Geneva doesn't need tourists

Geneva is a city that we all know well, the second most populous city in Switzerland, a ‘global city,’ a financial centre and a City of Peace  ... but not a holiday destination.

Lake Geneva with Jet d'Eau

I don’t really recall seeing Geneva advertised much as a place to visit, it certainly hasn't a large reliance on the tourism market and this is for two reasons:

1. It doesn't need tourists

2. It is very expensive.

In case you think I am starting off too negative, let me confuse you further - Geneva is beautiful.

Geneva has culture, it has grace, it will entertain you and the food is exquisite.

The French speaking city which boasts the Headquarters of the United Nations and the Red Cross hosts a number of international talks and meetings between different countries and groups each year. The city is home to a large number of diplomats and sees an enormous number of foreign visitors each week on various business, so they don’t necessarily need "tourists".

Geneva is in fact, a very travel friendly city, public transport is free to those staying in hotels in or around the city, the landmarks are well signposted and easily accessed, everyone speaks English (along with a host of other languages) and there is plenty to photograph.

But it is expensive, hotel rooms cost a bomb, food and drink is on the very high end, most of the shops only sell designer items and Swiss Francs (CHF) do not last long in your pocket.

Yummy cafe mocha!

When I visited the city for three days, I used the location as a buffer zone (as many do politically). I arrived after a hectic ten pays in Courmayeur, Italy from my Winter Wedding and a ski holiday. I was wrecked. From Geneva I would be returning home to more celebrations.

So I needed to rejuvenate in Geneva, I wanted the city to give me balance, restore my spirits and yet also entertain me.

And as it usually does for countries all over the world and rivalling groups seeking resolution, 

Geneva thankfully delivered.

Due to high prices for accommodation we stayed Novotel Geneve Centre in the Red Light District. The location was perfect, and the area was lovely during the day, at night there was security outside the hotel and plenty of ladies pacing the streets, but nothing intimidating.

The broken chair at Place des Nations

As our time was short, and my energy was low we went to see some of the city’s main highlights, while stopping regularly for coffee, drinks, and food. The coffee, pastries and food were truly French inspired culinary treats.

The Jet d’Eau fountain of water which is pumped 140m into the air is a real spectacle. The spurt of water was once an occasional pressure release for hydro-power generation on the Rhone River - but it was so popular that in 1891 they made it a permanent exhibition. Stunning at night when it is lit up - this is a sight to be seen from a distance as the surrounding half kilometre will have you soaked in water!

Cathédral St Pierre is also worth taking the time to admire. Originally built as a Catholic place of worship, it embodies the high point of the reformation.

Place des Nations - home of the United Nations Headquarters is a must see when in Geneva. We didn't actually go inside the centre (energy levels were low) but the square which usually hosts a colourful protest and the interesting broken chair sculpture as well as the flags, the large building and the security (you might even spot a few blacked out limousines carrying some important people!)

Shopping - Geneva’s city centre rivals New York, Paris and London for designer shopping. Even if all you can do is stare into the windows drooling a walk through the expensive street is part of the Geneva experience.

Finally for me Geneva was a food heaven. Admittedly it steals from the French, but it packages it up nicer, puts a hefty price tag on your dinner and makes it feel more exclusive, more delicious, even divine!

Cathedrale St Pierre, Geneva

______________________________________________________________________________

SATS:

- Flew into Geneva International Airport with Aer Lingus from Dublin

- Stayed at Novotel Geneve Centre

- Dined at: Bistrot de Boeufe Rouge, Cafe du Soliel,

- Visit: J’et d’Eau, Cathédral St Pierre, Place des Nations

Romantic, relaxing, hectic weekend planned

I spent Valentine's evening hovering the house, putting a washing on and sitting down to watch the Irish election leaders debate. But don't feel sorry for me because I am heading away this weekend for a romantic break with my boyfriend.

Well we are not so sure if it is going to be a romantic weekend, we haven't decided on the category of weekend it is yet.

He wants a “relaxing” weekend, you know lie in on Saturday and Sunday, hit the breakfast just before it stops, maybe head for a back massage, a lazy swim and just chill out in the room, making a time for a bit of … before dinner and few drinks.

As usual I want to go see and do. I really want to have a gawk at the Newbridge Museum of Icons (we are staying near by) maybe drop into Kildare Village for a quick look and maybe a spin around to Naas, stopping off for a bite to eat there.

But we are not only celebrating Valentine's Day but also our anniversary (we are not married) – so it has to be romantic.

