Geneva, Switzerland

Aug. 5 St. Pierre Cathedral archeological site

 We walk through a really quiet old town Geneva on this Sunday morning, heading for the archeological site under St. Pierre Cathedral.  It's one of the only things open on Sunday.  And one of the best things to see!

 Lots of antique shops--all closed--that are free to peer in.

 St. Pierre Cathedral.  We don't go inside yet, but head down to the lower level, by the red sign, to go into the archeological dig site for a self-guided tour. 

 There are so many layers uncovered by archeologists that reveal an amazing use of this same space on earth for a couple thousand years.  It all began with one burial, someone who was revered enough to inspire a cult following through the centuries.  Catholics took over the site, then Calvin and the Reform--all building over the previous centuries.  It's a huge, huge dig, dense in layers and history.  I'm overwhelmed.

 Tile floor of one of the rooms where the Bishop held audience.

 History on top of history.  I can't begin to explain it.

Outside of the cathedral.

In back of the cathedral, this interesting pathway down to the street below cuts through the housing.

 Inside the church.

 We walk back to the river bridge to catch the tram.

 On the tram; graffiti outside, like every other big city in the world.

This is our menu tonight.

We go to sleep, then at about 4 a.m. wake up because of a burnt smell.  Strong!  I call the front desk to ask if we need to evacuate, and he tells me the fire department has just arrived and that it's OK--only overdone food in the microwave of a room two doors down the hall.  The fire dept guys are around for over an hour, talking to the guy who couldn't properly use a microwave.

We open our windows to get rid of the awful smell.  What in the world were they trying to cook in that microwave???  And at 4 a.m.???

Eventually, we go back to sleep.