Geneva Favorites

Favorite thing: Hi,

As Geneva is a pretty small and compact town, in 2 days you'll be able to see the essential. I think one of the best ways is to buy a map and walk around the centre. The water front is lovely, and you can walk from the Mon Repos park towards the bridge (Pont du Mont-Blanc)in direction of Park de la Grange. During your walk you'll se France and the Alps. Another advice is to take a boat trip and see Geneva from the Lake, or you can take the cable car up to Mont Salève (1100 m) for a splendid view.

If you want to get out and have a look at the surroundings, I can suggest the
beautiful little medieval town of Nyon, only about 15 minutes by train from Geneva railway station.

Have a nice stay!

Nyperose

Favorite thing: Though I enjoyed Lake Geneva, the parks along the lake, my first attempts to actually communicate in a language other than English (which incidentally I had studied for five years), shopping for watches and giving up on ever owning a truly outstanding watch, retracing some of Jean Cauvin's (aka John Calvin) steps, the highlight of my stop in Geneva that first time (other than meeting Claire) was the magnificent fountain which sits at the point where Lake Geneva empties into the Rhone River. It is one of the largest fountains in the world and very commonly used as a symbol for the city and the lake, and perhaps even the canton of Geneva. This fountain pumps water nearly 500 feet into the air at a nozzle speed of nearly 125 mph. At any given moment, there will be nearly 2000 gallons of water in the air when the fountain is operating.

Fondest memory: My favorite memory of Geneva is Claire. Among memories that I can revisit, the lighted night display by Jet d'eau would be the best.

Favorite thing: Below few words in French that you can use while visiting Switzerland.

Yes/No = Oui/Non
Yes, please/No, thank you = Oui, s'il vous plaît/Non, merci
Please = S'il vous plaît
Thank you = Merci (madame/monsieur)
You're welcome = Il n'y a pas de quoi
Here is/are = Voici...
Hello/Good morning/afternoon = Bonjour, (madame/monsieur)
Hello/Good evening = Bonsoir (madame/monsieur)
Goodbye = Au revoir
Good night = Bonne nuit
How are you? = Comment allez-vous?
Very well, thanks = Très bien, merci
Excuse me = Excusez-moi
Do you speak English? = Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?
Can you help me? = Est-ce que vous pouvez m'aider?
I don't understand. = Je ne comprends pas.
I don't know. = Je ne sais pas.
Could you please write it down = Est-ce que vous pouvez l'écrire?
Sorry = Désolé(e)
Where? = Où?
When? = Quand?
How? = Comment?
Why? = Pourquoi?
Who? = Qui?
Which? = Lequel?/Laquelle?
Where is...? = Où est...?
How much? = Combien?
How many? = Combien?
What's that? = Qu'est-ce que c'est?
I like it. = Ça me plaît.
I don't like it. = Ça ne me plaît pas.
OK/Agreed. = Ça va/d'accord.
That's fine. = C'est bien.

Favorite thing: It is always better to be informed about road conditions.
So for this reason here's a website that wil tell you every Swiss tunnel and mountain pass status, open or closed.

http://www.tcs.ch/main/it/home/verkehrsinfo/paesse_tunnels.html

Favorite thing: One of the most important events for Geneva is the Motor Show organized in early March each year (held for the 75th time in 2005). If you plan to visit Geneva at this time, make sure that you book your accommodation months in advance. At the motor show you can see the new cars that have not made it to the street yet and you can also order your new car at a good price ;-)

The motor show is held at Palexpo next to Geneva airport. See http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/ for more information.

Fondest memory:
My dilemma during all my studies at the Geneva's University...

Heureux l'étudiant qui, comme la rivière, peut suivre son cours sans quitter son lit.

Let's try in english:

Happy the student who like the river wants to complete his course without leaving his bed.

Does it make sense also in English???

Fondest memory: These 5 gentlemen put on a display of twirling and throwing flags to each other for around 10 minutes. It was an interesting thing to watch. It's much like when the guards do a routine with rifles or flags in other countries.

Favorite thing: I've spent lots of time in Switzerland and I was most unimpressed with Geneva. The small town of Schaffhausen had more excitement! The streets were filthy with Dog feces everywhere. I had to remind myself that I was in Switzerland!
I should have taken the advice and visited Lausanne, but American me wanted to see well known Geneva.
Zurich on a sunday night was busier than Geneva on a saturday and much cleaner! Also, I found the prices in Geneva much higher than Zurich.

Fondest memory: Seeing all the watchmaker buildings over the Lake Geneva. Very impressive and reminded you where you were.