ILO

Stained glass : Gift from the Federal Republic of Germany : ILO : Geneva, CH

I participated in a series of meetings at the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva this week. The building is filled with art and exhibits that depict the history of labor in civilization. This stained glass, from the Federal Republic of Germany, was tucked away in a hallway near the gift shop.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 9/11

Mobile Blogging

I've loaded Blogger's app for mobile blogging to my iPod Touch and thought I'd give it a whirl. This is a photo of this morning's sunrise.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/11

Alpages a la Gruyères

Des Alpages : Gruyères, CH

This time of year in the Alps of Switzerland, Austria, Italy, France, and Germany, is the end of the grazing season for the cattle. Many of the villages and towns put together small parades or larger festivals celebrating the return of the cows--and in some places, the sheep and goats, too--from the mountains and hillsides. In French, it's called des Alpages. In German, it's called the Almabtrieb. I just call it "FUN!" Today, we went to Gruyères and had to pull onto the shoulder to let the cows and their herders by. Here is some video.

Video copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 10/11

U.S. Mission Instagram

U.S. Mission : Geneva, CH

The Permanent Mission of the United States of America to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva. Seriously.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Buffalo a la Suisse

Buffalo a la Suisse : Collex, CH

I have a new bus stop I use for my commute to work now. To get to it, I have to walk past a corral full of buffalo. My understanding from other expats is these are actually imported North American bison, but they're a little on the small side compared to their American cousins, which makes me wonder if they aren't European wisents. Either way, it's very amusing to see buffalo in Europe.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Chartreuse

Chartreuse : Geneva, CH

Walking to the bus on the way home, I looked up and this was my view. Out came the Apple iPod Touch and viola--another Hipstamatic print.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Doggy Wrap

Charlie naps in the netting : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

We don't have traditional screen doors or screens on the windows over here like they do in the States, so we have to improvise. In the doorway going from the kitchen to the terrace, we've strung up netting on a shower rod. Somehow Charlie wrapped himself up in it and fell asleep! It was quite cute.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Roll, Roll, Roll...

Roll, roll, roll... : Collex, CH

Ever seen the Mel Brook's classic "Young Frankenstein"? The caption for this photo comes from that movie. The scene features a young, lovely Terry Garr inviting Gene Wilder to roll in the hay.

Inga: Hallo. Vould you like to roll in ze hay?
Dr. Frankenstein: [stutters]
Inga: It's fun.
[She begins to roll in the hay]
Inga: Roll, roll, roll in ze hay.

Great film!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Lavender's Blue, Dilly Dilly...

Lavender on the Terrace : Geneva, CH

On the eighth floor terrace at work, they have planter boxes full of all kinds of flora. Before coming to Europe, I was not a big fan of lavender, but after spending a lovely weekend in Provence surrounded by the lavender fields, I fell in love with the stuff. I'm lobbying for lavender next year in some of our planter boxes on our own terrace...

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

Bucolic...

On the Road to the Bus : Collex, CH

I've been taking the bus to work lately. My preference is the Z-bus, because it's quieter, less crowded, and I don't have to walk along busy streets to get to it. This was the view the other morning in Collex on my way to a quiet little stop near the center of the village. I love the flowers on the lamp posts and this is the first time I've seen the gate to the chateau and winery open. It was a nice, early morning scene.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Off the Furniture...

Hold me! : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Charlie isn't allowed on the furniture unless he's being held. This is the look he gives you over the edge of the couch when he wants to be picked up!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Town Hall Meeting

Town Hall Meeting : Geneva, CH

We had a town hall meeting at work the other day to discuss reorganization plans. The ceiling tiles and lights in the Executive Board Room make for really cool photos. I couldn't resist snapping one with my Apple iPod Touch.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Sick Day

Sick Day / Hearts at Home : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Just a random photo I found in my files. When we were in London, I caught a lousy cold. After we got home, I ended up out sick from work for two or three days. I took this picture while lying in bed, suffering. :-)

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

Big Tools

A very big machine harvesting the canola (rapeseed) plants in the fields where we often walk Charlie.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 7/11

St Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral and the London Millennium Footbridge : London, UK

In seeing St. Paul's across the Thames, all I could think of were two things: this very famous photo of St. Paul's during the Blitz in World War II and the lyrics to the Disney adaptation of P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins, "Feed the Birds". As it was a Sunday, we weren't able to go inside. But again, perhaps on the next trip.

St. Paul's, the Bridge, and a tourist ferry on the Thames : London, UK

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Le Saleve + Jet d'Eau

Jet d'Eau : Geneva, CH

Le Saleve : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

UNAIDS

UNAIDS : Geneva, CH

Also taken from the eighth floor of the World Health Organization. This building is the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, or UNAIDS for short.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Labor

International Labor Organization : Geneva, CH

From the eighth floor of the World Health Organization, you can see the International Labor Organization (on the right) and the Jet d'Eau (on the left). In the background, the Saleve and, if there weren't clouds, you'd also see Mont Blanc.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Amber Waves

Amber waves of grain, a la Suisse : Collex, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Peek-a-Boo

Peek-a-boo : Ferney-Voltaire, FR

Charlie likes to know what's going on in the kitchen when I'm in there working, but for some reason, he's afraid to come in and just hang out. He use to hang around, but it's possible I've dropped one too many utensils or banged too many cupboards shut, so now he just stations himself right outside and peeks around the door! Totally cracks me up.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11