May 7th, 1961-Geneva Switzerland

• May 7th, 1961
• Geneva Switzerland
• Sunny-Mild

Another uncomfortable night with my cold. Woke to bright sunshine with not a cloud in the sky. Discovered yesterday morning they had toasted English muffins instead of Petits Pauis so have been getting them for breakfast. Very good! Went to La Grande Messe at 10:00 a.m. at Notre Dame. A beautiful church with its Swiss Guard stalking the middle aisle with his sword and Halberd.  Chanting of portions of the mass by the congregation was very effective. Dinner at same place as yesterday. A stroll in the afternoon and packing tonight.  We leave for Zurich tomorrow a.m. A quiet day.

 © Yann Forget / Wikimedia Commons, GFDL, Link

May 6th, 1961-Geneva, Switzerland

• May 6th, 1961
• Geneva, Switzerland
• Cloudy with rain; sun toward eve.

Woke up after a miserable night with a cold mostly in throat and upper chest. Took some Strepsil (throat lozenges we got in England) and took it easy in morning. Went to dinner (noon) at the Hotel d’Alleves’ Coq Rouge on a nearby side street and had a very good meal with lovely fresh strawberries for dessert. Then went shopping and Dad found a dear little shop with the window full of Swiss clocks all working overtime and the quaintest little dolls.

Bought Mary Caroline a lovely little Swiss costume dress and hat and some dolls for all our little girls.  Found a quaint little music box for Carol with dancing figures.  Located a boys’ shop where we got alpine climbing shorts for David and little Dickie.  Took a bus tour around the city in the afternoon seeing some of the wonderful sights of Geneva: League of Nations bldg; New United Nations Palace; Russian Orthodox Church; Protestant Reform Monument; and a statue of the Duke of something or other who gave all his money to the city of Geneva that they might build him a mausoleum and a statue of himself on horseback looking out over the lake.  Unfortunately, they reversed the statue and he is now looking inland and the horse is looking over the lake.  Had supper at and open air cafe; visited Notre Dame to find out time for masses tomorrow and home for the evening.

May 5th, 1961-Hotel Alba, Geneva, Switzerland

• May 5th, 1961
• Hotel Alba, Geneva, Switzerland
• Raining hard in am, Hot sunny after 10:30

Today was a big day. Had breakfast early and we were half inclined to cancel our trip to Chamonix as it was raining very hard.
However, they told us it might clean so we took a chance on the weather which turned out to be very good.  The bus got us to Chamonix about 10:30 am by which time the sun was shining brightly.  The magnificence of the mountain ranges defies description. Took the cable car (highest cable car in the world) up the glacier to Mont Blanc. Snow everywhere on the mountain tops and a hotly shining sun made quite a contrast. Had dinner at the Hotel Mont Blanc and wandered about the little town buying cards and writing and posting them. I am sure we got some wonderful pictures.

May 4th, 1961-Geneva, Switzerland-Hotel Alba

• May 4th, 1961
• Geneva, Switzerland -Hotel Alba
• Warm-Sunny

A beautiful day and Geneva is certainly beautiful in the sun.  Had breakfast in the hotel-the usual petits paius, cafe au lait, and two type of jelly.  They don’t seem to go in for fruit juices in the a.m. as at home.  Purchased some tickets from Hotel for a trip to Chamonix, Mont Blanc, where they hold the big ski festival.  Dad plans to ride up the glacier in the cable cars, but I am sure I won’t have the nerve to go.  We leave to Chamonix early tomorrow a day trip.  Strolled down to Lake Geneva and met a couple from Pennsylvania.  They asked us to join them on the boat ride on Lake Geneva this afternoon, which we did.  Nearly two hours of the most wonderful scenery I ever saw.

Greenest of foliage-cleanest of lakes-and snow capped mountains ringing us on all sides.  Pleasant little chalets perched precariously on distant hills-a most entrancing ride. We went to the Am. Express office to file our numerous papers on our lost Travellers Checks, and took off for the American Consulate to have the certified etc.  Back to the girl at Am. Express office where duplicate checks where available immediately.  Inquired our way from an Anglo-Indian whom we thought at least a lower potentate but who turned out to be a rug and fur merchant who offered us a mink or leopard coat for at least ⅕ of what we would pay in Swiss stores.  Insisted on giving us his address: Moh Di Yaqule Avenue 48 Windi 3d Floor (Bus No 3).

We don’t plan to take him up on it.

It’s name is Jet D’Eau and it is beautiful illuminated at night.

May 3rd, 1961 Paris France and Geneva, Swtzerland

• May 3rd, 1961
• Paris, France and Geneva, Switzerland
• Fair Sunny on the mild side

Hotel rang us about six AM and we were off in a taxi by 6:30 AM. Some delay checking bags through and after breakfast had just about enough time to get our train.  Had excellent reserve seat tickets booked but our car broke down shortly after we started and we were switched to another car where we had to stand in the corridor for some time before they found seats again for us.  Arrived in Geneva about 4:30 PM and found a very nice room at the Hotel Alba listed in AAA book.  Dad has lost his group of Travelers’ Checks and will report it tomorrow to Am. Express.  Thank goodness I had my two books separate so we have money.  Went through French and Swiss customs smoothly.

Met a man from Richmond, VA.  Very good traveling company.  Walked down to Lake Geneva this eve.  Dinner Cafe de Paris.