So here's the part 2 of the last trip we've made:
Breakfast is served from 7am-10am. Uncle Tan had read some online comments about some hotels not having enough food for breakfast as they don't refill (I suppose applies to only 2 to 3-star hotels?), so he suggested waking early for breakfast in case there aren't any croissants left like what his colleagues had said.
Well, we didn't need an alarm clock to wake us up...
At 4+am, the mandarin ducks go 'gak gak' and swans go 'honk honk'.
At 5+am, it was the crows' turn.
At 6+am, it was the sparrows and other birds chirping.
And at every hour, there was the chiming from the clock tower.
So we made it for breakfast at 7am. Not a soul was in sight. Well, good for a peaceful breakfast.
It was a simple spread with cheese, ham, butter and jams to go with the croissants, buns and bread. There were also cereals, yogurt and fruits.
It seemed colder here than in Zurich, probably due to the 'lake breeze'.
On our way to Geneva which will take about 40 mins ride. From Lausanne to Geneva will cost CHF 41.20. As we have the half fare card, so it cost us only CHF 20.60. Still, kinda ex huh. 
GENEVA
Geneva is one of Switzerland's smallest cantons. It's a cosmopolitan city, and as you know, this places houses many international HQs such as the United Nations, UNICEF, Red Cross etc. The moment we stepped out of the train station, we could feel the difference as we saw people of different countries. Most of them speak French since it's very near to the French border.Apparently, Geneva is also known for their watchmaking, jewellery and pocket books.
We didn't take the walking tour cos we prefer to explore around on foot. Actually it may be a good idea since there are a few tours offered and they could bring you around in the buses.
So off to the old town we go!
Before we hit old town, I saw a direction sign that indicated the Notre-Dame nearby. It reminded me of Disney's cartoon "Hunchback of Notre-Dame" so thought of going to take a look. Apparently, there's also a "Notre-Dame" on in France, Lausanne...guess the Europeans like to use similar names just like how they name their streets :)
The construction of this basilica, which owes much to the joint efforts of Catholic circles, lasted from 1852 to 1857. It was built entirely of sandstone upon the Cornavin bastion, its architecture was inspired by the 12th century classic Gothic style and to a great extent, by the Amiens cathedral. The latest restorations were completed in 1981.
Location: Place Cornavin (very near to the main train station)
Sprouting about 140m of lake water in the air.
Rue du Mont Blanc - the road that will bring you across the Geneva lake to the old town of Geneva.
The famous flower clockFormerly only decorative with its sole dial comprising over 6,500 flowers. It is now maintained by the the gardeners of the Service of Green Spaces and the Environment. The colours of which vary with the seasons and the plants which make up the display. Now it's the soccer season, hence the soccer ball, the field and the Swiss cross :) The seconds hand of Geneva's Flower Clock is the largest in the world (more than 2.5 m long!).
The streets of old town - slightly elevated.
Up the stairs we go again...from up here, you could actually see some of the houses...no privacy huh?
The cathedral is located at Cours St-Pierre 6 (at the highest point in the old town). For a moment thought there were 3 different buildings...then as I read the brochure, this cathedral actually has a mixture of styles - a Romanesque church with a museum-like Neoclassical facade; the two dissimilar square towers above the east end have a curious greenish steeple between them (added in the late 19th century).
The entrance of the cathedral
A little history about the cathedral...
The construction of the cathedral took place between 1160 and 1232. Originally it was built in Romanesque style but the arches were later extended into the Gothic style. Many events, including a series of fires, led to restorations and reconstructions, modifying its original design.
Then, in the middle of the 16th century, the advent of the Reformation, with its philosophy of austerity, upset the entire interior of the building -all ornaments were removed and the coloured decors whitewashed. Only the stained glass windows were spared. Its current neo-classic facade dates from the middle of the 18th century, having replaced the former Gothic one.
Even the ceilings have detailed carvings on them.
The long, spiral staircase.
It takes about 157 steps to reach the summit of the cathedral’s north tower, which offers a panoramic view of Geneva and its lake.
