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Posts Tagged ‘Geneva’

The Geneva newliners invited their wonderful teachers Maghi, Wendy and Bonnie for a typical Swiss cheese fondue: Merry Xmas to everyone out there who shares our passion: LINE DANCING !!

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With its crossroads location between France and Switzerland, Geneva Airport is an excellent place to pick-up a rental car. The city of Geneva itself offers visitors myriad attractions and a hire car allows you to enjoy everything that the city has to offer at a pace that suits you. The best thing about car hire in Geneva is that when you’ve tired of the city, you’re free to explore the beautiful Alpine countryside. Surely Switzerland’s most cosmopolitan city, Geneva has a live and let live philosophy that stretches back as far as the religious teachings of John Calvin. The city was also where Lenin spent his ‘years of recreation’. These days, visitors to the city will find elegant stately homes lining the lake alongside luxury yachts. Meanwhile, glittering gems sparkle in exclusive boutiques, as sleek chauffeur-driven limousines glide down pretty boulevards.

Geneva Airport Mini Guide:

Geneva Airport is situated on the French-Swiss border and is served by a number of international airlines including Aer Lingus, Finnair, Scandinavian Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France and budget airline easyJet. The airport is modern in design and layout and offers an excellent range of services and facilities including bars and restaurants, tax and duty free shopping, fashion and designer boutiques, as well as business lounges, left luggage facility and information desks.

Geneva Mini Guide:
The Swiss city of Geneva is one of central Europe’s most popular destinations for short breaks and business trips and it’s easy to see why. Situated at the confluence of pretty Lake Geneva and the Rhône River, Geneva is a major centre of international diplomacy and trade, which still manages to exude an endearing sense of old world charm.

Things To See/Do in Geneva:

Geneva has something of a reputation for being a playground for the rich and powerful. Impossible as it may seem, it is feasible to see the sights of this sophisticated city on a budget. A walking tour is one of the best ways to get to grips with what Geneva has to offer in terms of cultural attractions. Along the way, distinctive landmarks such as Saint-Pierre Cathedral and the impressive 140m high Jet d’Eau fountain are guaranteed to catch your eye. A walk through the picturesque old town, with its shiny cobbled streets and colourful market stalls is another free option.

Eating Out in Geneva:

In terms of eating out, Geneva offers excellent standards in French and Swiss cuisine. Regional delicacies worth a try include freshwater fish dishes, traditional ‘longeole’ sausages and creamy fondue. Local Gamay and Chasselas wines compliment any meal perfectly.

Day Trips/Events in Geneva:
Geneva’s location provides plenty of scope for hire car touring. The Swiss city of Lausanne is just a short car hire drive from Geneva, offering stunning scenery and cultural attractions. Meanwhile, if you’ve packed your skis, you’ll find the French Chamonix winter sports resort is just an 82km journey from Geneva.

Geneva has a lively events calendar, the highlights of which include June’s Feta dela Musique music festival, December’s L’Escalade chocolate extravaganza and May’s Geneva Marathon.

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Geneva is a city onto itself and this independent republic only became a Swiss canton in the 16th century. To this day the Swiss city of Geneva is referred to as the ‘République et Canton de Genève’.

For years people have gone to Switzerland and Geneva to rest and recuperate from illnesses due to the wonderful fresh mountain air.

Geographically Geneva is defined by the lake which it was built around, and Lake Geneva is the second largest freshwater lake in Europe.

One of the most incredible sights in Geneva can be seen in the middle of the lake. The Jet D’Eau is a stream of water which rises more than 100 metres up into the air from Lac Leman and is lit up dazzlingly at night.

Historically Geneva is most famous for being the birthplace of Calvinism. Jean Calvin fled there to get away from Catholic persecutors in France and he used Geneva as the starting point for the Reformation. To find out more about Calvinism you should visit the wonderful Cathédrale St-Pierre where Calvin taught and which was built in celebration of the Reformation. Entry is free but donations are welcome.

Today Geneva is the home of the International Committee of the Red Cross and so is known as a major centre of international diplomacy. Many of Geneva’s work force are part of the United Nations (UN) organisation.

Another fascinating building to see in Geneva is the Palais des Nations which was built to house the League of Nations, an inter government organization set up to administer justice after the First World War.

The Palais des Nations, contains a library and art collection among beautiful landscaped grounds. Situated at the Avenue de la Paix, the Palais des Nations is open daily.

Of course there are a multitude of other art galleries and museums which are open to the public in Geneva.

Given the position of Geneva in the midst of the French and Swiss Alps it is an ideal location from which to go skiing. If you choose car hire Geneva then be sure to ask for the necessary skiing gear such as snow tires to go along with your vehicle. From Geneva it is possible to take a day trip by car to beautiful places in the surrounding Alps such as Lake Annecy.

Arriving at Geneva you will fly into Geneva international airport which can be reached from American airports in Newark and New York as well as most European cities. If you are travelling from Britain to Geneva then you are sure to find cheap Easyjet flights.

When you are driving in Geneva you need to have a sticker in order to use the motorways and this costs about 40 Swiss Francs. The Swiss have not adopted the Euro and although various languages are spoken in different parts of Switzerland, French is the language of Geneva.

When in Geneva be sure to try some of the Swiss speciality dishes such as fondue, chocolate and cheese, all of which are made to perfection in this mountainous area of Europe. There are far too many restaurants, bars and cafes for all different budgets in Geneva to mention here. However, you should reserve accommodation in advance as it can be quite pricey and tends to book up in advance of government events. There are a couple of youth hostels for the budget conscious.

Currently Geneva has been in the news for being where the incredible Hadron Collider is in operation. This massive machine is more than 20 miles in circumference alone and is a great experiment in particle physics. The full abilities of the Hadron Collider, which has had some hitches along the way, are not yet known.