Paris to Geneva by TGV… And Then…

Greetings on December 27 with update from December 26

Greetings on December 27 with update from December 26.
Hope you had a good Christmas and are enjoying Hannukah.

We began the day (December 26th) packing and heading to the train from Paris (Gare De Lyon) to Geneva (where we were to stay just two days (visiting family) and then head to Bulgaria and finally Munich. Mike had felt queasy for a few days, and in fact, didn’t have any wine at Xmas dinner. But yesterday (12/26) by the time we got to the train station he was feeling pretty miserable with stomach pains. Still, we managed to stop at Le Tren Bleu at the station for a salad and dessert. Le Train Bleu is a restaurant steeped in history. It began in 1900 as a buffet at the time of the Universal Exhibition and later became the very elegant Le Train Bleu restaurant. It was designed by Marius Toudoire, the architect who also designed the train station clock tower and facade. While we tried to eat simply given the stomach issues, we just couldn’t pass up lunch in that amazing space.

We boarded the train fairly smoothly except that we had more baggage than usual, because we were lugging Xmas presents around, so it was a little tough boarding and deboarding (especially since Geneva was not the last stop of the train, so we needed to move fast). We were in first class on the train, so they served lunch—looked very good, but by then we were both apprehensive about eating anything rich…and the French don’t know anything but rich foods. I nibbled; Mike declined.

And about four hours later we were in Geneva.

We checked into the Tiffany Hotel, where we have stayed many times before. It’s centrally located and easy to get to Carrouge where Elizabeth lives. But it’s definitely not the lap of luxury. Rooms are very small and cramped and it’s sort of dark. And by now Mike was definitely sick, and I was beginning to feel nauseous. It was about 7:00pm and we decided not to have dinner. Julia, who is still in Angoulême suggested we go to a clinic to be checked out. Within an hour we decided that was a good idea. Well… we have now experienced the Swiss medical system!

At Julia’s suggestion, we went to a “private” clinic (there are also public ones) with an ER (sort of like our Urgent Care places but better equipped. Naturally it was immaculate, well appointed, very “white.” At one point I left the waiting room to go to the bathroom and when I returned Mike was gone and my purse was just sitting on a chair (unattended). I tried to figure out where Mike was and then someone came to tell me he was in an exam room because he had fainted — twice… the second time he was momentarily unconscious. They said I could go to his room once they finished some tests.

In the meantime, they also checked me in for some kind of meeting with a doctor, but later decided all I needed was some anti-nausea pills.

When I got to Mike’s room, he was in hospital garb with lots of tubes —- nutrition, dehydrating liquids, pain killers. They had done blood work, EKG, and assorted other tests. And they decided they wanted to do a CT scan. The good news is that Mike’s internal organs are in good shape. So, they finally decided it was stomach virus, and I probably had the same thing only less severe. They also gave Mike anti-nausea pills. By the time we left, it was after midnight and we needed to go to a pharmacy to have the prescription filled. Before leaving they hit us with the bill (they had told us immediately upon arrival that our American insurance would not be accepted). When it came time for the CT scan they reminded us that we’d have to pay for it and we could decide not to do the scan. They also said the scan would be expensive. Mike joked with the doctor about whether it would cost more or less than a Mercedes… She said she didn’t really know the cost but probably $1,000. Well, the bill for all of Mike’ tests came to $4,000 which we needed to pay on the spot; fortunately they took American Express. Then we taxied to the 24-hour pharmacy near the hospital to get our medication ($80). We didn’t realize the pharmacy would be very busy so I asked the taxi to wait for us, so that Mike could sit in the car. Well, the pharmacy was very crowded, so the taxi had to wait about 20 minutes with the meter going.

Turned into a mighty expensive day. But the good news is that we are on the mend. Still being careful with what we eat… and not eating much. And Mike is sleeping a lot.

But all of this has pushed us to make some big changes to our travel plans. We decided we were in no condition to fly today to Bulgaria and that we needed a few days to recoup. So, we will stay in Geneva for the next four days but relocate to an upscale resort-style hotel on the Lake—about 20-30 minutes from downtown Geneva — La Reserve. And then we will fly directly from Geneva to SFO on January 1. It will be a lot different from our planned New Years in Sofia, but I think it makes sense. Maybe some massages? It looks lovely and Julia and Julien have stayed there many times.

Our visit with Elizabeth will turn out to be some kind of lunch or tea… She has been sick for the past week, so had we gone to Bulgaria we probably wouldn’t even have even seen her.

More tomorrow.
Think health!
Fern