Como, the Alps, and Lake Geneva

On August 7, 2024, we set off for the Alps and stopped at Lake Como on the way. It is very beautiful there.

First we stopped at a small beach. Pavel had a work call, and Leia and I walked along the shore in the meantime.

Leia in a white T-shirt stands in the grass on the lakeshore, with mountains and a town across the water — Lake Como, August 7

Leia laughs, sitting on a pebble beach with a toy car — Lake Como, August 7

Then it started to rain. While we were driving to another beach, it stopped, and there we had a good long swim: the water is very pleasant, and the views all around are beautiful.

Pavel, waist-deep in the water, tosses Leia up, with mountains and lakeside houses across the lake — At the second beach

In Switzerland

After the lake we did go on to Switzerland. First we stopped at a big shopping mall. We did not have much energy left, but we fairly quickly bought me a tracksuit and a couple of pairs of shorts, and a hoodie for Pavel. Leia never managed to nap that day: not in the car, not in the stroller at the mall. In the evening we checked into a house and right away showed the view from the window.

The mountains

On August 8 we drove around the Alps and went up to a mountain pass. We filmed mostly on Pavel's phone: mine was busy with cartoons for Leia. It is incredibly beautiful there.

Leia in sunglasses sits on a wooden fence and reaches forward, with mountains behind her — In the mountains

Pavel, seen from behind, films the mountains and the clouds over the valley on his phone — Pavel films the mountains, and we film ourselves

Selfie: Pavel, Leia, and Alexandra in sunglasses against the mountains — Pavel films the mountains, and we film ourselves

Along the way we passed little towns with wooden houses decorated with beds of geraniums.

A village of dark wooden houses on the road through the Alps

Leia in sunglasses stands on a path by a lawn, with wooden houses and flowers behind her

Stockalper Castle

Toward evening we arrived in a mountain town, checked into a hotel, did a little drawing, and went for a walk. On the walk we saw Stockalper Castle — it stands in Brig. It was built in 1658–1678 by a silk merchant from Brig, and at the time it was the largest private building in Switzerland.

The light-colored castle building with three towers under onion domes, a lawn in front of it — Stockalper Castle in Brig

While we were at it, we took a look at Swiss prices. In 2024 chicken there cost 1950 rubles a kilogram. Back then, in the channel, we wished everyone a life in which they could afford to buy chicken in Switzerland.

Packaged chicken with a price tag on a store shelf — That very chicken

Lake Geneva

On August 9, after breakfast, we found a kids' playroom in the town and played there for a while to make Leia happy. Then we drove on, and by the afternoon we were already in France. The road ran along Lake Geneva, and of course we did not miss the chance to go for a swim.

Leia decided to go fishing there.

Leia on the lakeshore examines a stick with a string tied to it — The fishing rod is ready

She also played with a ball, and it flew into the water. While Leia was going to get it, she decided to sit down and throw some pebbles. But she did get the ball back in the end.

The ball made it back to shore after all

Right after the lake Leia fell asleep in the car. We had already pulled up to the hotel, but we did not wake her and sat in the car while she slept.

Geneva

On August 10 we stayed in a small town on the way to Dijon. And we started the day like this: we went to a store, stocked up on food, and finally bought Leia a toy. Then we drove to Geneva, to a park: we had a picnic there, took a walk, and Leia splashed in the kids' pool.

Leia sits on a park bench eating fruit, with a cooler bag next to her — Picnic in Geneva, August 10

On August 11 we were already in Dijon.