Uncle Tan decided to take the stairs up to the tower for a look. Having climbed one tower in Bern before, I decided to give it a miss...plus I was kinda hungry then so didn't want to burn my calories ;p
Opening hours of the tower: Summer: 1 Jun-30 Sept (Mon-Sat: 9.30am-6.30pm, Sun: 12am-6.30pm) Winter: 1 Oct-31 May (Mon-Sat: 10am-5.30pm, Sun: 12am-5.30pm) Access to the towers of the cathedral:Adults CHF4, Children 6-12 yrs/ groups up to 15 pax CHF 2
The Clémence, the queen of the bells, weighing over 6 tons and hoisted to this very tower in 1407.
Beneath the cathedral, there's Europe's largest subterranean archaeological sites which revealed artifacts from the arrival of Christianity to the 11th century. It was discovered underneath this cathedral when its foundations began to falter in 1976.
Apparently, archaeologists have found multiple layers of history at the site, including remnants of 2 Christian sanctuaries dated in the 4th-century, mosaic floors from the late Roman Empire, portions of 3 early churches, and an 11th-century crypt. The first Romanesque cathedral on the site was built in 1000.
The Grand Theatre, Geneva Music Conservatory and the Rath Museum are located at Place Neuve which is the square of the artistic centre of Geneva.
In the centre of the square, a statue depicts the Genevan general Henri Dufour, the national hero and the first to establish a map of Switzerland. A man of talents I would say - an engineer, a professor at the University, editor of the complete map of the mountains of Switzerland, Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the Confederation and at the age of 76, a was a member of the famous "Committee of Five", the group that authored the first concept of the Red Cross.
The Reformation Wall
Guillaume Farel (1489-1565) - one of the first to preach the Reformation in Geneva
Jean Calvin (1509-1564) - the"pope" of the reformers
Théodore de Bèze (1513-1605) - first rector of the Academy
John Knox (1513-1572) - founder of Presbyterianism in Scotland
On either side, statues and bas-reliefs represent the great Protestant figures of the different Calvinist countries and the crucial moments in the development of the movement. The 100 m-long wall covers 450 years in the history of Protestantism.
The construction of the Reformation Wall in the Bastions Park began in 1909, the year which marked the 400th anniversary of the birth of Jean Calvin and the 350th of the foundation of the Academy of Geneva. The monument is backed against part of the ancient defensive walls that surrounded the city until the middle of the 19th century.Location: Parc des Bastions
We actually pass by the garden without seeing this wall until we chanced upon a nice lady who thought we were lost and offered her help. She gave us the direction back to the old town and also asked if we had visited the Reformation Wall. We walked together with her as she was heading towards the same direction and had a small chat with her.
So that was how we came to notice this huge monument which we actually missed it ;p
Gamed for a game?
This place is located near the entrance of the park.
The Fan Club Zone for soccer fans.
Located at Rue Des Vieux-Grenadiers 7, the museum houses collections of horology and (an interesting verb they used) enameling of Genevan Swiss and European origins, dating from the 16th to the 20th century. I remembered during the translation class in uni, we did a translation for the tagline for Patek Philippe where it's something like "You never really own it" - cos the Patek Philippe watch is to be passed down from generations to generations...so you never really own the watch in that sense. From there, the brand name sticks in my head.
The collections consisted of watches, musical automata and portrait miniatures as well as the prestigious creations by Patek Philippe (Geneva-based firm of master watchmakers) since its foundation in 1839.
This was the last stop for us but we didn't dare to step in as from the outside, we found the entrance kinda intimidating and through the glass doors, we could see people shirt-and-tie and probably we would not be allowed in haha...anyway, no museum visit for Uncle Tan so we just took a pic from the outside and head off back to Lausanne.
For watch lovers, you might consider visiting this museum when you're in Geneva.
Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 2pm-6pm
Sat: 10am -6pm
Closed on Public Holidays
Adults: CHF10
Senior Citizens/Disabled Persons/ Unemployed Persons, Students aged 18-25: CHF7
Groups of 10 or more: CHF5
Children under age 18: FOC
You can take Bus 1 and drop at Ecole-de-Medecine or Trams 12, 13 & 15 and stop at Rond-point de Plainpalais
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