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
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
Watching movies at the theatre for less - Photo Jared Bloch
Geneva, Switzerland – Here’s a deal for any Orange telephone customer or anyone who has a friend who’s an Orange phone customer: Two people watch a movie on any given Tuesday for the price of one. Now, that’s a deal!
The concept is simple: Pick a movie, send a text message and get one free ticket. Only one person needs to be an Orange customer.
See other great deals to save money at the movies in Geneva.
Let’s go to the movies!
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In addition, find out what else is up in the Lake Geneva region through my Twitter channel.
Laila Rodriguez
Website revamped, more information available
Lisa Cirieco-Ohlman's passport to knowing-it-all
Geneva, Switzerland – Being an expat who knows a lot about Geneva is one thing, being a know-it-all is a whole ‘nother one. For Lisa Cirieco-Ohlman, knowing it – almost – all and putting it in a book came serendipitously around 10pm one night in 1999 while trying to breastfeed her newborn baby.
“I was at home, when someone who I didn’t know called me. He got my phone number from someone else who I didn’t know, and was demanding an answer right there and then to his question . . . demanding me to help him! I hung up and knew I had to do something.”
While most people would simply change their phone number, this American-born, Geneva-raised expat decided to write a resource book instead. And with it, a new Geneva institution was born.
Laila Rodriguez
Picnic, strolling & rollerblading by the lake
Weekend activity in Geneva, strolling by the Lake
Geneva, Switzerland – The nice weather has finally arrived and with it the masses of people strolling by the Lake Geneva shores. This past weekend, thousands of people flocked to the “quais” in Geneva to get some sun, to see and to be seen.
The Bains de Paquis has officially closed the saunas for the season, (although the hammams will stay open through the warmer months), and their swimming season (brr) will soon begin.
With the nice weather the “barcelonettes” have also arrived. The funny-named, ship-container-like outdoor refreshment mobile cafés (whew) were inspired by Catalonian models (thus the name), but minus the vibrant Spanish colors, à la Swiss.
Laila Rodriguez
Librarian at work decades ago
Geneva, Switzerland – A question many new residents to Geneva ask is: where to find books in English? The Library in English is one of those great places! You can read at the library, become a member or buy books during their bi-annual 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.
The library traces its origins to a small shelf in the church in 189, i has been in full service since 1930. Although it is located in the Emmanuel church it is independent of it.
Pam Scott, main librarian
“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
Great outdoor entertainment for all
Geneva, Switzerland – The warm season is upon us which can only mean one thing: it is time to take yourself and your family outdoors. Switzerland is a great place for outdoor activities but with so much to do it can get difficult to navigate through all the information available.
No worries, the Swiss office of tourism has laid out a listing that lets you pick a region, say the Alps or Geneva, level of difficulty and time requirement, (among other criteria), to help you fully enjoy your Swiss experience.
You may decide you want to combine hiking and dining, or touring a specific region while someone else carries your luggage.
It doesn’t matter what your cuppa tea is, this is your one-stop site for everything you always wanted to know about hiking and trekking but were too afraid to ask
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Laila Rodriguez
Bargain shopping in Geneva
Geneva, Switzerland – Two semi-annual kids’ consignment sales are taking place in the Lake Geneva region this weekend 17 and 18 April.
This is a fun, smart way to buy and sell (although it is now too late to register as a seller) kids’ toys, clothes, baby and sports equipment, books, DVDs and even some pregnancy clothes.
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!
Find out what else is up in Geneva through my Twitter channel, subscribe to this blog by using our RSS feed or receive it by e-mail.
Laila Rodriguez
The Rumine Palace on the Riponne Plaza in Lausanne
Geneva, Switzerland – The perennial question, “what’s there to do on Sundays in Geneva or Lausanne?” lingers on and stays floating in the air as if waiting for a magical answer to materialize. Well the simple answer is, don’t wait, plan ahead for those lazy Sundays in the Lake Geneva area.
Planning, not improvising, seems to be in the Swiss-top-10 list of values. With that in mind, here are two tips for the first weekend of each month: