Geneva With Some More Admiraals

On Friday, Eric’s parents came to visit. I cannot explain how wonderful it was to have visitors. It was somehow just what we needed to remind us that we’re living in a beautiful place (I know, after Evian and Yvoire, we shouldn’t need any reminding, but we did). The other great thing was that, in showing the Admiraals around, we realized that we do know Geneva better than we did three weeks ago. It was reassuring to see that we are making progress in acclimating, because it doesn’t always feel that way.

                On Saturday, we took the bus with the Admiraals to downtown Geneva. We first toured the Cathedral Saint Pierre (Calvin’s church), and climbed all the steps to the beautiful view from the North Tower. We were all very interested to be in the actual spot where some of the greatest Reformers preached. We then walked to Bastions Park, where we studied the Wall of the Reformers. It’s a monument to the work of Calvin, Farel, Knox, Beze, and others who helped the work of the Reformation in Geneva. There are statures of those four in the middle, with others (e.g. Roger Williams, William the Silent) on either side. Rectangular slabs bearing the names “Luther” and “Zwingli” are on either end. At the top is the great motto (the kids laugh at me, because I cry every time I read it) “Post Tenebras Lux.”

The Cathedral Saint-Pierre

The Center of the Wall of the Reformers: Farel, Calvin, Knox, and Beze

                We played chess with the huge chess sets in Bastions Park and then ate our picnic lunch on a park bench. That’s when we got to see the less-inspiring side of Geneva. A gypsy came up and held out her hand to us for money, refusing to go away. We gave her an apple, and she pointed to our bread and water, so we gave her some of that as well. She wanted more, but we shook our heads, so she finally left. She walked over to the next bench, threw the apple on the ground, the bread in the trash, and poured the water on the ground – then threw the bottle after it. Then she walked up to another group and help out her hand to them. They were smarter and just walked away. We read after we returned home that many gypsies are bused into the city in the morning to beg, then bused out at night. Apparently it’s a very organized outfit that has become a real problem for the city. As those who are instructed to feed the hungry and care for those in need, how are we supposed to respond? I still haven’t come up with the right answer.

                We showed the Admiraals the Jet d’Eau and the lake, took Dad to a few bookstores (I liked that part, too), and headed home to celebrate Drew’s 15^th birthday. It’s actually today, but we thought it would be fun to celebrate with family. The Admiraals left on Sunday, so we’re ready anytime for our next batch of visitors!

Us at the Wall