Saturday, April 14, 2012

Changing Lives--AGAIN

People ask which I like better--my time in Argeles or in Geneva. I can't answer. Here's why.

Friends
Argeles: Good women and men friends lots of stuff to do. Very supportive atmosphere.
Geneva: Good women and men friends lots of stuff to do. Very supportive atmosphere.

View in morning:
Argeles: The red roof tiles against blue sky
Geneva: The Jura and lake in all its moods

Walk to water:
Argeles: 20 mins. to sea
Geneva: 5 mins. to lake

Bed:
Argeles: clic-clac as single or double very comfortable
Geneva: single with electric under sheet very comfortable

Kitchen:
Argeles: Tiny with wonderful tiles showing an antique kitchen, sleeping cat making dish washing a pleasure
Geneva: Modern kitchen, dishwasher, microwave, eat in.

Dining table:
Argeles: Looks like it belongs in a Swiss chalet
Geneva: Modern black glass with bright placemats

Television:
Argeles: more stations than possible to watch and small TV screen
Geneva: more stations than possible to watch with large TV screen

Nighttime activities
Argeles: dinner with friends, movie around the corner, DVDs borrowed from R who has a collection to rival a video rental store, concerts, settling in a place I love
Geneva: Owned DVDs with J and snacks from popcorn to champagne depending on mood, dinner with friends, movies, plays, concerts, settling in a place I love

Reading:
Argeles: French library and Barbara's bookstore for English
Geneva: French books stores and American library with English books

Language: In order spoken
Argeles: French, English, Franglais
Geneva: English, Franglais French

Writing:
Argeles: A few writers
Geneva: more writers

Movies:
Argeles: Around the corner or more VO in Perpignan
Geneva: Drive to movie, more expensive more VO

Afternoon tea break:
Argeles: La Noisette and chats with owners Sophie and Laurent and anyone who stops by, whatever pastries are there (hard to choose between them)
Geneva: At home hopefully with a cook piece of something chocolate

Company:

Argeles: I live alone and love it
Geneva: I live with a wonderful housemate and love it.

Shopping:
Argeles: All in walking distance.
Geneva: Greater choice but great bus or housemate transportation needed

Food habits:
Argeles: Fresh from farm, restaurants friends, more eating at home
Geneva: Good stores, but marchés are too costly, more eating in restaurants

Restaurants:
Argeles: Bartevelle, Cayrou, Flowers and some others in walking distance
Geneva: Marro, Mikado, Little India, Manora, and many, many others but need bus, car

Transportation:
Argeles: Little needed for everything is in walking distance. Bus service, friend's shared car, train when not in grève.
Geneva: Bus, train, housemate, friends

Laundry:
Argeles: Temperamental machine, that I've a love-hate relationship with but hate to part with...so many memories of load after load
Geneva: Big machine and housemate that shares doing it 

Degree of happiness at being there:
Argeles: 9.5 on scale of10
Geneva: 9.5 on scale of 10


1 comment:

Melissa Miller said...

Bon voyage and welcome home!