Laila Rodriguez
CAROUGE, SWITZERLAND – The beautiful cité sarde of Carouge, which according to Fodor’s owes its beautiful architecture to Turin authorities, goes all out for Christmas.
The Christmas lights are not the only attraction:
- It also opens 130 of its shops for shopping on Sundays: 27 November, 4, 11 and 18 December
- The Advent market takes place 27 November on Market Square
- It holds is annual Christmas Telethon on 3 December on Market Square
- The outdoor Christmas market takes place from 16-18 December also on Market Square
- The ice-skating rinks opens from December to February at the Sardaigne Plaza, skating is free
Have yourself a great end-of-year holiday season.
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Laila Rodriguez
Thousands for books for avid readers, loan them or buy them
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Get ready for some serious shopping this weekend.
Thousands of books, magazines and DVDs are up for sale at the bi-annual sale at the Library in English located in the Paquis, right next to the Kempinski Hotel.
Secondhand, and some new, books for adults and children, audio-books on CD, magazines, and DVDs are for sale.
When: From 4 to 6 November, 2011.
Remember you can also donate your books to the Library!
Read all about it in one of my earlier posts.
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Laila Rodriguez
Swimming instructor at the Bains de Paquis
Geneva, Switzerland – It is hot! Perfect time to swim outdoors, but, where? Well, when it comes to finding a “beach” in Geneva, Paquis seems to come first to mind, but of course there are plenty more options.
In fact, there are officially 14 public beaches in Canton Geneva, several with picnic areas and a few with camping areas, and 116 beaches around the Lake including France.
How to find them?
Here’s our list which includes points of access for boats to the Lake.
Laila Rodriguez
Free Lawn chairs during the summer - Photo GabrielaRRB
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Geneva might be one of the most expensive cities in the world but that does not mean you have to break the bank or empty your pockets to have some fun this summer.
Here are some of my favorite, free events for this summer in Geneva, some beginning this week, others already underway. A separate post for kids activities this summer will follow:
Laila Rodriguez
New Year celebration in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland – New to Geneva or simply spending New Year’s Eve in the city? Here’s something free and fun for those willing to venture out in the cold.
The Geneva New Year’s eve outdoor celebration is back for its 2011 edition after a year hiatus.
Every year the city offers a réveillon from 22:00 to 2:30 in Old Town which in 2011 will include an alcohol-free villa, giant karaokes and video displays.
Food and drink stalls will sell items at “reasonable prices” says the city of Geneva and the sales will benefit non-profit foundations serving the homeless, those with less means and those escaping situations of domestic violence.
Get your disco ball ready and dust off those old bell bottoms and have yourself a Happy San Silvestre.
Schedules of public parties in Old Town
Laila Rodriguez
Anything and everything for sale in Paquis - Photo ©La Rue est a Vous
Geneva, Switzerland – After much discussion and plenty of speculation, the popular neighborhood party and flea-market in the Paquis will take place after all on 18 and 19 September but on a much reduced scale compared to previous years.
If you’re a fan of the usual Paquis mayhem, prepare for a heart-break as this will be the last year for the music and street-theatre performances, the exotic food vendors and the stalls selling new and second-hand items.
According to Gaston Coutaz, member of the organizing neighborhood committee, the fetes, which gathered over 20,000 people in 2009 and which has been a Geneva staple for the past 18 years, is coming to an end.
“The volunteers in Paquis will hold one last neighborhood party [...] In spite of our original mandate and due to current circumstances: a huge hike in costs and an unsuccessful search of funds, the organization is no longer able to sponsor the event,” said the press release sent by the association on 3 September.
The heavy fees associated with clean-up, security and set-up have been passed by the city onto the neighborhood association which simply doesn’t have the funds for it, says Coutaz.
Laila Rodriguez
Geneva Servette Hockey Club defeats Zug 5 April (photo, ©Piotr Sweck/GSHC)
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Fun-and-free activities are popping up this weekend in Geneva and I can’t help but share them with GL readers.
On one side of the city: skaters, sticks and a puck; on the other, a huge flea-market and street fair; and a mountain biking competition in the middle of town!
Geneva ice hockey team announces free pre-season game
Laila Rodriguez
Free movies under the stars in Geneva - Photo Didier Jordan
Geneva, Switzerland – My quest for bargains, cheaper prices, and free, fun events in Geneva, finds me again by Lake Geneva’s shores. Today’s key word: Ciné Transat.
Ciné Transat is a city-sponsored nocturnal hangout that offers free movies under the stars and by the lake, near the Perle du Lac restaurant. An incredible setting for a fun summer activity for all.
While the movies are not new blockbusters, they are a collection of classic films that take on new meaning when watching them under the stars – and over a picnic blanket – with friends and family.
Some movies are for adults only, but most are suitable for all.
The only necessary item is you, and sometimes, a costume.
Laila Rodriguez
French jazz artist Manu Katche - Photo ©Visual
Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch.com) – Every summer Geneva boasts its own version of the popular Summer Stage in Central Park. The 9-year-old event is called Musiques en été festival, and it features loads of free World Beat music concerts in a park setting.
The free concerts take place at the Ella Fitzgerald stage at La Grange Park, near Geneve Plage, every Wednesday and Friday. The summer series begins tomorrow 7 July and runs until Friday 20 August.
Laila Rodriguez
Tina in plain action
Geneva, Switzerland – Geneva might have one of the highest rates of restaurants per capita in Switzerland but few to none true Latin American cafeterias or restaurants. One of the few in town is a three-in-one store, cafeteria and restaurant run by a Colombian woman better known to her patrons in the St Jean neighborhood as Tina.
El Paraíso de Tina, or Tina’s Paradise, saw the light of day seven years ago when Eucol Marchino—Tina—seized the opportunity to bring the flavors of the tropics to Geneva.
“I wanted to show that Latin women can also be entrepreneurs in Geneva,” she told GenevaLunch.
“I have worked very hard to show that an immigrant woman can be successful if she is constant and disciplined. I’ve proven that, but I’ve worked very, very hard.”
At the cafeteria you can sip a glass of Lulo, Maracuya and Curuba – different types of passion fruit – made in agua o leche (water or milk).