Favorite thing: The most common European emergency number 112 (following Directive 2002/22/EC: Universal Service Directive) and also standard on GSM mobile phones. 112 is used in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom in addition to their other emergency numbers.
Here are some useful phone numbers that you might need while in Switzerland:
Police: 117
Ambulance: 144
Fire: 118
Poison: 145
Road emergency: 140
Psychological support (free and anonymous): 143
Psychological support for teens and children (free and anonymous): 147
Helicopter air-rescue (Rega): 1414 or by radio on 161.300 MHz
Air rescue (Air Glaciers) (in Valais only): 1415
Updated Jan 5, 2010
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
Written Sep 7, 2008
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.
Updated Jul 23, 2008
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.
Updated Jun 13, 2008
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
Written Jun 8, 2008
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???
Updated Aug 18, 2005
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.
Written Jan 7, 2005
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.
Written Sep 22, 2004
Favorite thing: When in Geneva I couldn't fail to miss the Rhone flowing through the city. At Geneva it is very wide and quite turbulent (lots of undercurrents). The scene at night is beautiful.
Fondest memory: Also if you follow the river to the east you will come to the Lake.
Updated Feb 4, 2004
Favorite thing: Clocks are everywhere in Switzerland of course. And Geneva is is the birth place of watch making in Switzerland. This one is natural clock made of flowers. It is located at Jardin Anglais. It is made up of approximately 6,500 plants. The plants are changed twice a year, in the spring and the autumn. The clock is five meters in diameter. It was installed in 1955. I read that the second hand on the clock is the largest in world.
Updated Jan 30, 2004
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