Da Paolo

Yesterday our friend Laura invited us to have lunch at Da Paolo for her birthday. Everything was delicious!!! The good thing about Da Paolo is that you know it will always be open to give you a nice pizza, pasta or veal milanese to eat! Saturday and Sunday it never closes so you can even have lunch at 3pm, a rare pleasure in Geneva! And on top of everything, everyone is super nice!!!

Art Genève 2014

Again in Palexpo, from January 30 until February 2, all art lovers can enjoy Art Genève. Doesn't matter if you just feel like looking around or if you are up to some serious art shopping, this is definetly the place to be!

At Art Genève you will find internationally renowned art galleries, independent spaces and curators. Come and take a look!

Avoriaz

Today we went to ski in Avoriaz! Even after a week in Verbier, the weather was so incredible that we couldn't help ourselves! We always love to go there. We normally park in Prodains, which is super convient, and go up with a gondola. On Saturdays the ski pass is just 28 euros, not bad if you compare it to other ski resorts, and the slopes are super fun. If you arrive early it is worth taking the ski pass to Portes du Soleil: cross the Swiss Wall skiing and enjoy the Swiss slopes too!

La Channe in Verbier

On Thursday we had dinner at La Channe to say goodbye to our fantastic ski week in Verbier!

I really recommend you try this restaurant if ever skiing there. Everything is delicious, from their different types of cheese fondues, their fondue bourguignonne, the nice meat they offer, their desserts…

The owner and all the waiters are super nice and the restaurant is really cozy.

We really had a wonderful time! And loads of food!!!

Farinet at Verbier

If you are spending a few days skiing at Verbier, drop by Farinet, a fun après-ski bar with live music!!!

When entering, you can choose between a calm side with big comfortable sofas or a louder side, where the bands play.

A must in Verbier!

Ski at Verbier

This week my husband and I were lucky enough to be invited to Verbier by our friends Patricia, Daniel and Nico. Only two hours from Geneva, Verbier is part of the Four Valleys ski area, with around 410km of marked runs. It is a beautiful ski resort known specially for its off-piste, though if you have time, Zermatt is still my favourite Swiss ski destination!

After a couple of days of snow and fog, today we had a beautiful sunny day, so we profited and went up to Mont Fort, the highest point up at 3'330m. The views are really amazing, you could even see the Cervin!

Even if you are not a great skier, you can go up and down with the gondola to admire the view. But if you can manage, ski down from the top! At first the slope is covered with snow bumps but it's super fun and totally worth it!!!

36th Hot Air Balloon Festival - Château d'Oex

From January 25 to February 2 there will be a Hot Air Balloon Festival at Château d'Oex (1h45min from Geneva). There will be air shows, balloons of different shapes coloring the sky, competitions… Check the programme at their site:

http://www.festivaldeballons.ch/en/festival_en/programen.

During the event, and of course also through the year, you can also book balloon flights to see the Pays d'Enhaut valley from the air! If you have nothing to do during the weekend, be sure to drop by for a visit!

Oh! And take into account that the show ends early, Geneva style, so do not forget to check the program and the schedule of each activity!!!

20th Exhibition for Holidays: Travel and Leisure

There is one thing I do not like that much about Geneva… there are not too many bank holidays! Go to Palexpo from January 24 to January 26 and get inspired about all the places you can visit, and maximize your 2014 holidays!!!

Timetable
Friday: 1pm - 8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am - 6pm

Prices
Adults - Sfr 10.-
Children - Sfr 6.-

Brunch at Tout simplement...

Today I had brunch with my cousin Clara, who came from Lausanne, and my friend Alberto at a little place called Tout simplement… et pas autrement, in Eaux-Vives.

It is one of my favourite places for brunch in Geneva. Even if the variety it is not huge, everything is homemade and they offer all the things I like: scrambled eggs, pancakes with maple syrup, different types of cheese and bread, quiches, salads, yogurts…

It costs Sfr 28.- plus drinks and everything is DELICIOUS! In summer it is specially nice as they have a cozy terrace outside.

You should really try it!

