JulietJFall, 1 year ago

Today, in sub-zero temperatures, we walked from border stone 16 to 43, starting from Bossy, looping back to our starting point. We were close to here a few weeks ago, in much warmer weather. But despite the freezing ‘bise noire’ north wind ringing in our ears, we were pleased that frozen ground helped us walk across stretches that would have been too muddy only a few days ago. #borderWalk #geography #autoethnography #walkingMethodology #borders #politicalGeography

A freshly-restored border stone with a red painted number 22 on one side lies by a snow-covered field on the left. On the right, bramble branches hint at a forest. The Petit Salève mountain is visible in the distance, under a cloud-filled sky.
A red and white barrier stretches across a path in an agricultural winter landscape, with an old French sign reading “Service Fiscal, passage interdit”. To the left, a large border stone is barely visible. A jogger is visible in the distance, heading towards the horizon of vineyards and fields.
The author walks along the edge of a field. We can see her back, wearing a yellow rucksack. She looks warmly wrapped up. Snow covers the ground, but isn’t too thick to make it obvious that she is walking between two fields. In the far distance, at the edge of the field, there are two border stones close together.

JulietJFall, 1 year ago

In today’s walk, started out along part of the 1815 border (Treaty of Paris), then along a stretch moved in 1897, and finished on a part redefined in 1963, part of the territories exchanged between 🇨🇭🇫🇷 to allow the extension of Geneva airport’s runway. Lines of history, in a couple of hours of a very cold walk. #BorderWalk #geography #walkingMethodology #Borders #BoundaryStudies

Border stone by a path, with a sprinkle of snow, and the dates 1818 carved on one sign, and the new date 1897 carved below it.
A new granite border stone laid next to a stream, with the date 1963 carved on one side. The engraving of the direction of the border on the top of the stone (wiggly line) indicates that, from the point on, the international Franco-Swiss border follows the stream.

JulietJFall, 1 year ago

Today we went back to connect two 🇨🇭🇫🇷 border stretches because we realized that we’d missed a small section of the right bank along the Allondon river as the path was roped off a few months ago. 16C, walking in a T-shirt in February. Bafflingly scary climate crisis, but unexpectedly delightful if you can block off the fear. #BorderWalk #geography #walkingMethodology #geneva #borderline

The author in a floppy sunhat facing the camera standing with her arms resting on border stone number 137, in the woods. No leaves on the trees and sunshine.
The other side of the stone from the previous picture, with the date 1818 carved on one side and the letter G for the Canton of Geneva.
The top of the stone shows that the border does not follow the little river but marks out an odd shape.

JulietJFall, 1 year ago

A different border, close by, built of fear, determination and some hubris. Now mostly associated with a chocolate bar: the line of toblerones near Gland, built during WWII to slow down a feared but hypothetical foreign attack. Now preserved as heritage. Look closely at the Maison Bleue — the blue house. It’s not a real home but a fortified and camouflaged gun position. Borders disguised as rural idyll. Somehow chilling. #borders #mosstodon #geography #walkingMethodology #borderWalk

The same location as the previous photo, framed so the onlooker can glimpse between two blocks onto a green field beyond
The same location as the previous two images, framed to show the line of blocks on the edge of a woodland, on the right. A green field is to the left of the image.
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