( The Jet d’Eau, Geneva ) 

After spending five weeks in Lugano, we decided it was time for a change. Neither Carmel nor I could secure a job, and with two upcoming interviews in Geneva, we thought it would be a good opportunity to explore the city. We decided to spend the weekend there—just four days—to get a feel for Geneva and see if it would be a good fit for us. If I didn’t get a job in Geneva, the backup plan was to take a Flixbus to Milan and stay there for a month. It would be much more affordable than Switzerland, and I already had several interviews lined up in Milan. We hoped this would give us the chance to settle into a city with more opportunities, while still keeping the flexibility to explore what’s next.

DAY 1 – Thursday 27.02.25 

( Night at: Hotel Admiral Genève, Switzerland ) 

We took the train from Lugano at 10:02 AM, making a transfer in Lucerne, and finally arrived in Geneva at 3:15 PM. After checking into our hotel, we stopped by Denner to grab some food for the evening. With the sun shining brightly, we decided to take a walk to the Phare des Pâquis. The day was gorgeous, and we saw locals even swimming in the lake, though the water was still pretty cold! As the sun began to set, we made our way back to the hotel. We enjoyed a quick dinner before calling it a night, exhausted from the long day of travel and exploration.

DAY 2 – Friday 28.02.25

( Night at: Hotel Admiral Genève, Switzerland ) 

We woke up early and headed straight to the Halle de Rive Indoor Market, taking the bus there for a quick breakfast. After that, we began our Choco Pass tour, visiting seven chocolatiers included in the pass. Our first stop was Du Rhône, followed by La Bonbonnière Chocolaterie, and Chocolat Favarger. After indulging in some sweet treats, we took a brief detour to visit the L’Horloge Fleurie (Flower Clock) and the National Monument, soaking in some local sights. Next, we made our way to Jet d’Eau, the iconic water fountain, where we snapped a few photos while walking along the lake on a beautiful, sunny day. Continuing with the Choco Pass tour, we visited Guillaume Bichet, Canonica Chocolaterie, and Sweetzerland Chocolatier, savoring more delicious chocolates along the way. After the tour, we stopped by the supermarket to pick up some food, had lunch at the hotel, and then went for a walk during sunset. Unfortunately, the sunset wasn’t as spectacular as we’d hoped, so we headed back to the hotel. Later in the evening, I had an interview at a local club and then returned to the hotel to rest after a full and busy day.

DAY 3 – Saturday 1.02.25 

( Night at: Hotel Admiral Genève, Switzerland ) 

We woke up around 8 AM, though I was feeling quite tired. After a quick breakfast, we took the bus to the Patek Philippe Museum, which turned out to be fascinating. We spent some time exploring the exhibits before stopping by La Bonbonnière Chocolaterie for a delicious hot chocolate. Afterward, we returned to the hotel for a quick sandwich. At 2 PM, we joined a free walking tour around Geneva, where we discovered some hidden gems and learned a bit about the city’s history. Once the tour ended, we tried to visit the Grand Théâtre de Genève, but unfortunately, it was closed. With the weather growing colder, we decided to head back to the hotel to relax for a bit. In the evening, I had an interview scheduled at a local club, but when I arrived, it was closed. The area felt a little sketchy at night, so I decided to head back to the hotel early and get some rest after a long day of exploring.

DAY 4 – Sunday 02.02.25 

We woke up early, packed everything up, and headed to the bus station to catch the 7:35 AM Flixbus. The ride was long and uncomfortable, with the bus being packed, and our only stop was at the Novara autogrill for a quick food break. Carmel and I had been arguing since the night before, and she had already decided to book another hotel. When we arrived in Milan at Lampugnano, I took the metro and then a bus to reach my hostel, while Carmel went to her hotel. After settling in, I took a much-needed shower, relaxed for a bit, and went out to do some grocery shopping. In the evening, I reached out to Carmel and invited her over for a chat, since I hadn’t replied to her all day. We managed to talk things through and, thankfully, cleared the air and she slept over.