run | schwingeninswitzerland

It was bound to happen sooner or later. Apartment doors here automatically latch shut when they close.

Right after we moved, I heard a story about a poor lady who was 5 months pregnant getting locked out at 8:00 a.m. They were so new, she didn’t know her husband’s work phone number and had no money on her. Luckily, she got some assistance from the American Women’s Club and made it through the day until her husband returned home that evening.

Yesterday, I went for a run. I walked out of the apartment and shut the door…with my keys still on the table by the door! I was locked out.

Some people look cute when they work out. Check out Jessica Biel above. She definitely looks cute on her runs. I do not. I wasn’t wearing any makeup. I had on running tights with a burgundy dry fit top. My clashing red sports bra was visible. My blue gloves and white hat (covering up my greasy hair) didn’t exactly coordinate either.

This is perhaps the only running gear that is worse than what I had on. Normally, I just don’t care what I look like when I’m running. Once the door locked, I regretted my apathy because it meant I had to run across town to his work to get the keys.

I showed up at his very busy office building 45 minutes later looking like a hot mess. I was mortified. Compared to me, Snookie is looking good for a workout

Unfortunately, he was in meetings so I had to sit and wait in the lobby while people walked by. It was worth it though because I was able to get the keys from him. Once I had them in my hot little hands, I got the heck out of Dodge and ran back home.

No, I’m not talking about a giant SUV. I’m talking about a pretty cool party. Geneva’s Escalade commemorates the Protestant city of Geneva‘s defeat of the Duke of Savoy‘s Catholic troops in 1602.

I’m not really sure, but these might be Geneva’s version of Paul Revere? If you’re going to visit Geneva, this might be the best time to do it. It’s a really cool festival that’s part spectacle, part party and very accessible. You’re in the middle of it so you’ll experience it with all of your senses. The sounds of drums and fifes echoed through the city walls, while the smell of mulled wine (vin chaud) wafted through the air.

Here’s the deal. Charles Emmanuel I the Duke of Savoy wanted Geneva’s wealth. Genevans wanted their independence. Many of them were religious refugees and would have had no where safe to go if Geneva had fallen to Catholic France. They also wanted to keep their money instead of giving it to the Duke.

When the Duke’s troops attacked, grandma threw a pot of boiling soup over the city walls as they attempted to climb them. She then woke up the city so that it could defend itself. Pretty much, they celebrate not their city not being overtaken by the Savoy and not becoming part of France.

It’s historic in the best possible way. They have parades. The old town is lit up by people carrying torches. They really did fire the muskets! They were so loud. It scared the heck out of me… and the kid next to me. They fire cannons too. People dress up in period costumes. Some are even on horseback. The Passage de Monetier, a secret passage in Geneva’s old town is open for only this one night.

How do you celebrate grandma’s victory? In the most quintessentially Swiss way. Chocolate! They make giant tureens (cauldrons) of chocolate with marzipan vegetables (to be like granny’s tureen of soup). Stores like Migros and Co-op sell the “vegetables.” I bet it’s really easy to get kids to eat these vegetables. They also have tasty street food and (of course) mulled wine.

Children dress up in costumes, kind of like they would in the US on Halloween. We didn’t see any risqué costumes like you do there.

The cannon was louder than the muskets. Unfortunately, there are not enough occasions where shooting off a cannon is permitted. If you can get away with it, it definitely says celebration (or attack). There’s also a race/run that takes place weekend of or preceding the night of the 11th It usually starts in the Parc des Bastions, where the Savoy troops congregated before attacking the walled city, and goes through Geneva’s old town, before finishing near the start. It’s a big deal here and everyone gets involved; you’ll even see families and running together. There’s even a youth race and a costume run.