Snowing steadily now. After trudging through it for hours today it's rather pretty at the moment. I hear from my friends it's raining in Pasadena this week. Geneva is getting rain also. Perhaps the entire world is getting wet today. The one I'm writing is going to get sunshine everywhere today. If you've got this far you know that we're not claiming to have any affiliation, financial or otherwise with TBBT. That's not to say that it would be rejected if offered. Are we ready? Inventory, laptop, cup of Irish breakfast tea, music Colbie Calait's Breakthrough album, NCAA tournament muted on the big screen, big old yellow dog. Yep let's go.

Monday Jan 27 Geneva

The Lake Effect

Penny had the window seat again on the flight from London. The layover in London had only been an hour but she loved flying into Heathrow and seeing the city. She had told Leonard she would like to go back. Leonard had suggested that they could go home via London if she liked. He hadn't booked a flight home yet. They could take the train back with Sheldon and Amy. Maybe the Wolowitz's could come too. They came in over Lake Geneva she had expected a lot of snow but it was just very green, The foot hills had a smattering of white but the lower elevations were all clear. The sun was shining on the lake it was remarkably beautiful. Leonard was leaning over looking over her shoulder.

"Beautiful isn't it. You're actually looking at the French side of the lake at the moment. In fact French is the primary language spoken in Geneva. Though it is a international city most people speak at least French, German and English."

Penny smiled, "How big is the lake?"

It's about 45 miles long, 9 miles at the widest point. The French-Swiss border runs right down the middle of the lake. Geneva is at the southern end where the Rhone River start into France."

Penny shook her head still smiling, "It's going to be nice to have my own personal tour guide."

She looked over and saw Leonard blush. "Let me know if I get pedantic?"

Penny leaned over and kissed him, "Don't I always? Just keep telling me things about where we are. I'm so excited to be in Europe I want to know everything." She was excited about the whole trip, seeing Europe, getting Lisel, marrying Leonard. Had she ever thought things like this would happen she would have dreamed about them? Then it could have been "a dream come true".

The pilot came on the speaker letting them know they were landing soon. Leonard sat back in his seat holding Penny's hand as she continued staring out the window.

City of Quiet Lights

Raj got out of the cab in front of his hotel in Paris. He was exhausted he had flown from Mumbai to Istanbul then on to Paris. He had cleared customs and finally got to his hotel it was only around 2:00PM but he was on Mumbai time where it would be 9:30PM. He went to check in. The lady behind the counter was very lovely Raj thought. He started to speak and a small shudder went through him. "Reservation for Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali PhD", Raj intoned after the shudder.

She looked at her screen and frowned, "Oh here it is, but you Credit Card declined this morning Dr. Koothrappali." Raj reached for his wallet. It was a good thing his mother didn't know about his other cards. He shuddered again, "Here this one should work, Giselle", he read off her name tag.

She took his card seemed satisfied then gave him his room key. He was on the top floor which was the sixth. A view room just as he had ordered. Raj took the elevator up to the sixth floor and got in his room. It was on the small side with its own bath, a double bed and chair. It did have a balcony that he immediately opened and walked out upon. The sun was shining on Paris.

He was so excited, tears in his eyes, "Oh my Cow, I'm finally in the City of Light, I am so happy." He said aloud then he began to cry.

The Tunnel Effect

Leonard led the way through the airport to baggage claim. Penny was actually feeling pretty good though it felt like it should be later in the day. Locally it was only around 2:00 PM but her internal clock still said it was 12:00AM. She had slipped into the bathroom before reaching the baggage claim area to make sure she looked good if the photographers showed up even though Leonard had told her not to worry.

When they reached baggage claim there was what she assumed was a uniformed policeman and man dressed in black with a sign with Leonard's full title on it, "What's with the policeman Leonard?"

Leonard was holding her hand and gave it a squeeze, "Opps, I forgot about that little incident you may have to bail me out."

She started to fall for it then remembered who she was walking with. "Yeah big gangsta, come on give"

But they were to them now, Leonard let go of her hand and shook both men's hand and was speaking to them in French. He turned and introduced Penny in English. "This is Miss Penelope Jenson the actress. " They both nodded at Penny, the uniformed man said "Welcome to Switzerland Mademoiselle Jenson". Leonard pointed out their bags to the man in black and he retrieved them. He leaned over to Penny. "We are going through the VIP customs, Jean here is the customs officer who will be processing us. Klaus is our driver."

Jean motioned for them to follow him to a security door closely followed by Klaus. Jean used his badge and opened the door to a room with several counters. There was a window that looked out on the main customs area. Jean processed both of their passports, Penny explaining that Jenson was her stage name and then scanned their luggage. He asked Leonard several question regarding the urn in his bag in French. Then he shook hands with them both and opened the door at the opposite end of the room. "I hope you enjoy your visit". Now Klaus led the way with the bags. Penny clung to Leonard's arm. The Hallway they were in had several groups of people moving in both directions, "Leonard where are we going, and who are these people?"

