CERN - Day 2
Getting up was a challenge for most - Mrs Hayes and Mr Swan gave several alarm calls and some made it down to breakfast for 8am. Duncan won the last to breakfast award by some margin but it was much later in the morning before he actually woke up.
The day started with a tram to the Palace of Nations and we are all very impressed with the transport system here - it is very easy to travel around. We had a guided tour of this facinating building which houses the United Nations in Europe. It is here that world diplomacy is at work on issues such as disarmament, telecommunications, intellectual property, labour rights, world trade, world health to name but a few. There are examples of world collaboration and commitment to the UN almost everywhere. We saw:
The Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room, decorated by famous artist Miquel Barcelò.
The Salle des Pas Perdus, from which you can see the Armillary Sphere and the monument commemorating the conquest of outer space.
The Assembly Hall, the largest room in the Palais des Nations.
The Council Chamber, where many important historical negotiations have taken place, with murals by José Maria Sert.
A film on the activities and the objectives of the United Nations Office.
Gifts presented by various countries to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The tour guide also tole us about the history of the Palais des Nations, formerly the headquarters of the League of Nations.
Everyone was impressed with what they learned this morning.
After lunch in Geneva, we headed out to CERN to visit the Globe of Innovation and Microcosm exhibitions.
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