Sweet Summer Surprises

Summer has arrived in Geneva. It seems as if something is happening around every corner every weekend.

Concerts in the park

I had seen signs hanging at the tram stops, in the grocery stores and at the parks letting me know something was up. In my very limited French I read the words "Geneve", "musique" and "fete" along with the numbers 19-06-15 so I knew there was a music festival on Friday, June 19th. Actually, it was a three day music festival in Geneva and 600 free concerts were playing in parks all over the city. I found the program online in English, located the parks near us on a map, and after dinner, Doug and I went to check it out. We were so surprised. Firstly, the organizer in me knew how much coordination, set up, equipment, publicity, and volunteers it took to make this possible logistically. Secondly, the atmosphere was electric. People were everywhere and the music was amazing; all genres, all ages, all different venues came together to celebrate how music affects us and brings us together. We had a great time walking from one stage to another as we enjoyed artists of jazz, rock, classical, indie, blues, African folk, opera, electronic, vocal, and dance. As dusk descended, the lights strung between the trees lit the paths and the sound of music drew us to the next concert. We watched the community support its local artists in a big way. We walked home long before the music stopped, enthralled with the music now playing in our minds.

The meeting of the Arve and the Rhone 

We have been enjoying our evening walks especially with sunset now at 9:30pm. One night after dinner we took the path along the shore of the Arve River towards downtown. The water of the Arve flowed from the glaciers of the Chamonix mountains, gray and full of silt as it slowly wound its way through France into Geneva. We walked under trees and bridges until our path became very narrow. We happened upon a group of homeless people cooking dinner under one bridge and apologized for intruding. We passed the kayak club and their gates set up to practice proficiency. And then, at dusk, we found it. The place where the Arve collided into the Rhone! The beautiful blue Rhone River rapidly flowed out of Lake Geneva. At the point of convergence, the grays of the Arve were overtaken by the blues of the Rhone. There was a clear demarcation where the two rivers met. We stood at this point until the sun set over the mountains marveling at the wonder before us.

What a great game! So much fun.

We have also discovered competitions on our walks. One evening we stopped to watch a European Beach Volleyball Tournament. We sat in bleachers in front of a sand volleyball court that had been brought in for the 3 day competition. It was fun to watch the people in the stands as they cheered for the home team. We loved it so much we went back the next day to see the finals.

The European Triathlon Championships took place at the lakefront on July 12th with a 1.5 km swim in Lake Geneva, then a 40 km bike ride followed by a 10 km run. We enjoyed watching the race from our vantage point on a swimming platform in Lake Geneva.

Prizes at the Swiss Wrestling competition

On another evening we discovered a cultural competition as we walked in a park near our apartment. We saw the tents and 4 circles of mulch and sawdust on the ground. A man holding a large water hose was spraying water on the sawdust. We were not sure what kind of competition was about to happen but we watched as men got on the circles of sawdust and began wrestling. The judges ruled the winner as the one who pushed his competition's shoulders into the sawdust. The winner then brushed the sawdust off the losers back. It was great to watch them in traditional dress compete for the prize of a live bull and a huge cow bell. There were musicians, traditional cheese making (and tasting), and people playing alphorns. I later learned we had watched the Swiss wrestling competition called Romain Fete Lutte Suisse.

Picnic lunches

It has been a bit warmer here than normal. The average high temperature in July is usually around 75 degrees with night temperatures dropping to 55 degrees so air conditioners are not necessary in Geneva. We have been experiencing 100 plus degree days for weeks with nighttime temps in the mid 70's, and lots of sun. I am so appreciative of the air conditioning in some of the trams and the fan that accompanies me from room to room in the apartment. My new favorite delight has been to go for an afternoon swim in Lake Geneva. The water temperature is around 72 degrees and I feel so refreshed after a dip. Nicholas, the apartment manager, told me I swim like the Bohemians since I swam at a rocky area instead of the plage (beach). I thought it was just another part of my family heritage since my grandparents were both Bohemian.

All these tomatoes. Don't they look delicious!

Doug and I went to the tomato festival in Carouge, a 15 minute walk from our apartment. I loved it. There were so many colorful kinds of tomatoes for sale beautifully arranged in the fruit and vegetable stands. There were displays of old tractors with old planting and harvesting equipment. The food booths had pig roasts, ice cream, wine, sandwiches, and traditional Swiss cusine. We tried the raclette- melted cheese served over cooked potatoes with a side of gherkin pickles and pearl onions. It was delicious. In the evening, a band played while people danced and visited with friends and family.

Evening walks with my best friend

I have also enjoyed eating the fresh fruit from the street markets this summer. The colorful and delicious strawberries, watermelon, grapes, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, apricots, donut peaches, and melons have been a sweet treat. I also have to admit the ice cream and gelato has been really good too!

We continue to enjoy our summer in Geneva.

Some of the best surprises can be those in your own backyard.