Cycling The Globe

Distance: 67.8 km
Ride time: 4:00:24
Average: 16.9 km/h
Max speed: 47.5 km/h
Total: 56295 km

With temperatures around 10 degrees and light rain showers, this was easily the coldest cycling day since leaving Cape Town 9 months ago. Oh well, a bit fresh but nothing an extra layer of clothes couldn’t handle…

I was under a bit of time pressure as I wanted to be in Geneva by 2 o’clock to meet up with Roger – my good friend that I also managed to catch in Barcelona a couple of weeks ago. Still, I had time to enjoy the view over the Alps and take a few photos.

To get to Geneva I first had to climb over Col du Mont Sion at 796 meters. Then it was a nice descend into Geneva at Lac Leman.

When I lived in Switzerland back in 2005 the country was not a member of Schengen and you had to show your passport to get in. Nowadays there is only a sign at the side of the road letting you know the speed limits. There are still major differences though – for example the price level is something to get used to after spending the better part of this year in Africa.

This is not Africa anymore – Switzerland is a country of punctuality, order, and cleanliness.. or well, so are the stereotypes. After spending a year and a half in the country as an exchange student I know there are other sides as well. One undeniable thing Switzerland has is amazing nature. As I turned around yet another corner in Geneva, there was the Lac Leman in all its mighty in front of me.

Having spent a year living in Lausanne 60 km further up the road, this was indeed a happy reunion.

Another happy reunion happened 20 minutes later as I cought up with Roger, a radio guy from Barcelona I first met on Ibiza some 10 years ago. Today we had an appointment at the International Telecommunication Union, located in a fancy building in the middle of Geneva. I didn’t have time for a shower, but oh well, I managed to put on a fresh shirt.

Roger is a Postdoctoral Researcher a CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research – yes, those are the guys with the 27 km long particle accelerator, the most powerful in the world. In fact Roger is involved in work on exactly that project and asked if I wanted a tour. Sure thing!

Apart from nuclear research, CERN is also known as the birthplace of the Internet as we know it. I found it very fascinating to be standing there in the offices where it all started.

After this intellectual twist of the day we ended with something more down-to-earth; drinking Friday afternoon beers at the CERN canteen.

It was great catching up with Roger and his girlfriend Cecilia who had even invited me over to their apartment to spend the night. Thanks for such a nice welcome to Switzerland guys, hope to see you soon again!