La Vie en Rose

            I woke to morning’s soft, golden rays beaming through the window—a rare break from Switzerland’s perpetual winter haze.  As a Californian, I had yet to experience a time in which I so desperately longed for sunshine. Two weeks of frozen-stiff fingers and toes was all it took for this wimpy golden state girl to yearn for sunlight with the enthusiasm of a class counting down the seconds until summer break.

            Eager to soak up some long-awaited rays, Megan and I headed out into the city after a lazy Friday morning breakfast of scrabbled eggs, oranges, and green tea. As we approached the door, I felt the cold escaping into the hall and held my breath in anticipated regret for having only worn a knit sweater. To our surprise, the air was crisp and cold, but not painfully frigid, as it had been the previous days. We let out a sigh of relief, and we were off!

            Past the tram stop, alongside the Rhone, up and down cobblestone side streets. The sun had transformed the gray, ashen buildings with the warmth of its honeycomb light. The water reflected the unexpected blue in the sky and the birds squawked as they danced through the air. Left and right people walked at the edge of river, their easy stroll a huge contrast to their usual speed-walk against the incessant, icy mist. In the distance, the sound of an accordion playing a familiar melody.

            As we got closer to the source of the music, I recognized the song as “La Vie en Rose”—a beautiful piece that never fails to incite feelings of romance and adventure, as well as a need to re-watch the movie “Up” for the millionth time. Never was there a song so fitting of a European outing as this romantic, heartwarming classic.

Can’t you picture it? Your footsteps echoing on cobblestone, white swans at the water’s edge, the smell of pastries, the sound of glasses clinking at lakeside tables, bikers whirring by, the gleeful laughter of children chased by their parents, a boat’s white sail shrinking in the distance, and elderly couple holding hands on a bench, all with the accordion softly playing in the background. I rummaged through my bag until I found a couple of francs to thank the man that had left me humming this lovely tune for the rest of the afternoon.

“La Vie en Rose”, French for “life in pink”, or better-known as the idiom, “life through rose-colored glasses”. The transformation of this dreary, sleepy city into one of color and life is wonderfully depicted by this phrase. “La Vie en Rose”, the new light that was shed on Geneva on this beautifully sunny day. I might add that it also perfectly captures the sentiment that this European travel enthusiast would like to bask in for the rest of my days. Also, we concluded our day with some delicious Swiss ice cream. I think I’m in love.

            

Au revoir,

Lisa & Megan