Weekend

Because of budgetary constraints, I decided to skip my trip to the Swiss alps for the weekend. As a substitute, I decided to have my feet in Geneva and explore the city and what it can offer.

Together with my Nordic friend Alf, I started the Saturday with a stroll along Lake Geneva (Lac Leman for the Genevoise) to see Geneva's famous Jet d'eau. Wikipedia gives an interesting articule for Geneva's jet d'eau or water jet:

Five-hundred litres of water per second are jetted to an altitude of 140 metres by two groups of pumps, operating on 2,400-V electricity with a total power of 1,000 kW. The water leaves the nozzle at a speed of 200 km/h. When it is in operation, at any given moment there are about 7,000 litres of water in the air.

The first Jet d'Eau was installed in 1886 a little bit further downstream from its present location. It was used as a safety valve for a hydro power generator and could reach a height of about 30 metres. In 1891, its aesthetic value was recognised and it was moved to its present location to celebrate the Federal Gymnastics Festival and the 600th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, on which occasion it was illuminated for the first time. Its maximum height was about 90 metres. The present Jet d'Eau was installed in 1994.

Geneva's jet d'eau

Enjoying by the fountain

After visiting jet d'eau, we decided to go get a ride by Geneva's lake boats which is nicely included in the city's public transportation system. That means I don't need to pay the Fr 3 fee as it is included in my Fr 45 monthly student pass! It was just a short ride crossing the lake though taking only about 4 minutes...

Inside Geneva's lake ferry overlooking the lake with the Swiss flag

You can actually have a view of the United Nation's Palais de Nations building as well as my workplace (the big building from behind) and the French riviera on the other side of Lake Geneva.

We then continued our walk into Geneva's international district. Here , you will find the international headquarters of the International Federation of the Red Cross:

Walking through the Geneva diplomatic quarter, it is surprising to see that the district maintains a mini-zoo:

Peacock on the loose

and some deers?

This afternoon, we went to a park in Geneva to meet some interns and have some brunch at a glitzy Geneva restaurant.

While waiting for the other inters, we decided to play chess in the park. Outdoor boardgame is a popular pasttime of the people here. You can see a lot of people in the park playing chess or chequers. Take note of what I am wearing, just a piece of sports jacket on a February. It is spring in Geneva with mercury rising to 10 celsius this afternoon!

Off we go to the restaurant. In there, I ordered the following:

The cheapest jus de pomme which costs CHF 4.95 (approx. $ 4.85 CAD)

and the cheapest dessert available, a demi-glass granola and fruits with mint in yoghurt for CHF 9.50

The Swiss romandes eat their boiled eggs differently as they have their special apparatus that makes it even fancier...

If the Japanese have brushes for their tea, the Swiss-romandes have something different:

And finally, here are some impressions of Geneva on a Sunday on our way back:

This scene actually looks more Zurich to me than Geneva...

And finally, I took the chance to have a picture of myself in one of Geneva's impressive buildings:

To end this entry, I share with you a video I took of a Brazilian and an Irish intern performing the traditional Brazilian martial art of capoeira.

Bon weekend de Genève!