Day 6 (22 April 2017) in Bern and Geneva, Switzerland

Unfortunately, today is my last day in Switzerland. So, I took a train back to Geneva in the morning. Since I had a few hours to catch my flight back home, I went to Geneva city to see around. I took a city bus to go around, and ended up at the United Nations center in Geneva. I've been hearing about it since I was high school but never had a chance to see it. Although I missed the visitors entrance time, which was from 9:00AM - 12:00PM (for Saturday), at least I got to see it from outside. The country was not part of UN until 2002 nor EU but it hosts a UN center.

On my way to Geneva!

A three legs so big chair in front of  U.N. center. The broken chair is a monumental in wood (5.5 tons of weight and 12 meter height) by Swiss artist (Daniel Berset), constructed by carpenter (Louis Geneve), and commissioned in October 1996. The objective was to get the largest possible member States to sign the Ottawa Treaty on landmines and cluster bomb in December 1997. 

U.N. center in Geneva was built between 1929 and 1938 to serve as headquarters of League of Nations, and has been serving as U.N. office in Geneva since 1946. 

Another U.N. building on the other side of the road!

On the train, feel tired!

The Jet d'Eau (Water-Jet) is a large fountain in Geneva (jetting 500 liter water per second to 140meter altitude by two 500kw pump, operated at 2.4kV). It consumes one MW electricity.

Finally, I returned back home safely and reunited with my family. In general, my trip to Bern was very much productive.

Day 5 (21 April 2017) in Bern, Switzerland

Today was our last day of the meeting, and we adjourned the meeting at noon. We had a free afternoon. A friend of mine from Taiwan and my self took off for a walk right after lunch. We went to university of Bern on our way to Einstein house. Einstein lived in Bern from 1902 - 1909; and he lived in three different apartments during this time. I visited one of them, where he lived in a little over two years. His apartment has three rooms, a bed room, living room, and another bed room for his little son, Hans Einstein. According to his life story portrayed at his apartment, located at Kramgasse 49, 2nd floor, which is open to visitors with minimal entrance fee (6 FC for adult), he had really very ups and down unpleasant private life. The first floor of the apartment is now coffee shops, which they sell a beer named after Einstein. The waiter told us this beer can ONLY be found here.

University of Bern campus!

Einstein's Apartment!

Hans Einstein (Einstein's second child) baby bed!

Einstein Beer!

Clock Tower (Zytglogge), which is one of Bern's most important sights; an ornate astronomical clock with its moving figures that was built in 1530. It served as the city's main clock and thus had an authoritative function in Bern.

Day 4 (20 April 2017) in Bern, Switzerland

It was again hectic schedule day. However, at the end of the day, I got time to go walk around the city with two Taiwanese friend. It is magnificent city in deed. The buildings architecture reminds me Paris.

From some of the pics that I shot during my walking around the city!

Bern means Bear in English, that is why its state flag is represented by Bear picture!

These palls looks Axum Oblique 

Finally, four of us (scientists from Poland, France, Taiwan, and myself) went to Injera restaurant (Ethiopian restaurant) for dinner. We had vegetarian, Kitfo, lamp tibes, and Bozena Shiro dishes. Unexpectedly, the food is amazingly very nice and testy. I never expected such testy (real Ethiopian style) Ethiopian dish in Bern. I remember, my wife and I went to one of Ethiopian restaurant in Europe (prefer not to mention the country) a few years ago, and we were so disappointed with the test. I can confidently say that restaurant should not be called "Ethiopian" restaurant as it does not serve real Ethiopian dish. However, the one in Bern in deed represent the country with its real test of Ethiopian dishes. The restaurant also has its own beer (coffee beer and Injera special beer). I expressed my deep down appreciation to the owner (very polite and nice looking Ethiopian guy) of the restaurant. I can also mention that the restaurant was full, and I realized quickly why. Well done! 

Our dinner at the Injera restaurant! 

The beer named after the Injera restaurant!     

Day 3 (19 April 2017) in Bern, Switzerland

Today was also very busy day, and spent the whole day at the meeting at ISSI. However, at the end of the meeting the whole group went together for dinner. We went to Altes Tramdepot restaurant. Altes Tramdepot is primarily a brewery center but they also have very nice restaurants. We had to go through the city to get to the Altes Tramdepot, and that gave me the first opportunity to have a glimpse look of Bern.

At Altes Tramdepot restaurant!

  Some of the view of Bern - on our way to Altes Tramdepot restaurant!

Day 2 (18 April 2017) in Bern, Switzerland

There is no much site seeing today. I was stacked at the ISSI meeting room for the whole day. One thing that I may mention is about the warm welcome reception by ISSI staff members. They are very nice people. They also prepared a welcome happy hour cocktail at the end of our meeting, which was at 5:00pm.

Injera Ethiopian Restaurant in Bern!

O! look what I found just two blocks away from ISSI center! Bern is the capital city of Switzerland, though it is small city compared to Geneva and Zurich; and I did not expect this restaurant here in Bern. I knew there are strong Ethiopian community in Zurich and Bern, but never heard in Bern. I already received request from my fellow scientists to go and try the Ethiopian dish; and we plan to go for dinner sometime this week.  

Day 1 (17 April 2017) in Bern, Switzerland

Well! When I bought my ticket, I thought I'll fly with British Airline. However, I ended up flying with Aer Lingus  (Irish airline). What do I say about Aer Lingus? May be the worst airline I encountered so far. In addition to their very poor service, they do not even have complementary coffee or soft drink for their flight within Europe. For my flight from Dublin to Geneva (an hour and fifty minutes flight), no complementary drink at all. You need to pay €3.00 if you need a cap of coffee. On the other hand, the price of the ticket is very much the same as that of major airlines that provide complementary food and drink. So, what Aer Lingus is doing? Simply, rip you off.

Dublin international airport! 

On my way to Bern - on the train (reminds me my childhood main duty)

Finally, I made it to Geneva airport safely. I then went through the immigration and all the way to train station to kick off my journey to my final destination, Bern, which takes more than two hour train ride. The train ride gave me an opportunity to see the country side of Switzerland, which is very very attractive, lots of cows everywhere. Finally, I made it to Bern safely; and my hotel was a walking distance from the train station.
Since today is Easter Monday holiday, every restaurants are closed and I could not be able to get dinner; the bad thing is I did not eat anything since this morning and it is now close to 8:00pm. Finally, I got one pizza house open.
Tomorrow will be the busy day; my main mission will be kicked off tomorrow morning. I'm here as part of an international team invited to the International Space Science Institute (ISSI) to discuss about the Ionospheric disturbance due to forcing from space and bottom. Just to say a few things about the institute; ISSI is an institute of advanced study where scientists from all over the world meet in a multi- and interdisciplinary setting to reach out for new scientific horizons. It was established in 1995 in Bern under the enthusiastic initiative of Swiss scientists and Professor Johannes Geiss, who was the first executive director of ISSI. It is now become one of the well known international centers for space scientists around the world, and is financially supported by different international agencies: namely, European Space Agency (ESA), Swiss Federal Confederation, University of Bern, Swiss Academy of Sciences (ScNat), Space Research Institute (IKI) of Russia, and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). 

ISSI center, where I was hiding for a week!

Professor Johannes Geiss, the founder and first director of ISSI.