Delayed

Delayed : GVA : Geneva, CH

This weekend's trip to Paris started off a little pear shaped. In an effort to save money, I bought tickets on Easy Jet* (Europe's equivalent of Southwest Airlines), because they were half as much as tickets on the train. Unfortunately, the flight to Paris Orly ended up being delayed by two hours. The reason, you ask? Seems air traffic controllers in France decided to go on strike for a few hours. Gotta love the French!

* Also often referred to as Sleazy Jet. Not because it's a pimpy, scummy airline, but because they're notorious for being delayed or canceling flights and because they nickel and dime you on every little thing. Of course, it keeps airfares low. I will say, Easy Jet has nice, new planes, which was a far sight better than the winged cattle cars I recently flew on domestic flights in the U.S.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/10

Inbound GVA

Baboo Airlines : Inbound GVA : As seen over the fields of Bossy, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/10

Buffalo a la Geneva

North American Bison roam the farmland north of the airport : Colovrex, CH

When I first arrived in Switzerland and France, I mentioned to some friends that I'd seen some North American buffalo not far from the airport. A well-meaning and often knowledgeable friend back in the States informed me that more than likely what I had seen were not buffalo from America, but wisents--their European cousins. Having seen buffalo in the States, I was pretty sure these were the same, but didn't contradict because, well, why the hell would there be American buffalo in Switzerland?!

A home where the buffalo roam... Across the street in Switzerland. : Colovrex, CH

Turns out, I was actually right for once. These are, indeed, buffalo from North America. They were brought here by a guy named Laurent Girardet in 1990 and the herd has grown to 150 animals spread out across several fields in Colovrex northeast of Geneva International Airport. How long they'll remain an attraction on the road from Ferney-Voltaire to Geneva is a question. According to this article, written a year ago, not long. (And yet, they remain. Yeah!) For the time being, at least, they're a popular, though unusual, attraction to be found across the street in Swtizerland!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 1/10