One of the benefits of my blog is that I have made a few wonderful friends with people who have contacted me on it. One of them is an American friend I made who lives just outside of Geneva, Switzerland. She still lives in France (on the border) and is married to a Frenchman and she and her husband worked at United Nations for years. We met in Annecy for lunch one day and then I met her in Geneva for a couple of days to visit her city. I was very impressed with Geneva. It’s international, progressive, dynamic, and filled with interesting people from all over the world. While Geneva is in the French speaking part of Switzerland, English is spoken there by most people since it is the language of the U.N. and most large businesses. Additionally, many Swiss learn English in the school systems. I loved the energy of the city, the beauty and character of the Old Town, the large variety of entertainment choices, the international cuisine, and the lovely lake the city sits on. The surprising thing about it is that it didn’t have a big chaotic city feel. It actually felt more small town than big city, although the traffic can be challenging during rush hour. I was very impressed. In fact, I was so impressed that I’m thinking of looking for temporary assignments at the United Nations when I return to Europe in early February.
Human civilization dates back 3,000 years for Geneva. Celt, Germanic and Roman tribes and civilizations all inhabited the area over the centuries but it was the Catholic Bishops who took over in the 11th century. The town was forced to submit to the Counts of the Savoy Dynasty, who ruled Geneva during the 13th-17th centuries, during which time it became a Republic. The Reformists, who were being oppressed, sought refuge in Geneva in the 1500′s. They were led by Calvin, the famous reformer, and the city became the center of Calvinism. Today it is the headquarters of the United Nations and is one of the most international cities on the globe. Here’s an overview video of the city. By the way, the large chair missing a leg in front of the United Nations in the video is symbolic of the children who have lost their legs in mine fields in war-torn countries around the world.
July 4th, 2012 at 6:55 am
Loved your short video of Geneva. My wife and I will be passing through Geneva in September, staying just east of the airport. We’re looking for a two or three hour walk. Any sugggestions?
July 4th, 2012 at 11:54 pm
Michael, with just a few hours then I’d do what I showed in the video: the Cathedral, the park, a pass by the lake, and Old Town. If you had a couple of days, I’d also recommend Yvoire and Montreux and a ferry ride too. Have a great time! Cynthia