Ahhhhhhh...

 On the water : Lac Leman, CH

For the last eight years that I lived in the States, I kayaked. I've paddled on Tomales Bay, Elkhorn Slough, the Potomac River, and a few other places. I have my own PFD (personal flotation device, aka life jacket) and I was hoping to eventually buy my own boat. Then I moved to Europe. I live near the largest fresh water lake in all of Western Europe--Lac Leman/Lake Geneva and have yet to get out on the water. Part of that was knowing/not knowing where to rent kayaks. 

Maya and Jo show us how it's done, rudderless : Lac Leman, CH

Yesterday evening, a group of us joined organizer Charlene Jannerfeldt of SHEzone for a sunset kayak on Lac Leman. We started at Vergenon near Chambesy and paddled all the way up to Tannay, just above Versoix. About 10 km/6 miles. It was great to be on the water again! Here are a couple of pictures.

 Jo and Maya with the tip of Mont Blanc in the background : Lac Leman, CH

And now I know where to rent kayaks, so no more excuses! (Although, I'm not 100% sure I'm a fan of late-in-the-day lake kayaking. Too much wake. I may have to see about doing early morning paddling... I wonder if I can convince Maya or if it will even be possible to get a boat that early in the day?)

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 08/2012

Animal Shoot

Lindan : Geneva, CH

Our friends, Jason and Everett, adopted a new kitten in their lives -- a Bengal named Lindan. We asked if we could shoot a few photos as Maya wants to include animals in her photography portfolio. A couple of shots here and more to be seen here.

The Maddix-Peachey's also have an African Grey Parrot named Olive. I took a few snaps of her, too.

Pretty Bird : Olive : Geneva, CH 

Light in the Eye : Olive : Geneva, CH

And, their house has an enormously fabulous garden, which Charlie loved! He had a good time, too.

Fetch! : Charlie : Geneva, CH 

Roll! Roll! Roll! : Charlie : Geneva, CH

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/2012

Anarchy

Anarchy : Conches, CH

Just another shot of the graffiti at the end of the street near our friends' place.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/12

Pete's Mutant Dragon?

Pete's Mutant Dragon? : Graffiti on an overpass : Conches, CH

We arrived a bit early for lunch with friends. Rather than show up sooner than planned, we decided to take a walk through their neighborhood. They live on a dead-end street, so we followed a footpath and came upon some very colorful graffiti. 

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 3/12

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

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

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

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

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

Real Brunch

Brunch at Au P'tit Bonheur : Chambesy, Geneva, CH

Believe it or not, that's real bacon and this is real brunch! It's hard to find a place for brunch in this area, but Maya found Au P'tit Bonheur through Glocals and et voilà! Eggs Benedict. If you live in the greater Geneva area, this is the place for a late breakfast on a sunny Sunday morning. Tres fantastique!

Note: The owners speak English, French, German, and Italian!

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

Wheat in the Sky

Skyscrapers : Collex, CH

If you're a bug, this is your view.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 6/11

Cuppa Cuppa

Cuppa Cuppa : Geneva, CH

I love herbal teas. And this is my new tea cup from the Czech Republic. Nothing like a good cup of Teekanne Mint Tea on a cold morning.

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11

World No Tobacco Day

Alphorns at the World Health Organization : Geneva, CH

Today was World No Tobacco Day at the World Health Organization in Geneva. To commemorate the event, they brought in some Swiss Alphorn artists (alphornists? What do you call musicians who play alphorns, besides "breathless"?) It was a cool performance and a great way to kick off this event.

Photo and video copyrights: Janet M Kincaid, 5/11