Surrounded by the Swiss Alps and Jura mountains, Geneva, Switzerland, is a sweet, scenic destination encompassing some of the world's largest organizations (World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the United Nations). On an accidental layover that allowed for a day spent in one of the most progressive and impressively developing cities, I found myself falling in love with Geneva and its culture.
After a whirlwind day of traveling and a lack of food, nothing sounded better than a refreshing glass of cold water and food that needed no thought as to if it would taste delicious. You guessed
it: pizza! When in doubt, the answer is always pizza. My Uber driver was surprised to hear a request for pizza upon arriving in a city known for its fondue; however, in an instant, the driver was set on a destination and had us at a "local favorite" within 10 minutes. With 50 pounds of luggage, I arrived at Café-Restaurant de l'Union, a local Italian restaurant known for its tasty meals and impeccable service.
Upon sitting down, I was immediately greeted by at least three servers, all attentive and making sure I had a beverage, asked if there were any questions regarding the menu, and they made sure to thank me for visiting Geneva (the pronunciation of water, (WOOD-DER), gave away the Philadelphia in me). Between the
charming atmosphere and inclusive,
attentive service, I had already become a number-one fan of Café-Restaurant de l'Union. After looking over the extensive number of pizza options, I chose to order the prosciutto pizza: tomatoes, mozzarella, prosciutto, and arugula dusted with garlic. Not only was the pizza cooked and served within 15 minutes, but the pizza itself was fresh and delicious and may qualify for some of the best pizza I have ever had (and no, it was not because I was just hungry)! After finishing the pizza down to the crumb, the waiter suggested I walked to the Jet d'Eau and stop for gelato along the way (there was a heat wave going on in Geneva that weekend, and the temperature outside was 98 degrees farehnehet). Between a delicious pizza and a sightseeing and gelato recommendation, Geneva was quickly becoming one of my favorite cities because of its accessibility and abundance of places to go with activities to do. Once the check was paid, along with a complimentary lemon drop shot (the restaurant kept getting better and better), I headed out on my way in search of gelato and a fountain.
After 20 minutes of wandering around and exploring the city, I stumbled upon one of the most breathtaking lakes with
a large fountain and one of the city's most famous landmarks. I was surprised to see the many children jumping into the lake while parents sunbathed on the pebbles and stones surrounding the water. There were many canoes and kayaks on the lake, some guided by locals giving tours and others out soaking in the lake's beauty. While Lake Geneva is preserved and maintained beautifully, it was exciting to see a large number of people using the lake for water activities instead of just simply snapping a photo (and yes, I am the one guilty of just snapping a photo. I was on a time crunch). I would recommend anyone traveling to Geneva to plan for a few hours to be spent at Lake Geneva, whether it be biking around the entire lake or taking a swim and cooling off!
Only a five-minute walk from Lake Geneva (Port Wilson, specifically) was Gelatomania (the gelato shop that our server had recommended). Between the heat wave, the convenient distance to
the lake, and the delicious smell coming from the shop, Gelatomania was hoppin'! After a difficult choice between framboise (raspberry), or pistachio, my heart was craving refreshment and sweetness, so I went with framboise. I usually am a sucker for hard ice cream, but Genenva switched me to become a gelato girl. From the freshly-baked cone to the filling but not-too-heavy consistency of the gelato, I (and my taste buds) were in heaven. My day of exploring and tasting was nothing short of perfection, and the gelato was a great ending to a lovely afternoon.
My time in Geneva was short but sweet, but it definitely left me wanting more. From the kind residents to the beautiful, breathtaking scenery, I could have stayed in Switzerland for much longer than just a day's layover. If given the opportunity, I encourage everyone to travel to Geneva and eat as many exotic and soul-filling foods as possible. Always remember that food is fuel for the body, and good food is fuel for the soul.
Author Ashley Corso took all photos.
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