Geneva – TRAVEL WORDS

Flashback Friday #16

A nostalgic look at Geneva whilst on a visit there in late September 2009.

Postcard from Genève

I am sitting here outside Chez Ma Cousine ‘on y mange du poulet’, (literal translation – at the house of my cousin one only eats chicken) which is just one of the little cafés in the square, having a rest after walking around the Old Town (lots of ups and downs and cobbled streets), sipping a large café crème. The sun is shining and it has been another very warm day for late September, so the shade of the umbrella above me is welcome. The Place du Bourg is lovely!

This is the centre of the Old Town and has an 18th century flowered fountain, which I am sitting next to. I have got into fountains in a big way since coming to Genève – they are everywhere, and all so different, flowers, sculptures, swans – fascinating!

As I look around me I notice that this spot attracts lots of little sparrows alternating between sips of water and splashing in the fountain to cheekily trying to pinch crumbs off the tables. They land on the tables and chairs all around me, but are too quick for my camera, though I manage to capture one poised on the edge of the fountain, with his back towards me, of course! There is the sound of someone playing a recorder, badly, from within one of the apartments in the square. Shutters and windows wide open to the sun and the constant murmur of people in conversation buzzes in the background. Continue reading Flashback Friday #16

home thoughts from abroad

Home thoughts from abroad is a new series on Travel Words featuring a single photograph that reminds me of a country visited and showing something that uniquely identifies it as being ‘abroad’.

“Commonly referred to as the “Greenwich Village of Geneva” I had to take a bus out to Carouge crossing over the river l’Arve to see this interesting suburb of Geneva for myself. It really is a village, designed by Italian architects and modelled on Nice. I got off at the terminus and walked back along the main street absorbing the architecture, the secret courtyards, the shabby shutters, the mix of grocery shops with high price boutiques, workshops and restaurants. Markets and fountains. My most abiding memory is of fountains and flowers and shutters…”

home thoughts from abroad

Home thoughts from abroad is a new series on Travel Words featuring a single photograph that reminds me of a country visited and showing something that uniquely identifies it as being ‘abroad’.

Sitting in the square drinking coffee whilst taking the weight off my feet after several hours of exploring the old town of Geneva allowed my eye to roam noting the little things that instinctively scream out ‘foreign’. Like a bike casually tied to a tourist sign in French. Round roof tiles and open shutters letting out the sound of someone practising the recorder. Badly…

Bench series #27

For the month of July I’m looking for a bench with ‘Unusual Details’

(This month I want to see photos of a bench which is different to the norm. It may be the shape, style, length, height, colour, material or even location that attracts your attention)

Promenade de la Treille in the old town of Geneva overlooks the Bastions park. This is the most ancient walk of Geneva, created at the beginning of the 16th century. The square is lined by the longest bench of the world which is more than 120 metres long. It was built in 1767. It is made of 180 wooden boards. The Treille Walk is planted with many old chestnut trees. One of them (on the east side of the square) is the official “Spring tree:” when it gets its first leaf, the spring season is officially declared in Geneva.

If you would like to join in with the Bench photo challenge then please take a look at my Bench Series page. No complicated rules, just a bench and a camera required 🙂

Create your own post and title it Bench Series: July
Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
Add the tag ‘bench series’ so everyone can find the benches easily in the WP Reader
Get your post in by the end of the month, as the new bench theme comes out on the first Sunday in August.

My Picks of the Week:

The last ones in the post-editing theme come from Tgeriatrix who has been playing around with different effects on picnic benches that look like toadstools.
Polianthus (a newcomer so please make her welcome) introduces us to an old-fashioned double exposure effect.
Warning: Sunglasses required if you pop over to Lisa (Daily Musings) who takes a whimsical approach to the challenge this week. (Or she’s been listening to Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band too many times)
And another newcomer joins us this week with her Spanish bench in a tranquil courtyard. I hope you’ll say “Hi” to Swagata.
My final choice comes from Pauline who has taken a lot of pleasure over her ‘painting’ of Silver Birches

Thanks to everyone who contributed during the ‘arty’ month of June. Nice to see all those different effects 😀

Black and White 5 Day Challenge: #2

I love photographing windows. I like architectural character, I love shutters especially those with peeling paint and I like reflections – here you can just about make out some ornate wrought-iron railings of the opposite balcony.

Pauline of Gypsy Life and Memories are made of this has invited me to join in with this challenge. If you don’t know Pauline (Pommepal) then you are missing a treat. Living in Australia Pauline is always on the move with her lovely Jack by her side.

There are only two rules for this challenge:

On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.
Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

Today I would like to nominate Elizabeth Krall to join in. Of course this is only if you have the time and want to.

Elizabeth is an author, loves tall ship sailing, drinking cocktails, travel and is a great photographer. I think she’d be excellent with this challenge.