Problem: the weekend cannot be relaxing, include sightseeing and shopping and also be romantic.
So you see predicament. It is actually a re-occurring situation we seem to find ourselves in.
I love going away for weekend breaks around the country, it is a fun way of discovering the island in small segments, it gets us away from the routine of weekends at home and we actually spend quality time together. But once we get there my lover and I often quarrel over how exactly we should spend the time away!

“Relax and unwind” he tells me as he lies on the massive bed in his boxers flicking through the channels. But I don't want to waste my time sitting around doing nothing, if we are going to relax let's do it at the spa, let's give it a time slot so then at least I know that come a certain time “relaxing” is over with and we can move onto something else … like romancing or eating or sightseeing!
I know loads of couples who go away for a weekend to a hotel and barely step outside the bedroom for the three days, and they come back glowing but I would see that as a wasted opportunity to get out and see what is around.

You may be able to tell but 'Spontaneous' doesn't work for me, I am an organised person I like to know what is going to happen, because leaving it to chance usually means sitting looking at each other doing nothing! The problem with this weekend is that I have way too much to jigsaw together, each of them are fine by themselves, I could even successfully manage two of the above categories – but three, three is a challenge.

Of course I have done out a rough draft of the weekend:
Friday – travel to hotel, have dinner, romance
Saturday – Breakfast, spa/ relaxing time, shopping, eating out, romancing
Sunday – Breakfast, romance, sightseeing, lunch, home

Keeping my boyfriend to my invisible schedule of events could prove difficult though, and if one category runs a lot over time I may have to sing out load to drown out the alarm bells in my head …

You know sometimes it is less stressful to just stay at home!!

Married in Marrakesh

Some women wait all their lives to slip a diamond on to their left ring finger and declare to the world that they are married. It took me several troubled conversations with Berber men in the souks of Marrakesh to realise, that I didn't have to wait for a knight in shining armour to save me, I was going to save myself – a quick exchange of a ring from one hand to the other -and life became much more easier to negotiate!

                                                                 “You like you buy .."

“Democratic price sexy ...”

           “You English, Irish, Scottish, Finish …?”

              “Yes try it on … very pretty on you ...”

     “You touch you buy”

All these chants, threats, and pushy statements become a way of life when waking through the gigantic maze that is the souks in Marrakesh, and they can be easily fobbed off with “My husband will buy it for me;” “My husband must see this;” “My husband has the money.”

 Once you flash the ring and those lines, you can finally relax and enjoy the madness that surrounds you.

I had left all my Moroccan souvenir shopping until Marrakesh, but 20 minutes into my shopping spree I had to sit down, have a drink and hatch a plan. I was overwhelmed, even shopaholics will become dazed here. The souk market is bigger than any shopping centre I have ever been in, the sellers can be aggressively pushy and there are so many pretty things to look at (but don't touch – touch it and you've bought it!).

My tip: Half the asking price of the item and bargain from there, if they let you walk away – your offer was too low, usually they will bargain no matter what the price.

Once you finalise your first deal you are ready to take them all on. Confidence is important and after a few tries you will gain a general idea of prices.

Some people return home with bargains galore, but if you land home with a beautiful piece that you paid over the odds for, but enjoyed the exchange or fell in love with then it is worth the extra few dirham. (My silver jewelled tea pot is well worth the smile.)

Teapots, perfume, handbags, scarves, jewellery (but not gold, it is considered evil), pottery, glassware, spices and slippers are items you cannot leave Marrakesh without. This is a fabulous city, modern yet ancient, dazzling yet characteristic.

We stayed at Riad Reves D'orient which was impossible to find but a complete treasure, I slept like an Arabian princess and the owners were just too nice and so pretty! We ate in Djemaa el Fna, the main square which must be experienced during the night so much more than during the day. In the sunshine it is a market square with souks, but at night it is an emporium of food, song, dance, snakes and tricks! The stall we settled to dine at had the only female cook on the square and the food was delightful, perfectly cooked – with an electric atmosphere around us. This is one of those places where photographs and even cam-recorders just can't capture.

There are plenty of sights to see in the city, but for a few days trip you will be busy enough shopping, eating and staring at the madness, that your days will be plenty filled!

I would recommend staying at riad, we also spent a night in a four star hotel and it was bitterly disappointing compared to the homely riad.

You cannot holiday in Morocco without soaking up the madness of Marrakesh and for the ladies it is quite refreshing to experience married life with all the bonuses, minus the problems!