Tour du Mont Blanc, Pt 1

IMG_1391

Our Icelandair flight from Denver. All of their planes are named after Icelandic volcanoes. Ours, translated, means "the gates of Hell". It must have taken a real PR genius to use that name on a plane!

IMG_0546

We spent a day in Geneva, Switzerland, to shake our jet lag. In keeping with famous Swiss watches, this working clock is comprised of blooming, well manicured, flowers.

IMG_0552

The Jet d'Eau is one of the largest fountains in the world, shooting water 140 meters (459feet) into the air over Lake Geneva.

IMG_0561

Rainbow created by Jet d'Eau

IMG_0569

Jean and Sue relaxing on the grounds of the Parc de la Grange, quite pretty and very few people using it.

IMG_0595

Inside St. Pierre cathedral is Calvin's chair. It's really quite small, not designed for modern American butts, thats for sure.

IMG_0599

We wandered around Geneva's Old Town. One of the major landmarks is St. Pierre cathedral, which is known as John Calvin's home church.

IMG_0614

Part of the Reformation wall, honoring events of the Protestant Reformation. The figures are William Farel, John Calvin, Theodore Beza, and John Knox.

IMG_0622

Later in the day, Sue and I took further advantage of Geneva's public transportation system to go by the United Nations complex. The thing to do here is get your picture taken in front of the sign, apparently.

IMG_0623

There are some interesting murals on the UN facade.

IMG_0627

Near the UN complex, we also visited Geneva's botanical garden. These are real flowers, not imitations!

IMG_0631

Flags of the United Nations.

IMG_0634

In front of the UN Palace of Nations is the 3-legged "Broken Chair" statute, made of wood, and is 39 feet high. It symbolizes the tragic loss of limbs and life due to land mines and cluster bombs.

_DSC9564

OK, on to Chamonix, France, the real starting point for our adventure. Here Sue and Jim are playing tourist. Or maybe they are just stocking up on wine.

_DSC9566

Sue and Jean photograph a Chamonix street scene.

_DSC9574

Another Chamonix street scene. Note all the colorful flowers; also note the low clouds and umbrellas.

_DSC9579

I always love the European flower boxes.

_DSC9584

The channelized Arve River running through Chamonix. If you look carefully, you can just see a glacier in the fog, on the slopes just left of center.

_DSC9588

Enough foreplay. We're beginning our first day of hiking on the Tour du Mont Blanc. Right off the bat, Shoichi found a 4-leave clover. Good luck for sure!

_DSC9589

Starting our hike, at the edge of Chamonix. Our guide, Marie-Guislaine (green shirt on the left) is giving us some advice about umbrella use!

_DSC9591

Marie-Guislaine is pointing out where we "should" be able to see the lovely summit of Mont Blanc, if it were not shrouded in clouds.

_DSC9599

A few breaks in the clouds, and a nice view of some of the craggy pinnacles and glaciers of the Mont Blanc massif.

_DSC9605

No rain for now, and a nice hike through lush green grass and flowers.

_DSC9617

We've climbed about 2800 feet to the Grand Balcon, famous for it's great views of Mont Blanc. But not today! It's also the base of a ski area.