Our EC39 TGV just left the Genève station on its way to Milan. Since leaving La Thebauderie just over a week ago we have taken trains from Flers to Paris, Paris to Lyon, and Lyon to Genéve, today is the last train ride of this trip.

In Paris we stayed near the Bastille, the same area where we met up with Tricia’s family last summer. My first morning sketch and coffee were at the same cafe next to the Bastille that I frequented back in August.

Most afternoons we stop off someplace for a bit of people watching; Tricia sorts photos for her blog – I sketch.

One evening there was a bit of excitement, there were riot-armed police and vans all around us. People were thronging to the Bastille. We are not sure what the protest was for, but considering the armement of the police, which reflected at least some possibility for violence, we stayed a few blocks away.

In Lyon it was about food, we went into a small cafe that was empty, but the lady who was working was such a delight we went in anyway, and were glad we did. I did a sketch of some flowers on the bar and gave it to her, it brought a smile.

One afternoon at a cafe near where we were staying we sat outside and watched people.

Another train and we were in Genève, for the first time. We loved it, but it was as expensive as Oslo. I found the Cottage Café in a park near the lake. There was a fire pit to keep warm by as I sketched – perfect.

We wandered and shopped in the old town, and we ate some great food (read about the food in next week’s blog on Been There Eating This).

Then this morning I went back to the Cottage Café for one last sketch and coffee.

We drive from Milan to Perugia tomorrow morning, we will stay in the same BnB for 13 days, it will be nice to not have to travel every other day, just settle in and explore with day trips.

We are looking forward to each day, thank you for joining us in spirit.