SWISS BALLOON!

VAUD - JANUARY 2004

In January 2004, I used the accompanying person statute and flew once again to Geneva, Switzerland. Short, but interesting and highly instructive trip...


"HENRI DUNANT - There are lots of references to Henri Dunant in Geneva. No wonder, he created the International Committee of the Red Cross, and got the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901!"


"LAKE LEMAN - Birds enjoy life around the lake, as do the owners of the palaces on the shores. However, most of the villas we see on photo are public buildings..."


"NOGA HILTON - Not only birds and villa owners love Leman. It seems that some sheiks also enjoy coming to Geneva and stay at the Noga, occupying a full floor during at least a month. It's an economic disaster, when they decide to stay at home, and not only to the hotels..."


"JET D'EAU - In 1886, a company located at the end of the lake used to pump and distribute water under pressure to provide the craftsmen’s machines. In 1891, the City of Geneva decided to install the Water Fountain where it is today"


"PARK - There are several parks near the lake, which allow nice hikes with fabulous views"


"RED CROSS - The headquarters of Henri Dunant's organisation!"


"CHAIR - Urban sculpture in front of one of the doors of the United Nations European Headquarters"

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"UNITED NATIONS - End of the meeting!"


"AUBERGE DE SUGNENS - A very nice restaurant in a village some kilometres from Lausanne. A fantastic dinner before the balloons..."



"CHATEAU D'OEX is the capital of the district of Pays-d'En-Haut, in the canton of Vaud. In January, it is also the capital of hot-air balloons..."



"TAKE-OFF - The Breitling Orbiter 3, the first balloon to fly around the world non-stop, piloted by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones, took off from Château-d'Œx at 8:05, GMT, March 1, 1999. They landed in the Egyptian desert 19 days, 21 hours, and 55 minutes later on March 21, 1999, having traveled a distance of 40,814 km"



"BALLOONS - During the world famous «Balloon week» more than one hundred ballons go up in the sky of Château d'Oex"


"UP IN THE AIR - The flight in a hot air balloon is a fantastic experiment. It offers an exceptional sight on the majestic landscape of the mountains"


"MOUNTAIN VIEWS were superb!"


"LANDING - The only problem with balloon trips is that you know where you depart from, but you never know where you're going to land..."



"SUGNENS-ON-SNOW"


"SALT - Preparing for the road..."