SWITZERLAND – This year you can catch the XLVI Super Bowl game LIVE on Swiss TV, even if you do not have cable or satellite TV. Just tune to TSR2 at midnight on Sunday 5 February.

This also means that you can go to any sports bar around Switzerland, ask them to tune to TSR2 and watch the game. However, once the bars closes at 2:00 you will be asked to leave.

If you’d rather hang out all night long with a few die-hard fans then visit:

• Mr. Pickwick in Geneva or Mr. Pickwick Basel. The bars will stay open all night long (or until 5:00 on Monday 6 February to be precise), serving hot dogs, chilli, buffalo wings and more
• Darling Pub or Le Zinc in Lausanne
• Bolgenschanze in Davos

Reports that the Super Bowl would be shown at the Marriott in Zurich seem unfounded. A clerk we spoke to said they would not be showing it there this year.

On the eve of this game and being a former resident of Secaucus, NJ (home to Giants Stadium), all I can say is: Let the game begin! And.. Go Giants!

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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Rain, wind and snow in Switzerland are, unfortunately, the perfect ingredients for avalanches.

Before leaving home for the slopes make sure to check-out the weather and avalanche conditions. Here are a few resources:

• Hazardous conditions, updated maps provided by MeteoSwiss
• Updated weather bulletins, provided by MeteoSwiss in French, German and Italian only
• Updated maps showing dangerous avalanche and snow conditions across the country, provided by the SLF
• Swiss snow reports: Ski, cross-country, sledding, snow-shoeing and weather info, provided by the Swiss tourism office.

Stay safe and dry while enjoying the outdoors!

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The aim is to finish with a smile (and make others smile too). Here an apprentice reporter was teaching tricks to the bride-to-be.

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Say you forgot to dress up during Halloween and still, however, want to play dress-up. Here comes the Escalade run, well known for its fun, festive atmosphere. (See GL photo album)

If you have never been to one, here’s what you can expect. It takes place the first Saturday of December.

A serious athletes’ race around Geneva’s Old Town takes place in the morning, followed by kids’ races, and adult 3k and 8k races as well as Nordic walking competitions.

Then there are several activities at Bastions Park.

Read more…

Watch out for ticks in Switzerland - Photo source www.zecken.ch

SWITZERLAND – Early heat in the season (June) and a heat wave in late August means one thing in Switzerland: ticks abound.

The seasonal crawlers are well known around the country as potential carriers of the bacterial Lyme disease, reports Dr Eric Masserey, canton Vaud’s public health officer in an interview in Migros Magazine.

He notes that during the past seven or eight years, ticks have also transmitted viral diseases such as encephalitis, especially in the Three-Lakes Region, and in central Valais.

A study published by the University of Neuchatel in April says changing climate conditions are making diseases carried by ticks more aggressive and resistant: “Ticks infected with bacterial pathogens survive better in hot, dry periods.”

Read more…

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.

Read more…

Geneva, Switzerland - Get to know canton Geneva and stay fit while doing so the first weekend of the month from April to September: bike on Saturdays, or walk on Sundays.

This year bike to some of the hidden mansions in Champel or discover the lost trees of the quartier de St. Jean.

On Sundays discover the quartier des artistes, hidden gardens in Geneva and more.

There is no fee but it is recommended to sign up to reserve a spot.

There are usually English speakers in the group. Most of the bike rides are open for those 14 and up.

Saturdays by bike, Sundays by foot.

Links to: Samedies du vélo, and Dimanches au pied.

Don’t forget the sunscreen and a raincoat!

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New route to include small comunes in canton Geneva - click to enlarge

Geneva, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Prepare to run for a cause! The Geneva Marathon for Unicef, which until now has been staged around the city, has been re-routed to include ten communes in canton Geneva.

In 2010, Benjamin Chandelier, director of the Geneva marathon, said to GenevaLunch that the Organizing Committee wanted to introduce “a single 42km-loop for marathon runners” to attract international marathoners and make it one of the top-15 European marathons by 2015.

Marathon organizers have successfully taken the first step towards that goal and the 2011 race, taking place on 14 and 15 May proves so. The race will begin in Chene-Bourg and will then travel  through the surrounding towns of Thonex, Choulex, Puplinge, Presinge, Jussy, Gy, Meinier, Collonge-Bellerive and Cologny before returning to the city and convening near the Palais Wilson.

Read more…

Cross-country skiing with the family

Geneva, Switzerland – Dear readers I know I sound like I am always looking to save a penny. Well, that is because… I am. Especially, when it comes to skiing with kids and teenagers in tow.

Here’s a resource for those looking to have a fun day in the snow for not-so-much.

The Switzerland tourism department has compiled a list of small and medium-sized family-oriented ski resorts across the country, that offer day family passes (up to two adults and two kids) for CHF120 or less.

For example the Attinghausen resort offers a day pass for two adults and two kids for a total of CHF79; in Aeschi when two adults pay a full fee of CHF33, each child pays only CHF10, and in Mürren all children in the family are free with one paying adult. Now, that’s a deal!

Follow the link to the Family day passes and family-friendly ski pass website and enjoy!

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Find the snow and go sledding this weekend

Geneva, Switzerland – Tired of the rain and looking for the snow? Here’s a resource that could help you find the powder, pronto.

I am talking about a one-stop website featuring information on every ski station in the country, with up-to-date info on snow fall, accumulation, number of trails and lifts open and entry fees for children and adults.

Best of all, it also features free options, where available, in each of the regions.

The site is easy to navigate. Follow our link, pick a region and then click on the resort name.

All the information at your fingertips!

• Swiss snow reports: Ski, cross-country, sledding, snow-shoeing and weather info.

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Geneva, Switzerland - The Swiss are ready to ring in the New Year with lots of ancient customs and a good dose of outdoor celebrations. Here’s a selection of what’s on this New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day (see my previous entry to see what’s on in Geneva).

Appenzell’s public masquerade

Early in the morning on New Year’s Eve, men and boys take over the streets of Appenzell in what is considered one of the most beautiful and festive traditions in Switzerland.

The men and children, dressed in ancient customs (the Chläuse), go from house to house in the region walking always in line, tolling their giant cowbells and wishing residents a good new year. This is called the Schelli in the local dialect.

The group yodels ancient songs while the residents greet them, and sometimes, offer them mulled wine and food.

The masks and bells which weigh up to 30 kilos, represent the beautiful, the ugly, the forest and nature or the Kläusen.

Preparations begin in the town’s main square at 05:00 on 31 December with festivities ending sometime in the early hours of 1 January.

Video of the Silvesterklausen - Produced by the Switzerland tourism office Read more…