Laila Rodriguez
Must-see processions and activities on Good Friday
The pleureuses, or Good Friday mourners, in Romont - Photo Laila Rodriguez
These are some of my favorite Good Friday and Easter activities around Lake Geneva and beyond.
Laila Rodriguez
UN's Ban Ki Moon lends his leg - Photo courtesy of UNMAS via flickr
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – A flash mob at Geneva’s Place du Molard on 4 April is not unheard of. What is peculiar in this case, is that many of the mob participants will have rolled up one of their pant legs or their shirt sleeves.
It is not show your socks day, but lend your leg day, a global call to ban landmines.
By rolling up one of their shirt sleeves or pant legs, participants are showing solidarity with landmine survivors; it is also a call for States that have not yet done so, to join the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Mine Ban Treaty, the Ottawa Treaty or Ottawa Convention.
In laypersons terms, the Convention seeks to end the use, transfer, production and stockpile of these weapons, ensure their destruction and assist survivors.
Flash mob lends a leg in Geneva
Flash mob lends a leg in Geneva
The lend your leg campaign which was spearheaded in Colombia, was launched on 1 March 2012, the thirteenth anniversary of the Convention’s entry-into-force.
While Switzerland does not suffer from this scourge, Geneva has a special place in the fight against landmines.
The Geneva connection Read more…
Laila Rodriguez
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – I recently heard of a Geneva resident who got ticketed in Switzerland for driving a vehicle with foreign license plates. His relatives visiting him here had asked him to drive it. Well, here’s what I found:
Laila Rodriguez
(Video below)
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – With over 31 theatre companies in canton Geneva one is bound to meet a theatre actor at some point in time. That point in time may be this week in your own tub.
That’s right, in your own tub – or a friend’s tub. If you are wondering how that works, well, it is simple.
Thanks to Director Denis Maillefer and actress Aline Papin’s adaptation of the 1968 play, Belle du Seigneur, your bathroom (warm water and bubbles) becomes the stage for the play.
Laila Rodriguez
Saint Patrick's celebration in an old castle in neighbouring France
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Saint Paddy’s day is here and as customary we bring you some of the related happenings around the region.
This year our list has shrunk!
Strangely, many of the pubs that advertised St Patrick’s celebrations in 2011 are not doing the same this year. Once we hear back from some of the pubs we have contacted, we will update our page. Come back and visit us.
In Geneva: Read more…
Laila Rodriguez
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Here is a quick round up of the many changes in 2012, on international routes departing from Geneva:
- Czech Airlines will offer a new daily service between Geneva and Prague starting April
- Darwin Airlines has launched two new daily routes from Geneva: Genova and Luxembourg
- easyJet will offer two new routes to Catania and Venice, and will add extra flights to Nice, from April to September. Late last year the airline started flying to Bilbao and expanded its route to Santiago de Compostela
- Lufthansa has added extra flights to its already-existing routes to Berlin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich; one-way tickets to Berlin sell for CHF50
- SWISS has expanded its service from Geneva by opening a daily route to Nice, and adding more daily flights to London, Madrid and Moscow
Safe travels!
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Laila Rodriguez
The Cully Jazz Festival poster
LAKE GENEVA REGION, SWITZERLAND – The Cully Jazz festival, also known as “the most intimate of Switzerland’s big jazz festivals,” is almost here; tickets are on sale now.
Every spring, for nine days, the charming wine-making township of Cully is transformed into a jazz heaven; sort of a warm-up for the larger Montreux Jazz Festival. The 2012 dates are 13-21 April.
What I like about the CJ is that unlike other fests, it is all about jazz or world beat jazz fusion. There is no pop, rock wanna-bes or one-hit wonders here. They’re all new or relevant artists that use jazz as their main means of expression.
For 2012, the gifted Mina Agossi will be bringing her world beat jazz inspired music. Another interesting artist attending the rendez-vous is the Cuban-born pianist Harold Lopez Nussa who will be playing with Mamani Keita in what can be described as Latin jazz meets African-funk.
Laila Rodriguez
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – If you’re looking for some fun science activities for kids check out the Wednesday afternoons workshops sponsored by the city of Geneva.
Help your kids discover how to measure time without a watch or a clock, in two afternoons.
The first afternoon, activities will take place at the Rath Museum as part of the Geneva Watchmaking exhibition. The second, at the Science History Museum, where kids will try to measure time.
Workshop is for children aged 8 to 11.
Price: CHF20 for the two afternoons.
Registration required: +41 (0) 22 418 25 00 (9:00-12:00) or adp-mah@ville-ge.ch.
Two sessions: 7 & 14 March or 18 & 25 April.
In addition on 28 March, 9 May and 13 June, the museum holds special science sessions for kids and families, free of charge.
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Laila Rodriguez
Paris for young artists scholarship
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Department of Culture of the city of Geneva and the Simon I. Patino Foundation will soon be closing applications for their annual Arts in Paris grants.
The Foundation and the city of Geneva pair up annually to grant scholarships to young artists to enable them to undertake studies, courses or carryout research work in Paris.
Laila Rodriguez
Geneva Marathon map (click to enlarge)
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – Attention runners, registration for the Geneva Marathon and half-marathon are now open.
Organizers have announced that the eighth edition of the Geneva Marathon for Unicef will also include five races for “the whole family”.
First off is a 5k race for women only, La Genevoise, open to female runners aged 14 and up.
In addition, four races, 1k-3k will be open for kids 6 to 13. These races, and the women’s race, will take place on Saturday 5 May. 100% of the kids’ races registration fees will be donated to Unicef.