"Mostly diplomats and other VIP visitors arriving or leaving I assume. This is my first trip into this part of the airport. Because of the UN presence and the Red Cross they have lot of people that prefer a private entrance and exit at the airport. So this goes to a private entrance or garage I suppose. I told you not to worry about the paparazzi. We'll just be another black Mercedes leaving from the airport."

Penny was impressed, they should have this at LAX she thought, "So how did we get this kind of treatment?"

Leonard just grinned, "If we ever get up to Zurich remind me to introduce you to my banker and lawyer. They took care of it all, including making the reservations for dinner and the hotel. From what I gathered we are in for quite a suite at Grand Hotel Kempenski"

They came to the end of what Penny realized was a tunnel into a heated parking garage.

Beautiful Horizon

The Grand Hotel Kempenski was a very modern mirrored glass building fronting onto Lake Geneva. Klaus drove them into the private underground garage and delivered them to VIP entrance. Two bellmen and short man in a suit awaited them as he pulled to a stop. The bellman opened the car door and held Penny's hand in his white gloved hand and helped her out. Leonard exited the car right behind her. The short man stepped forward in perfect english, "Ms. Jenson and Dr. Hoftstader welcome to the Kempenski. I'm the VIP manager Peter Rebiere I'm here to take you up to your suite."

Leonard thanked Klaus and shook Peter's hand. He walked next to her his hand reaching for hers. She felt their fingers interlock as they followed the manager to the elevator. The elevator had no button but the door had gold lettering that said Suite Bel Horizon. Penny noticed there were other elevators marked with different suite names. Peter turned to them and handed them two small cards, "Just walk up to the elevator and it will be called to the floor. This is the private elevator to your suite. It stops here, the lobby and your suite."

Leonard looked over at Penny and stepped forward. There was a ring and the door opened. They followed Peter into the car, he pressed the S button and the door closed and it started up. Penny got a good look at Peter. He actually made Leonard look tall. She thought that 5 foot might be a little high. He was very thin, a slightly sallow complexion, a pencil thin moustache and black tight cropped hair. His suit was a beautiful charcoal pinstripe, with a K lapel pin.

The elevator opened on the foyer of a lovely modern suite. It was on the top floor, with wonderful views in each direction. Penny glanced about, two bedrooms, patios and large dining and living room designed for 10 it was bigger than the apartment twice over.

Peter gave them a quick tour. The interior design was done by some famous French designer, orange, red and tan being the color palette. There were 4 TV's built into the wall's. The bathroom had a huge Jacuzzi tub that could probably hold 6. The beds in both bedrooms were large all the furnishing and fixtures brushed stainless steel. Peter ended the tour back at the elevator as the bellmen brought the bags in and Leonard motioned to the master bedroom. Peter handed Leonard a card, "Klaus will be your driver all week, if you need anything please call this number."

Peter bowed his head toward them both and joined the bellmen in elevator.

The door closed and Penny turned and put her hands around Leonard's neck. She gave him a long kiss as he pulled her very close. They both pulled apart and Leonard started to laugh, "I get the feeling that Peter has done that a few times." He was still holding her close.

Penny turned toward the bedroom pulling Leonard behind her by the hand. "Come along honey we need to have sex in Switzerland. What does Bel Horizon mean?"

"Just look out the windows and you tell me?"

Through windows which were basically glass walls Penny could see the Alps and the huge massive mountain that is Mount Blanc, "Oh beautiful horizon right." Leonard smiled, "oui ma belle Penny". She looked back and blushed then continued to lead the way.

Upon the coffee table in the bedroom was a vase with two dozen red roses, a bottle of Champagne and a box of chocolates she hadn't notice on the brief tour. Penny looked at Leonard.

"That's what you would have seen in our much smaller room on Valentine's fourteen years ago if you hadn't got the flu."

Penny started tearing up remembering. Their first Valentine's Day ruined because she'd gotten sick, and then having to take care of herself and Sheldon. She turned to Leonard and slid her hands up his chest then back down grabbing his belt as he put his hands on her lower back, "let's just make believe today's Valentine's Day then."

I hope you like Geneva so far a truly beautiful city set in very temperate zone of Switzerland. It's a very cosmopolitan city, ancient and modern at the same time.

Reviews, comments and questions are always welcome via all the usual means. This will not post on FF until Monday even though it is Sunday night. They are having issues tonight. It will go up on the Blog tonight though.

Cheers

PS I didn't make up the suites, they really do have their own private elevators and or absolutely gorgeous. The Grand Geneva Suite is 2 stories.