Laila Rodriguez
Kids skiing... two have more fun!
SWITZERLAND – On 22 January the Anzère ski station joins hundreds of ski stations around the globe, and 30 more in Switzerland, for “World Snow Day,” by offering one free day on the slopes.
Children 15 and under will get to ski or snowboard, rent equipment, ride the ski lifts and participate in all outdoor activities planned for the occasion, free of charge.
In other words, kids get to celebrate “all things snow” at selected ski stations thanks to the International Ski Federation and other sponsors.
Laila Rodriguez
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – This Sunday 16 October the largest second-hand items sale takes place at the Sacre Coeur Church in Plainpalais from 13:00 to 17:00.
Bikes, roller blades, snow boards, skis, books in English (and French, German and Spanish) for children and adults, video games, DVDs, hundreds of toys and board games, strollers, cribs and top quality baby equipment, as well as clothing and shoes for children and women, can be found under one roof.
If you are new in town and have never been to one of the bi-annual sales, think of reading our survival and reference guide to the sale before heading there.
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Laila Rodriguez
Kids, seniors and nature, a winning combination in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland - Calling all kids: The Botanical Garden’s Green Workshops are on!
If your kid is not registered for any Wednesday activities or you simply want her/him to enjoy nature and interacting with older adults this activity could be just what you are looking for.
Aimed at children aged 8 to 11 years of age, the workshops at the Geneva Botanical Garden seek to instill in smaller kids a love for nature.
Laila Rodriguez
Letters to Santa mailed in Switzerland reach the thousands- Photopress/Peter Schneider
Geneva, Switzerland – It is not too late to write to Santa! If you’re spending your Christmas somewhere in Switzerland, the Swiss Post service offers special delivery of your letter to Monsieur Santa himself.
“In most cases they receive an answer,” says the Post who reported receiving more than 17,000 letters in 2009.
If you wonder how Santa and the Elves manage the load, the answer is with, not one, but five jolly Santas and several helpers at the Swiss Post.
Why five Santas? One for each of the four national languages: German, French, Italian and Romansch, plus one that speaks English.
Italian speakers can address their letters to the “Gesù Bambino in cielo” or to “Babbo Natale al Polo Nord”; German speakers to “Christkind im Himmel” or the “Samichlaus”; the Swiss post will delivery to either one.
Hurry to the post office; sending a letter to Santa Claus up to 100g costs just 85 centimes.
Tracking Santa Worldwide
Laila Rodriguez
Ludobus at a park in Geneva
- Family playing at the outdoors Ludotheque
Geneva, Switzerland – If you are looking for ideas to keep your shorties entertained during the summer, how about taking them to the Ludo bus.
The ludos, for short, could be described as playrooms, or children’s community centers, with toys/games libraries.
Children can enjoy all activities for free at the ludotheque or may, for a very small fee, borrow toys and games to take home.
Until 25 September these “fun centers” are mobile in the form of a ludo bus that visits 16 areas around the City of Geneva.
You can download the Ludo bus schedule for 2010 here.
If you want to know more about what ludotheques are, and where to find them in Geneva, Nyon and Lausanne read my previous blog.
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Laila Rodriguez
Argentinian circus at Bastions Park
Geneva, Switzerland – For the past three weeks, kids and grown-ups who love the circus arts have been gathering at Bastions Park to watch free performances, take free circus lessons, listen to free concerts, and enjoy the weather.
Every Wednesday to Sunday at 20:00 performers from as far away as Australia, Argentina and Japan – as well as from Switzerland and neighbouring France, entertain the crowd at the Park.
Among the jewels who will be performing in the coming weeks are Dutch performers bringing “circus jazz,” Swiss performing contemporary acrobatic dance, mimes from Japan, and a Chilean tightrope-walker who will render his version of a Jean Genet piece on the rope. (See the full program here).
Laila Rodriguez
The time of the year to buy and sell to your heart's content
Geneva, Switzerland – The incredible Sotheby’s sale this past week took most of my shopping attention, but after seeing up close those 6- to 52-carat diamonds and rare watches going for millions of dollars, I decided to turn my short attention span to another kind of more affordable vintage shopping: flea markets.
This weekend 15-16 May, the City of Geneva begins its neighborhood parties and flea-markets labeled under the city-is-yours slogan or la ville est a vous. Anyone who is not a professional seller can go early, throw down a blanket or set up a stall, and sell his/her “own vintage collection” and I mean, anything in your vintage collection. The space is free.
Grottes, first fair:
Laila Rodriguez
Kids section at the library in English
Geneva, Switzerland – Get ready for some serious shopping as thousands of books are up for sale today and tomorrow (23 and 24 April) at the bi-annual sale at the Library in English located in Paquis. Thousands of secondhand books for adults and children, audio-books on CD, magazines, and DVDs are for sale.
The library is nestled in the beautiful Emmanuel church building near Lake Geneva and boasts a selection of over 14,000 books in English.
“We carry a bit for everyone,” says librarian Pam Scott. “We have a really large and eclectic selection of books. There are American, Australian, British, and Indian popular authors available all year-round”.
Laila Rodriguez
The Botanical Gardens in summer
Geneva, Switzerland – It is Wednesday and workshop time at the Botanical Gardens! This means there’s more for your kids to do on Wednesdays in Geneva. Children aged 8 to 11 are welcome to the “green workshops” which includes building a bird house, setting up a herbarium and other mineral- and animal-kingdom related activities.
Children are taught and monitored by volunteer senior citizens making this an invaluable cross-generational experience for all involved.
Workshops are usually CHF12 – that is cheaper than the movies! Registration is now open. Go green kids!
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Laila Rodriguez
Prepare to go snow sliding this week
Geneva, Switzerland – Winter may be starting to wind down but there is still plenty of time to squeeze in a few more days of fun in the snow. I am talking about push-off and speed-down kind of fun! Adrenaline infused jumps and other fun things to do with kids and teens on weekends.
This could also be an excellent resource if your kid is off from school this week and without real plans for the holidays. The Swiss tourism site includes fun sites in the Lake Geneva region, Vaud and Valais!
Also, see the post on fun in the snow in St. Cergue near Geneva and read about ice skating around the Canton!
Boot up and get out!
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