After two whirlwind months through Africa and Spain, our journey took a gentler turn — a chance to reconnect with friends, enjoy familiar comforts, and savour a slice of home abroad before our next big adventure.
A Warm Swiss Welcome
We arrived in Geneva expecting customs, border control, and at least one stamp in the passport — but apparently, Switzerland trusts people arriving from Spain! We simply walked out of the airport, grabbed our bags, and there were Minoo and young Trevor waiting to greet us. It felt wonderful to see familiar faces instead of figuring out a new train map and exchange rate on our own.
Our first stop was the World Trade Organization, where Bernie works. To get in, we had to leave our passports at security — so naturally, we behaved ourselves. The WTO cafeteria was something else: everything from sushi to full hot meals. It turns out a hearty lunch is just how the Swiss roll. After eating, we strolled along the waterfront behind the building, gazing across Lac Léman — a lake so big it belongs to both Switzerland and France.
And speaking of France, it’s very close. From Bernie and Minoo’s home, you can drive across the border in under five minutes. So when they said they had “ordered the turkey from France,” I imagined some elaborate import process. Nope — just a quick trip to the French grocery store.
Thanksgiving, Swiss Style
Our visit happened to fall on Canadian Thanksgiving, and Bernie and Minoo outdid themselves. Turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes — the full spread. It was the perfect taste of home halfway around the world. I’m not ashamed to say I had seconds… and maybe thirds.
After dinner we lingered at the table, swapping stories and reminiscing about Fort Smith days. It’s funny how quickly the years melted away — like gravy over mashed potatoes.
Touring Geneva and Geeking Out at CERN
The next day, Bernie headed to work while Minoo played tour guide. Geneva’s old town is charming, filled with cobblestone streets and lake views framed by the famous Jet d’Eau — a massive water fountain that seems to spray straight into the sky. We hopped on a mini tourist train for a loop through the old town (a first for me — apparently, these little trains are a thing in Europe).
Then came my geek highlight: CERN. Home of the Large Hadron Collider, where protons are accelerated to near the speed of light and smashed together to simulate the universe’s first instant after the Big Bang. I didn’t understand all the science, but the concept fascinated me. Nicola and Minoo were less dazzled, but they humoured me as I geeked out over magnetic fields and particle detectors.
Chocolate Heaven and a Taste of Persia
The next day, we joined Bernie and Ethan for a trip to the Cailler Chocolate Factory — a pilgrimage, really. We stopped in a postcard-perfect mountain village along the way, complete with a castle and cobbled streets. But once we reached Cailler, all other memories faded into cocoa bliss.
After a short tour through chocolate history, we entered the tasting room — a chocolate lover’s paradise. Every variety of chocolate they make, laid out in neat rows, all-you-can-sample style. I’m fairly certain I ate more than my admission’s worth, and yes, we may have discreetly bagged a few extras “for later.”
That evening, Minoo made a Persian dish Nicola had been asking for since their Fort Smith days — a rich, herby stew with rice and crispy potatoes. It was delicious, and I think Nic was secretly over the moon. We finished the night playing Ticket to Ride — the board game we all used to play together in Canada. It felt fitting: the same friends, the same game, but this time in Geneva.
From Switzerland to the Eternal City
Our time in Switzerland ended too soon. Bernie and Minoo were heading to Venice a couple of days after us, but our early flight couldn’t be changed. Bernie, bless him, drove us to the airport at 4 a.m. — proof of true friendship (and maybe mild insanity).
Rome greeted us with sunshine, traffic, and sticker shock. Hostels were nearly $90 a night for the two of us, so we found a modest hotel in Ostia Antica, a quieter suburb near the sea. Not luxurious, but comfortable — and breakfast was included.
Ostia Antica turned out to be a hidden gem. The ancient Roman ruins there rival those of Pompeii, and by pure luck, an Italian man handed us two unused tickets as we arrived. Free history! We spent hours wandering through the remarkably preserved city, imagining Roman life without the volcano drama.
Avoiding Protests and Touring Rome (Efficiently)
The next day, a public transport strike and protests threatened to derail our Rome plans — literally. Thankfully, we were tipped off by the hotel staff and avoided the chaos. (Tear gas and riot gear are not on our travel wish list.)
When the dust settled, we plotted a tight but scenic walking route: from the Colosseum to the Pantheon, then to Trevi Fountain, the Spanish Steps, Castel Sant’Angelo, and finally St. Peter’s Basilica. It might sound rushed, but since we’d both visited Rome before, this was more of a highlights reel.
We ended the day tired, happy, and surprisingly un-teargassed — a success in my books.
Looking Ahead
After a few more quiet days, we took the train to Civitavecchia, where our Mediterranean cruise would begin. As we lugged our backpacks down the platform, we talked about shedding a few items — and maybe a few pounds of chocolate from Switzerland too.
From Thanksgiving turkey to ancient ruins, Geneva and Rome were the perfect bridge between continents — a mix of friendship, nostalgia, and history. Travelling sometimes feels like sprinting from one sight to the next, but in this stretch, I was reminded that the best memories aren’t always about what you see; they’re about who you share them with.
Next stop: the open sea.
