Well, in the morning the family and I went to Coop for some shopping. I ended getting hangers finally, but I already need more. After shopping, we went to a secondhand bike place and I got a bike. I don't have it now; we were supposed to get it on Tuesday night, but got busy. I am so grateful they would get me a bike, because as you know EVERYTHING is more expensive here in Switzerland and I was not going to by a bike for me to ride just one year. However, the girls wanted me to ride bikes with them, but Rich's bikes are to big and Andréa's bike was to small. This bike is just right.
After the morning of shopping, the family got ready to go to a wedding. This was a Belgium-Romania wedding of a co-worker of Rich and a former co-worker of Andréa. The family was invited to the religious ceremony and the cocktail hour only. There are two things you need to understand, Swiss marriage laws and Belgium wedding process. I said religious ceremony, because in Switzerland the couple has to get married in a civil union at L'Office de l'état civil[English: The Office of Vital Statistics]. The law states the couple is not officially married if they just get married in a church. So, after that ceremony you are not required to have another service, the rest of the process is just formality. This couple had a religious service, then a cocktail hour, then a reception.
Andréa told me Anne told her in Belgium culture only close friends and family are invited to the reception. Tabea and Raylen heard their family would not be able to go the the part where they cut the cake; they were upset. Tabea and Raylen cried, "That not even a real wedding. Why did they even invite us if they did not want us to come?" The family went to the religious ceremony and the cocktail hour and the kids seemed to have fun. They came back with chocolate(shocker) and a piece of Romanian cloth.
While, they were at the wedding in Geneva, I hung out with Heather in Geneva. I got dropped off at the big flower clock in Geneva.
She told me they change the flowers around. She gave me an historical mini-tour of the city. She told me a lot of stuff, but I honestly can't tell you everything because I know I will transfer some incorrect information to you. One of the first stops we made was at a churro stand. Now I have had the NASTY thing they serve in the states at Mexican resturants they call churro. Let me tell you, don't be fooled. This dessert was one million times better then the junk i have been served. She said the man who owns and works at the stand is from Protugal and he does an amazing job at making churro. He is really nice and as soon as Heather walked up he handed her a free churro. She ordered 3 and after that he gave her another free one. He said, "One for your friend." What a nice man that Tortuaco. We made a lot of stops. We went to la Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Genève[English: Cathedral of St. Peirre of Geneva].
From what I understood John Calvin has some connection the this cathedral. I did take a photo with the chair.
Heather really wanted me to take a lot of touristy type photos, which I guess I don't mind seeing as I am a tourist.
As we walked around she took me to old Geneva. It is the really old part of Geneva. There we saw this group of people playing some music. It almost felt as if I were in Nashvagas.
One of our last stops was the Le Parc des Bastions. There were huge chess and checkers board there.
There were also say some people practicing their dancing. It reminded me of Paden, Lacey, Lu and the gang.
Heather and I just sat and talked for a while and just got to know each other better.
What a great day.
I got picked up near the clock. The intersection is a very busy intersection, so Rich barely stopped and I hopped in the car and he sped off; so much so the tires screeched.
Sunday:
The family went to their French church. I don't want to go until I have a better French vocabulary. After they came home we had lunch, Tabea cried and made a fuss over her food as usual, then they took me to a cafe on la Barillette.
It was a wonderful view and the plum tart was wonderful as well.
Rich and Andréa made the comment of how it is so easy to escape in Switzerland. It felt as if we were on a mini-vacation from the world.
After a while a little boy came and stood next to out table. Rich said something to him in French, I don't remember what was said, and the little boy said, "I speak English you know." We all just laughed be cause kids say the darndest things. We spoke with him for a minute or so then Gemma and Tabea came running back to the table; Raylen was at the lake with a friend. You could tell very quickly Tabea thought Andrew was something special. We played a bit and eventually before we left we figured Andrew lives right next door to us. We asked Andrew why he never plays in the neighborhood with the other children. He said they all make fun of his French. His family moved into the apartment next to us in the spring; I believe from America. We had to leave to get me to church on time, but the girls did not want to separate from their new friend.
Westlake was great. Pastor David started a new sermon series about "Spending Your Day with Jesus." This week he talked about how a Jewish day starts at sundown, at night. If we want to spend a day with Jesus we need to have a proper night. Spending time talking with him at night and also getting a proper night's sleep. I think I am really going to enjoy this sermon series.
That's about it for the weekend.
peace, love and applesauce
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