Childhood Cousins, Forever Friends

It has been 18 hours since our arrival in Geneva, Switzerland. It has also been 11 years since I last saw my cousin Tati.

I have heard it said that your first cousins are your first friends. In this case this could not be any more accurate.

Maria Antonieta or Tati as we all call her, is the oldest of 3 kids as well. Her dad and my mom siblings.

Growing up in El Salvador, between the ages of 5 and 11 her and I along with our siblings were all inseparable.

I have many fond memories of riding our bikes, roller skating, playing house and even putting on elaborate shows choreographed by yours truly.

As we moved to Miami with our mom in the early 80’s we did not see each other often but when we did it was as if all of us had never been apart.

After finishing architectural school, she married and moved to Geneva to be with hew brilliant husband who was studying music here. He is also an architect but moved here to follow his passion to become a composer and grow as a musician. To this day he is a well known and respected teacher and performer here and internationally.

Over the years I have always said I was going to come and visit and for one reason of another I have not. This year however I decided that it was the year to visit. Her two children who I had met in El Salvador during a visit where now growing up and I needed to catch up and get to know them more prior to them growing up and moving on in life.

So after our wonderful Parisian adventure we headed to Geneva. My intention was primarily to visit and to reconnect.

Our visit to this wonderful city was so much more. Tati met Dan and I at the airport and we took the train and a tram to her house. Like most residents of Geneva she does not have a car and it would have been a sight to see should she have chosen to pick is up in her bicycle.

As we arrived in her home ( after a 23 minute ride and walk) we were greeted by a gregarious and welcoming Carlos Arturo (her composer husband).

Once again it was as if no time had passed since I had seen him last. The years have been kind to both of them and it was easy to feel at home by their open and loving ways.

This was the first time Dan met them and despite this, he too felt welcomed and embraced.

At the house we were also greeted by their 14 year old daughter Eva. The last time I had seen her she was a precautious toddler with an adorable smile. Today she is a lovely young woman with intelligence and a heart of gold. Their oldest son Sebastian was at a Confirmation Retreat.

It was easy to feel at home in their place and as we began to catch up and laugh we all knew we were in for an amazing time together.

We knew that although our time was short it was our challenge to make the best of it.

As we settled in, we all agreed that a quick tour of their neighborhood and Geneva was in order.

Coincidently, it just so happens that the Camino de Santiago also passes by in front of their house. In other worlds we were already on the Camino while visiting here.

As the five of us set out last night at around 7:45 pm, we began to wind our way down the street in the search for the official markers that showed we were on the Camino. It did not take long to find the familiar “shell” that confirmed that this was part of one of the routes to Santiago.

We made our way down the street and began to look for more signs and perhaps a place where we could have our official pilgrim passport stamped.

Unfortunately, since it was late on a Sunday nigh and the churches were closed the best thing we could find was a map that delineated the official route of the Camino through Geneva. Of course the five of us pointed and laughed like children finding a delightful surprise.

As dusk fell upon the city, we made our way to the famous Lake Geneva by foot. We took our obligatory picture in front of the Flower Clock at the base of the Lake and we found the perfect spot for a delightful picnic that included a feast of gourmet cheeses, hams, fresh baked breads and of course wine.

As night began to fall, we talked, laughed reconnected and enjoyed the bonds of a childhood relationship that now extended to an adult friendship that included laughter and reminiscing of good times shared in the past. As the night chill increased we realized that it was close to 11:30 p.m.

The lateness in hour reminded me that I am more cut out to live in a cosmopolitan area where at this “late” hour, many feel the night is young and just beginning. The streets were still full of people coming and going not caring that a new work week was beginning in a few short hours.

We began to gather our stuff and quickly found the tram that in no time had us back to their home.

As we settled in, Carlos Arturo began to bring out a few choice selections for a small night cap. Our choices included offerings from around the world. After all as a well traveled composer, he gets to visit some amazing places to perform his incredible music.

In once short period of the evening, we tasted a Hungarian liquor with a slight yet delightful licorice taste, a Chilean Pisco with a smooth flavor a bit of Rum the Cana from our beautiful El Salvador and last but not least one of my favorites Russian Standard Vodka straight from Russia.

During the last part of the night, we laughed some more, talked about the places we have seen around the world and more importantly Dan and Arturo connected with a common language. Music. Funny how two men from two very different backgrounds could share the same passion for Rock and metal. At one point of the night I was amazed how easily it was for my cousin and her husband to flow in and out of a bilingual conversation and now it looked like the guys had found and additional language to share through music.

At one point, Arturo took out his electric guitar and played a few cords for Dan to hear and recognize different songs from classic metal rock to a bit or classical too.

Eventually, despite the fact that we could have stayed up all night, we all sensibly went to bed in order to rest for the day ahead.

Today Carlos Arturo would only spend part of the day with us since he is heading to St. Petersburg Russia to perform an original work with another talented musician friend of his at the Russian Symphony.

Our morning began after a restful 8 hours of sleep. The Corrales family treated us to a typical European breakfast of fresh fruits, jams, freshly baked croissants and breads from the bakery down the block, fresh grouyer cheese and eggs with ham. As the previous nigh, the conversation and laughter flowed. We talked more about our respective lives, we shared fond memories and then talked a bit about those we love and have lost. Our grandparents, and our beloved older cousin Hector.

Once again the bonds of our childhood made way creating and strengthening the new bonds of a blooming friendship.

After breakfast we said our “hasta luego” to Arturo and Dan and I headed out with Tati and Eva to explore a nearby Swiss village.

It did not take us long to arrive in this charming village by train. It turns out that Nyon is on the banks of Lake Geneva overlooking the Swiss and French Alps in the distance.

Our day was spent exploring this place while finding its original roots to Roman times. We also explored a castle that was built in the 1600 by a particular aristocrat that loved roses had had them planted all around the town and it’s steep hills.

As we sat on the castle walls we were able to enjoy the beauty of the Lake and the charming architecture of the village homes.

We grabbed a late lunch at a crape place and had more animated conversation between us

As the afternoon drew to a close we headed back to the city proper. Here is where Eva went home and we met up with Tati’s son Sebastian who had returned from his confirmation retreat.

Although at first I did not recognize this handsome young man, soon enough I saw the young boy I had last seen at age five. He was quick to remember that we celebrated a Piñata for him in El Salvador and that My sisters and I had given him Spider-Man gear. To my surprise and delight, he shared that he still has the Spider-Man mask he got from me long ago.

After another walk on the other side of the lake, we returned home to pack and get ready for our early flight to Spain. Our evening was complete when we shared a typical Swiss fondu meal of beef and a yellow risotto. Over the course of our meal🍢 Dan and shared about our life and home back in CT, my job in NY and the kids shared about school.

On a side note, a typical school schedule in Geneva for a middle schooler and HS Freshman include 7 hours of school with a two hour lunch to come home, little to NO homework but plenty of times to pursue hobbies like music and sports. Sebastian has Fridays off and Eva Wednesdays. Both teens are more 100% proficient in 3 languages, love math and science and are accomplished musicians in their own right. Sebastian plays the piano and is considered a concert pianist, teaches music and to my delight he plays the drums.

Our fondu feast concluded after sharing of childhood memories between their mom and I, and giving them a glimpse at the rich heritage and stories about our grandparent who were also accomplished mathematicians, teachers and pianist.

Tonight, we agreed that our next visit to Geneva will be a week minimum. Now our packs are stuffed and we hope to get a good night’s sleep prior to our early morning flight to Spain.

I am such a believer that travel enriches the soul. The last couple of days reaffirm this and remind me that it also allows us connect in a deeper way to who we are and where we come from.