Nostalgia

Oddly enough, it’s on rainy days like this that I feel most nostalgic for my life in Switzerland. Geneva is known for its low-pressure systems where you feel, for weeks on end, the clouds hanging just above your head. When I moved back to the US after 22 years, one of the first things I remarked was how far away the sky was. The world seemed so much bigger all of a sudden.

So maybe it is the quaintness and the comfort of these rainy days that make me long for my home in Geneva and our European life. Without glamorizing it too much, because day-to-day life was never simple, there is a charm that is pervasive throughout Europe that just cannot be replicated.

Living in Geneva, we could be skiing in the French Alps in less than an hour or having lunch in Italy in the Aosta Valley in less than two. In about the same time, we could hop on a plane and be almost anywhere in Europe. My children were constantly exposed to different languages, cultures, foods, customs and history. It was truly a privilege.

We lived in Carouge in the canton of Geneva, which is in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. Carouge has an idyllic old town full of the most wonderful boutiques, restaurants and bakeries. It is definitely worth a visit on any trip to Geneva. 

Our house was tucked away in a small enclave just a few minutes walk from this charming small town. As soon as I walked through the garden gate, I knew that this was the house I wanted my children to grow up in. The house was originally built in 1697 and had been placed on the list of protected historic properties in Geneva. I immediately fell in love with the home’s history and so we purchased “Villa Henri Lenoir”.

The next year was spent replacing straw insulation, paper-wrapped electric wires, rotted support beams and an antiquated heating system. We were able to restore this beautiful home, without sacrificing its historic integrity, to ensure that it would be around for another 300 years.

We moved the kitchen to the conservatory so that we could enjoy our garden, full of centenarian umbrella pine tress and a majestic Lebanese cedar that is nearly as old as the house!

The doors, windows, many still with hand-blown glass, six fireplaces, and original flooring were among the features that were protected under the conditions of the home. 

Among the numerous additions and renovations, my favorite was the new master bath that connects to the master bedroom through a narrow passageway (seen to the left of the fireplace) which, once upon a time, provided a discreet passage between his and her bedrooms.

While not as grand as some American homes, like many old European homes, it is a house that exudes warmth, charm and history. Families have been making memories within these walls for over three hundred years, long before America even existed. I am glad that my family got to be part of the history of Villa Henri Lenoir. 

Although I am excited by this new venture we have embarked upon, a small piece of my heart remains in this home and the life we left behind.