...it was beautiful! We sat on the terrace of an old castle and enjoyed a view of Lake Geneva, Swiss rooftops, and green mountains.  Ali and I proceeded to enjoy the most wonderful gelato I have ever tasted.  I decided on Nutella, Cookies, and Tiramisu flavors.  

Enjoying the first night of Fete de la Musique

Later in the evening, Ali's friend, Ksenia, picked us up and took us into Geneva for beers at an Irish pub. We laughed almost the entire time and met two men from Los Angeles, which was highly coincidental.  One of them attended UVA!  What a small world.  After drinks, the three of us took the tram to the Fete de la Musique--a weekend-long outdoor music festival.  We danced and talked with other festival-goers while listening to some incredible DJs mix beats for an enthusiastic (and most likely very intoxicated) audience. It was a great night!

A little bird in Nyon