Just out of the oven plum tart (photo ©2011 overthemoon on flickr: flickr.com/photos/overthemoon/)
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – We forgot to warn you that if all your Geneva buddies are hanging out on Facebook today and no one is answering the phone at work in Geneva it’s because this is the Jeûne genevois, the traditional day when Geneva remembers the repression against Protestants (not the same as repressed Protestants).
The rest of Switzerland observes a similar day next week, the Jeûne fédéral, celebrated the third Thursday of September, a day of penitence and prayer, officially, and a chance to take a four-day weekend holiday, unofficially.
If you’re in Geneva, expect to see a lot of plum tarts today, the traditional fare.
Background: “The story behind the Jeûne genevois”, GenevaLiving blog
vines ripening above Sierre, in late summer
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A note to GenevaLunch visitors: the four-day Ascension weekend taken by many Swiss businesses has begun. The cold rainy weather will give way to warmer temperatures and partly sunny skies starting Thursday 2 June. This is a popular holiday for travelling inside Switzerland, so traffic will be heavy frequently, not just during the peak travel times for European’s who are crossing the country as they take the long weekend.
Temperatures are expected to rise to 20-23C for the highs in western Switzerland, with lows of 8-9C.
A reminder for air travellers: Wednesday 1 June is the first day of the new Swiss rules on duty free: you can now purchase duty free goods on arrival as well as when leaving the country. You can order your goods online, in advance, and the shops are open from 06:00 to 23:00 seven days a week. Details on Genève Aéroport‘s duty free pages.
Canton Valais, Switzerland’s largest wine-producing region, is holding its open days 2-4 June. The canton is noted for its spectacular Alpine vineyards along the banks of the Rhone and the rich variety of its wine grapes. Details in French; GenevaLunch will provide suggestions and more information Thursday.
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – The Lake Geneva region is taking a long weekend, with most businesses closed Monday 24 May. Much of the rest of Switzerland also takes Pentecost (Whit) Monday as a holiday, although canton Valais does not. Check out today’s weather at the top of the GenevaLunch home page, and the five-day forecast on our new weather page: sunshine and 25-26C today!
Castle tower, Saint Prex, Vaud, Switzerland - May 2010
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Reminder to readers from outside the country (or visitors who are surprised to find shops closed): Thursday 13 May is a holiday in Switzerland and much of Europe. Some shops and businesses are open Friday 14 May, but this varies according to location. Tip: if you’re looking for food because you forgot to stock up, petrol stations with shops increasingly carry staples such as meat, salad, bread and milk. Remember if you’re traveling Sunday 16 May to check our travel advisory.
Title: Kayak and VTT camp for children
Location: Goumois, Jura
Link out: Click here
Description: Camp during October school break, in the French Jura, week of 19 October
Start Date: 19 Oct 2009
End Date: 25 Oct 2009
New Alinghi 5 on Lake Geneva 28 July, dwarfing other craft: it will sail from Lausanne to Geneva 1 August with a fleet of local pleasure boats
Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – It’s hard to beat the temperature range, 15-27C, or the clear skies that Meteoswiss is offering us Thursday to Saturday, with Geneva’s annual summer festival getting underway Thursday and the Swiss national holiday Saturday (see GenevaLunch events pages for details). Organize your picnics and barbecues for the start of the weekend because by Sunday afternoon too much of a good thing is forecast to degenerate into thunderstorms.
Photo, Alinghi: click to view larger. GenevaLunch feature on the new, high tech boat specially made for the next America’s Cup sailing race.
Lake Geneva area, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – An 18-year-old died late Saturday night when the car in which he was a passenger went off the road between Assens and Echallens in Vaud and turned over several times, ejecting him. The cause of the accident appears to have been excessive speed. Three other young people in the car suffered slight injuries. In two other accidents, several people were injured. Saturday early afternoon a car driven by an 87-year old, going from Veytaux to Vevey in Vaud, left its lane and hit another car.
