Swiss National Day

Yesterday Ronny and I, along with some friends, went into Geneva to celebrate Swiss National Day at the Fete de Geneve. We had quite an experience, so this blog may be wordy. The festival website highlighted two things for yesterday: water sports (rowing and water skiing jumpers) and a 500 kilogram fondue. We hung out around Lake Geneve to try to catch the water sports. The entire circumference of the lake is filled with carnival rides, street food vendors, etc. We had Kebabs and then later found another tent that served drinks. It was a really nice tent with a disco ball. For some unknown reason we left that awesome tent and made our way back to the water. (Oh, I remember the reason, we wanted to get some fondue.)

We noticed that the water ski guy was finally jumping so we gathered along with the rest of Geneva it seemed to watch this guy. What a disappointment! Perhaps our American standards were too high since we are used to extreme sports and people water skiing in a pyramid or through a flaming hoop. Regardless, we proceeded to make fun of the water ski guy. All he did was jump off a ramp. No tricks, nothing. A couple times he didn't even land. Apparently, not everyone appreciated our heckling. After a little while, some woman yelled at us "I'd like to see you do it." Now she said it from a safe distance on her way out of the crowd of onlookers so as not to really be confrontational. For me, this was a great lesson. Just because I don't understand when people speak in French does not mean they don't understand us when we speak English. We were definitely heckling about how in our country the water skier would defy death...American performers are just better.

Now, for the major disappointment...500 kilograms of fondue. I don't even have a good picture of it because there were so many professional photographers crowded around the large fondue pot. How many pictures of cheese do you need?! Anyways, it took us forever to find it, and it ended up being right on the Pont du Mont Blanc bridge. Online they did not mention that the fondue would be 10 CHF, so that was a bummer. It was also really hot. No one wants fondue when it's hot and sticky. It also didn't help that large sweaty men were stirring the fondue. We decided not to indulge in the fondue. On our way home we walked by hundreds of people eatingg the fondue and some still in line two hours later. The website advertised a "new and innovative way to eat fondue"...BOLOGNA! Essentially, the fondue was served in a hollowed out baguette end. In America, at all Panera Bread's, we call that a bread bowl. New and innovative my foot!

Despite my grumblings here, we did have a good time. The Fete continues for the entire week and culminates with a giant fireworks display next weekend set to orchestra music. That should be really entertaining.