Konrad Witz and Geneva

Until February 23 you can visit at Geneva's Art and History Museum the exhibition of two panels painted in 1444 by Konrad Witz for Saint-Pierre's Cathedral. These panels are part of the most emblematic works in Western art and have just been recently restored.

The exhibition is divided in two parts. The first is focused on the history of these panels, since their creation until now. The second part studies Geneva's and the Duchy of Savoy's artistic context during the first half of the 15th century, with paintings, sculptures, stained glass and ornamentation.

The entrance is free!

Fondue at the Restaurant des Antiquaires

Yesterday I met my Glocals friends for an early dinner, Swiss style, at 7pm, at the Restaurant des Antiquaires. We tried cheese fondue, meat foundue and a mushroom and cheese fondue, and everything was delicious!

Though my favourite fondue place in Geneva is still the Bains de Pâquis, when you have guests over, this place is indeed a good choice for a Geneva relaxed night out to go for a walk around the Old Town and end up eating here.

With quite a bit of wine and beers, plus desserts, we spent around Sfr 50.-/person (it always surprises me how expensive a bit of bread and cheese can be in this city!).

My friend Natz, whose b-day we were celebrating, also told us that she had been accepted after doing a casting, to perform at a Cats musical that will be on theaters in May. I will be sure to inform you of that so that you can get tickets!!!!

Festival Black Movie 2014

From January 17 to January 26 Geneva will be holding at the Maisons des Arts du Grütli (Rue General-Dufour 16) an International Festival of Independent Films. You can watch movies, participate in workshops or listen to round tables. Check everything in the site: http://blackmovie.ch/2014/.

Have fun!!!

Pakù-Pakù

My friend Bárbara is always eager to try new restaurants! In fact she keeps a secret list, so that we cannot go without her! Yesterday night she took us to Pakù-Pakù, in Carouge, a delicious Japanese restaurant! We spent around Sfr 60.- per person and had tons of food though no wine... If you go, you must try the tataki de saumon and the poulet teriyaki, to mention two things I especially liked, though everything was amazing!

The desserts we tried were also delicious though they were not Japanese. Also, the place was super cool! I loved everything, from the lamps hanging from the ceilings to the red lightning next to the windows! Even the cutlery! And our waitress was extra nice! I surely recommend it!

Roller skate party!!!!

Enjoy a roller skate party this January 17 at Vésenaz new tunnel!!! You can either come with your own skates or rent there for Sfr 5.-. Before it is open for cars, this big party with DJ's, electro-funk music, drinks and burgers will be LOADS of fun!!! It will open only from 6pm to 11pm so don't be too late!!!

Ice skating rinks in Geneva

Geneva is an expensive city… but you can always find inexpensive things to do! During the cold month's of winter, you can find around Geneva small skating rings that do the trick. They are either totally free (including ice skates!) or you must pay Sfr 2.- for the skates. Not a bad deal!

Here are some of the addresses:

Parc des Bastions - Open till February 23. Seasonal outdoor rink with free entry in the heart of Geneva.

Carouge - Open to March 2. Outdoor rink with refreshments available at the "Ice Bar." Skate rental for CHF 2 and free for children under 6 years of age.

Collonge-Bellerive - Open until 28 February. Skate among vineyards in the countryside on these two outdoor rinks. Free entrance, skate rental CHF 2. 

Ilona and myself enjoyed a great ice skating day at Parc des Bastions rink!

Olympic Museum at Lausanne

For the past couple of years, if you wanted to visit the Olympic Museum at Lausanne you had to hop on a super cool boat and see a small exhibition for free. Which wasn't that bad…! Now finally the renovated museum opens its doors for free until January 23. Hurry up and visit it while you don't have to pay!!!

Swiss Press Photo 2013

Until March 2 you can visit this temporary exhibition at the Château de Prangins: the best pictures published by the Swiss media in 2012… Yes, they go one year behind but the pictures are pretty cool! You can take a trip to Nyon and drop by Prangings afterwards, and also do the tour of the castle!

It opens from Tuesday until Sunday from 10am to 5pm.