CMS – Underground
The second experiment we visited at CERN was CMS. but this was no lecture, but a descent to around a hundred metres under the French countryside.
The only reasons we could do this, was because CMS was being rebuilt and the LHC was shut down.
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Also if you would like a copy of any of the photographs, feel free to download them. I will be improving this gallery, when I sort out the editing problem between WordPress galleries and my computer.
The Higgs Boson
I have heard many commentators try to explain about the Higgs boson and the search for its existence.
All have failed to make head or tail of the complex subject. Admittedly, my physics stopped at A-level in 1965, but I have read extensively to extend my knowledge.
However, Phil Allport of Liverpool University, explained it all pretty well in words that I could understand. Or at least the detection process, even if the theory of the boson’s existence, is way beyond me.
But I should say, that if Professor Allport were to write a Brief History of the Higg’s Boson, I’d certainly buy it, as it is my type of holiday read. But then I read a book called something like, In search of the Quark, by a pool in the West Indies, only to find that one of the other guests was a Professor of Physics at a prestigious American university. it was this book, that got me looking for Lise Meitner. Sadly, it’s gone the way of a lot of my books.
Again, I wish I’d videoed his talk.
ATLAS
ATLAS is the name of one of the experiments performed at CERN.
Liverpool University had a significant part in the building of this experiment. Their participation is described here.
CERN And Liverpool University
We were then treated to a lecture, about how Liverpool University fitted into the CERN firmament. Here’s some pictures that I took.
I think I should have made a video.
I can’t find a decent tome about how CERN and Liverpool University started their collaboration, so if anybody has one, send me a link, as the history of science fascinates me. That has led me to two of my heroes being Lise Meitner and Rosalind Franklin.
Nuclear physics at Liverpool dates back to the 1930s, when James Chadwick, who discovered the neutron, was appointed professor. The story of his research at Liverpool and the building of the cyclotron there is described here.
One phrase stands out from the talk. I think it was Sir Howard Newby, the University Vice-Chancellor, who said.
Research is global.
This is so true and it is why places like CERN must exist.
Lunch At CERN
I arrived early, so I had time for a quick lunch. I walked out the back to the cafeteria, through an area populated by various equipment from finished experiments.
Past Experiments
It was fascinating. Although, of course, I had no idea what the various equipment and structures were for. They also weren’t labelled.
Lunch was pretty good, with a meal, with the price based on how much you took.
Lunch At CERN
As everything was plain, it was ideal for coeliacs like me.
I am a man, whose eyes are his prime resource and on this walk for lunch, I took two pictures that fascinated me. Here’s one.
The other I’ll show later.
On My Way To CERN
CERN is reached from the centre of Geneva by a number 18 tram, which ends its journey at the site. You can either pick this up at the main station or as I did at Bel-Air, which is a major tram interchange at the foot of the old town.
It was all very simple and civilised and took under thirty minutes.
La Tavola In Geneva
I arrived in my hotel about 19:00 on the Friday and despite the excellent meal in Jamie’s Italian at Gatwick, I was peckish. The hotel recommended two local Italian restaurants, which meant I didn’t have to walk, as it was raining hard. The first was full, so I settled on the second and after a bit of negotiation, I got a table at 21:00. It was called La Tavola and here are a few pictures.
The first course was vitello tonnato, which is one of my favourites and properly made it is gluten-free. The second was salmon, leeks and mash potato. It looked slightly unappetising, but like the vitello tonnato, it was excellent.
I would certainly return to La Tavola again. One point was that being Italian, they knew their gluten-free well. My pronounciation too of celiachia is getting better each year.
I sometimes believe that most Italians believe that good food is the healer of all ills.
I don’t think, I’ve had a bad meal, either in Italy or cooked by Italians, for some years. The only one that stands out for awfulness, was one in Housto, about thirty years ago.
The Hotel Les Armures In Geneva
Someone told me to stay in the Old City in Geneva and as they say it’s all about location. This hotel is expensive, but my good deal got even better, when I was upgraded to a small suite on arrival.
However, it was money well spent as I had no issue with rooms, plumbing or service, as I often do in hotels. But then after what I’ve been through in recent years, I have a right to be picky. I did wonder, who had slept in my room in the past, judging by the signatures in the lift.
Bill Clinton Slept Here
At least the American President, who’d stayed here, hadn’t been Dubya.
Checking on the Internet, it would appear Bill Clinton spent the night of the 15th May, 1994 in Geneva and had a meeting with President Assad, before going on to visit Italy and have an audience with the Pope. It’s all here.
Would I stay in the hotel again?
If I had good reason to, I would.
But I doubt, I’ll ever need to go to Geneva and spend a night there again, as it is such an easy place to visit on a day trip. I might pass through on one of my trips back after a fly out, whilst taking a train home, but a hotel, by the station would be much more convenient.
A Pretty Well Organised Tourist City
On arriving in the centre of Geneva, I needed to find my way to the hotel, I’d booked at a very good rate.
The tourist office was a short walk towards the river and I got one of the best free maps, I’ve ever got from such a place. I’ve even be charged for an awful map in some places.
I actually walked to my hotel in the Old City, which wasn’t that far. One of the reasons for walking was that I knew hotels were supposed to give you a free travel ticket, for whilst you were in the city.
It was a bit cold, but a pleasant walk and I crossed one of the many bridges of the Rhone.
The Rhone At Geneva
Admittedly, I had to climb up to the hotel, but despite my problems, I managed it well. I took this picture from the top on the Saturday morning.
The Climb To The Hotel
This shows the advantage of travelling light, as I always do.
Note however the maps and signposts grouped together. Geneva is a well-mapped city and others could do worse, than follow Geneva’s example.
Incidentally the first thing I got from reception in the hotel along with the room key, was a Geneva Transport Card, valid from Friday until Sunday. You even get them if you are camping, rather than in a five star hotel as I was!
Here’s what the Visit Geneva web site says.
When you stay in a hotel, a youth hostel or at a campsite, you receive free of charge a Geneva Transport Card. Taking the tram, the bus and the train on Geneva territory will not cost you a penny. You even can cross the lake with the yellow taxi-boats for free.
This personal and non-transferable card is offered to you at arrival. During your stay in Geneva, you can use the entire Geneva transport network (UNIRESO: bus and tram (TPG), train (CFF) and taxi-boats (Mouettes Genevoises).
If you arrive at Geneva International Airport, you can get a 80-minute ticket free of charge for a ride to the place of your accommodation. The ticket machine is in the luggage retrieval hall.
The map I have, also points out the location of some of the large free museums in the city.
My First Encounter With Swiss Trains
Arriving at Geneva Airport, I found it difficult to find the information for the trains to the City. I eventually found the station and bought a ticket that I hoped would take me to the centre.
But finding the right platform was difficult, and eventually,a whole party of us, led by a Russian translator from Chelyabinsk, where the recent meteor landed, got on a train to the city.
Incidentally, she’d managed to get a free ticket, as opposed to my one, which cost three or so Swiss francs.
More information or someone to ask, would have helped. Gatwick, for instance isn’t perfect, but at least there are a few staff to help. Remember I can make myself understandable in French and can read it pretty well, except in Montreal. But that is another story.
Behimd all of this was my worry, that I’d heard that Swiss ticket inspectors, were rather hard in dealing with supposed fare dodgers. They don’t use the approach I found on Southern.
The Anonymous Widower 