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 – Here’s an excellent idea for when you run out of ideas for what to do with your out-of-town guests: guided walking tours of Geneva.
The Geneva tourism department offers guided walks that range in price from CHF10 for students and seniors, to CHF15 for adults. Free for children under 14 years of age.
Explore Old Town, Carouge, the financial district, or take one of the themed-walks: watch-making history, Calvinism and the city, parks and residences, tales and legends, Rousseau, Henry Dunant & the Red Cross, and in December only, the Escalade with its famous hot soup and hidden trails.
Squeeze through the Passage de Monetier opens only once a year
Exiting the Monetier dressed as back in the day
Tours are offered in French, English and German; Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, and other languages available upon request.
Enjoy Geneva in winter!
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Laila Rodriguez
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.
Laila Rodriguez
Christmas in Switzerland, enjoy the outdoor markets
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – It is an American tradition that no sooner has Thanksgiving ended than Christmas sales begin. Switzerland, minus the turkey, does its own version of Christmas shopping right around the same time.
The beautiful outdoor Christmas markets start taking place this weekend; some of them run through late December.
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
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.”
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
View of some of the trails at the UN Park - Photo Jean Marc Ferre, UNIS
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – If you are one of the few still left in Geneva during the summer holidays, or have guests this month, consider a visit to the beautifully manicured lawns and gardens of the United Nations.
The tour of the Palais des Nations Park takes place every Tuesday and Thursday during the summer, at 11:00 and 14:30, and lasts about an hour-and-a-half.
For more information on the guided tours in English call: +41 (0) 22 917 4894 or email ndawe@unog.ch.
View of Room XX decorated by the Spanish artist Miquel Barcelo - Photo Jean-Marc Ferre, UNIS
Other UN tours
If you are interested in visiting the UN buildings, including some of the rooms where international policies are created, remember that from September to April tours operate on weekdays only.
For more information on those tours visit the UN website. Remember valid identity documents, such as passports, may be required.
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Laila Rodriguez
Many churches across Switzerland hold special religious services on Whit Monday
Geneva, Switzerland - Geneva, Vaud, and a number of other Swiss Cantons are enjoying a three-day Pentecost weekend. Pentecost is one of the most ancient feasts of the Christian church, celebrated according to experts, early enough to be mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles.
Whit Monday, Pentecost Monday, or Monday of the Holy Spirit is a Christian holy day celebrated the day after Pentecost. The latter commemorates the descent of the Holy Ghost, fifty days after Easter (pentecost or 50 in Greek), or ten days after Ascension Day.
Pentecost is a recognized federal holiday in Switzerland and one of several with religious connotations but unlike Ascension Day, it is not recognized nor celebrated by all cantons in the Confederation.
Canton Valais for example does not observe the holiday and instead commemorates the Fête-Dieu or Corpus Christi on 23 June.
Laila Rodriguez
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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