School’s out for the summer! I got a car and made for the hills. Well, the Alps in this case. The drive to Geneva from France is awesome. Once you see the chalets you know you are in Switzerland, and then the mountains open up and you see the city of Geneva in this grand valley at the southern tip of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva). There are dramatic views all around, and Mont Blanc is not far. You can still feel the French influence, from the language to the gastronomy. In the Old Town (Vieille Ville), there are bistros and cafes, antiques and handicrafts, and a lot of history. Be sure to see the Opera House and St. Peter’s Cathedral. In the city center, you can find the giant outdoor chessboards along the Promenade des Bastions. And in the Rive Gauche or Carouge district there are designer stores and fancy jewelers for your shopping pleasure. Looking out at the water, you’ll find the spectacular Jet d’Eau (Water Jet), which blasts 500 liters of water every second 140 meters into the air. I had a full week to explore during these warm summer days and made the most of it by visiting the botanical gardens, jardin anglais, and bains des pâquis. And I toured the grounds of the United Nations headquarters, which seeks to protect our international political and economic interests. And for my own scientific curiosity, I made a trip to CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research. Although I couldn’t go in, I still marveled knowing I was standing above the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Oh, and the night Switzerland beat France 5-4 on penalties at Euro 2020, I’ll never forget. People were screaming on the streets and honking their horns until 3 in the morning. Vive la Suisse! Anyway, Geneva has a lot to offer. I hope you can make it there! Hit the like and subscribe button, and let’s continue our European journey!