Geneva
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Geneva is situated at the far south-west end of Switzerland, along the Léman lake side ; its border, which is 107 km long, has 103 km in common with France! It's located in the French part of Switzerland. The atmosphere is really relaxing, and the city has both the qualities of big and of small cities. The population is very cosmpolite : many French people work here, and many nationalities are represented. In fact, 45% of the population isn't swiss. There is a great number of parks, theatres, concert halls, nice cafés... It also homes a lot of international organisations such as the UN or the WTO.
1. Short history
Traces of the first inhabitants are dated from 3000 b.C. But the main event is the réforme in 1536, thanks to the German Luther, who claimed that Christians should come back to the original purty of the catholic religion. Then Calvin settled in Geneva. In 1602 happened the event which is celebrated each year as the national day : on Decembre 11th, the inhabitants of Savoie, a french neighborhood, tried to climb on the wall of the city, in order to invade it. The legend says that they failed thanks to the Mère Royaume a woman who was cooking a soup while this was happening, and who threw her pot on the invaders. Thus, you can find pots in chocolate, filled of fruits in marsipan, in every bakery, during the few weeks before the national day. During the XVIII century, Geneva was the home of many european philosophers and scientists. In 1901 the first Nobel prize for Peace is offered to Henri Dunant, funder of the Red Cross.
Couchsurfing: At the moment (2008) there is no city ambassador, yet the Genevan CS community is pretty active. Check out the Geneva CS group and get in touch with the local members.
2. What to do in Geneva
2.1 Places
Geneva is not one of the main tourist destinations like Paris or London or Prague. Much more modest in size and in sightseeing offers, it still has many museums, parks, nice streets to visit if you are curious enough and interested in discovering little hidden things instead of huge, impressive monuments and museums. Here are my favourite places :
- the famous fountain (Jet d'eau) : this is what Geneva is famous for ! It is 140 m high, situated in the lake, close to the english garden. It first was situated more downstream, and appeared only in the evening, to release the pressure in the hydraulic factory ; it was just a few meters high. Later it was moved to its current location, and has now its own pump. You can see it from most parts of th city -and you'll miss it when you'll leave...
- the english garden
- the UN : as this is a working place, you have to take a guided tour, either in French or English. It's really interesting, you'll see the discussion rooms, you'll be explained the missions of the UN and its history, and as you walk in the corridos you'll have the possibility to admire some artworks given by the contries members of the UN. Some of them are really incredibly beautiful...
- the MAMCO (rue de Vieux-Grenadiers, quarter of Plainpalais): museum of modern art. Very interesting, it often hosts temporary exibitions, and also its own collection, by parts, which means that it is regularly changed. So whenever you go there, you'll see something different !
- Ste Trinity church (Lausanne street, close to the train station): this church is so original, it is round (spherical)!!!
- also : St Peter cathedral and its archeological site, under it ; the cemetery of Plainpalais, full of graves of famous people ; the botanical garden and its zoo ; the Paquis "bains", a specific area of the lake in which you can swim....
- cafés and restaurants :
-le chat noir (Carouge) : concerts, and a really cool place where you can danse...
-l'ethno (Plainpalais) : nice café ; very good ice tea, comfortable place if you want to study in the afternoon, and good music in the evening !
-les 5 portes (Paquis)
-le Grütli (cozy café in the Grütli art center in Plainpalais)
-le vieux carouge (Carouge) : you have to try their fondue -one of THE swiss dishes yo must try while you are here !!
-le café du lys : used by many students, it's very comfortable and they do fresh fruit-juice.
-le miyako (Cornavin) : very good japanese restaurant, rather elegant -and slightly expensive, but worth it.
- gay and gay friendly:
The main bars are Le Phare (slighltly hidden in rue de Lissignol, a small pedestrian street behind Manor department store, not far from the train station) and Nathan (in Grottes neighbourhood, 5 minutes behind the train station). Le Boudoir de la Baronne is also a bar, but it stays open until late, like a club: it has shows sometimes and is located in Rue Rossi, in the Paquis neighbourhood, 5 minutes walking down from the train station. The only gay club really is Organic, behind the main commercial street downtown, near Alhambra theater: it's not open every day of the week, and it's busy only on Fridays and Saturdays. In Rue de la Navigation there are the LGBT associations Dialogay and 360°, wich orgaize events (the 360° Fever parties, about once every two months, are very popular even along non LGBT people: find informations online or on the 360° magazine, which you can find in different bars) and have a lot of other services. MOA club organizes 4 seasons parties a year: it is not very centrally located, but usually they organize free buses from the train station.
- others :
-Merkur : a chocolate place really interesting ! They sell many kinds of chocolate, my favourite one being the "Croqu'en bouche" : they do big plates of chocolate and break a corner of the size you want. It's really good, almost the same price as bars of chocolate in supermarkets, and they hve many different tastes (the classical milk and dark chocolates, but also with cranberries, almonds, etc.. and a special taste each month : for April 2006, it was milk chocolate with flowers!!)
- concerts, theatre :
-Victoria hall : usually rather for classical or jazz concerts but not only... (April 2006 : Goran Bregovic did a great concert with his "wedding and funeral band" !!!)
-l'usine : big building with café, bar, concert rooms, exhibition room, theatre... Check their website http://www.usine.ch/ This is THE place where you should go when you want to go out in Geneva !
2.2 Events
- the "fêtes de Genève" : around 3 weeks (as there are also the pre-fêtes) of party on the south bank of the lake : a lot of music, food, election of a "miss", really huge and wonderful fireworks, a fun fair, free concerts, and the great Lake Parade, where you just come to have fun, you really dress as you want and you dance on the Mont-Banc bridge, forbidden for cars just for that specific event !!
- the Batie festival : theatre, dance, performances, for 10 days, at the beginning of September. For example in 2006, there were a truly incredible show "between the earth and the sky" (check http://www.orbite.tv/), really good theatre plays and performances around gastronomy (listening to a meal, eating music... yes !!!)
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2.3 Getting around
- The cheapest way to get around Geneva is a municipal service providing bikes during the day. Free for up to 4 hours, afterwards it's 1 chF per hour.
See Genève Roule for information and a map of places to get and return bikes.
- Public Transports are pretty comprehensive, but it's 3 chF per hours or 9 chF for a 24hr - ticket.
Work
Jobs in Geneva - Job search site offering easy access to English speaking jobs in Geneva.
