The American International Women’s Club of Geneva has just published a new guide to skiing in the region.
Called “Think Ski” the new 181-page guidebook tells you all you need to know about downhill and cross country skiing at 21 of the most popular local resorts, some of them on our doorstep and others no more than a few hours' drive away.
Written and beautifully illustrated by local author, Eleanor Ormiston, the book is packed with all kinds of tips to ensure everyone, skiers and non-skiers alike, can make the most of their outings to the local ski slopes.
In France, these include ski stations in the Jura, resorts in the Mont Blanc region such as Megève, Combloux and Chamonix, and resorts in the Portes du Soleil and Avaris regions. Several well-known ski areas in Switzerland are also included.
Roads in this desolate region of the Mojave snake between groups of Joshua trees. In the background, light from the casinos of Primm (30 km away) and Las Vegas (80 km away) illuminate the sky.
A former pupil at the International School of Geneva (Ecolint), Julian Kilker is returning to Geneva to introduce visitors at the Cité du Temps exhibition center to the wide, open spaces of the American Southwest Mojave desert. Running from 12 April to 13 May 2012, his “Time in the Mojave” exhibition will document, through a series of photographs, the beauty of decay in hauntingly beautiful landscapes, which are often overlooked or even bypassed by highway travellers. The focus of Julian's work is on the complex interactions between people and artefacts, poignantly mirroring contemporary concerns about the impact of rapid technological change on the environment.
All of the photographs in “Time in the Mojave” are on fabric squares measuring 1.75 metres by 1.75 metres, using dye sublimation printing. By shooting the pictures at night and using moonlight, Julian minimises visual clutter to emphasise his chosen subjects. Enchanting colours have been added to some pieces on location either by nature, or by highly artistic light painting. As a photographer, Julian succeeds in telling a spectrum of stories on the interplay of man and his surroundings: for instance, as the lights of vehicles streak past dilapidated buildings, he draws attention to the driver’s disregard for a place that once could have been called “home”.
You might not think polo is for everyone but if you like horse-riding and sports then read on. Polo is typically regarded as an exclusive sport practised on horseback and has a certain elitist reputation. Reputedly played by the rich and the royal, polo is a sport played on horseback in which teams hit a ball into the opposing team's goal using a long-handled mallet. Originating in Persia in the 5th century BC, polo became popular when the British enjoyed a similar game in India. In 1875 the sport was practised in Argentina with a formal polo match with the skills of the gauchos and their talents. In 1876 the sport was popularized in the USA.
Nowadays, the sport is open to anyone willing to give it a go. Practice makes perfect and once you are confident enough to be able to ride and maneuver the ball and mallet without crippling your opponent, then you will be allowed to play at the Geneva Polo Club in Veigy, France, just at the border near City Green Sports center.
Local hockey association, Geneve Futur Hockey, is running a special ice hockey day for girls on Sunday, 2 October. Called “Just for Girls", the event will run from 9h30 until 15h00 at the Vernets ice rink in Geneva, and will aim to teach girls the basic skills of ice hockey, but in a fun, enjoyable way.
The event is one of many that are being held throughout the world to mark the occasion of World Girls’ Hockey Day, a new initiative being organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation to celebrate the future of female hockey. Female hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, due in part to events being held like these.
Girls aged from 5 years and above, are invited to come to the ice rink at Vernets, even if they have never skated on ice or held a hockey stick in their life before! Beginners will have the opportunity to learn all about the game in the company of fellow novices, whilst those who have played before can benefit from specific training tips that will help them progress further in the game.
Tourist Office
01220 Divonne-les-Bains
France
0033/450 20 01 22
www.divonnelesbains.com
www.divonnelesbains.fr 
Fantastic park in center of town with lots of climbing frames and swings. Shady. Note: Pick-up some freshly baked crusty bread, a chunk of local cheese, some sun-ripened tomatoes, and some fresh or dried fruit at the Sunday morning farmer’s market and stroll over the the park for a picnic. Some of the shops that line the streets where the market is are open on Sunday morning until about 13h, so you might even be able to buy a picnic blanket and some sunblock too!
There is an active program of events throughout the Summer, many of which are free. Download this flyer to see the full list of exhibitions, concerts, performances and other events being organized this year.
— Casino de Divonne
Av. des Thermes
01220 Divonne-les-Bains
France
0033/450 40 34 00
Casino with roulette, blackjack, slot machines 10h-04h. Open year-round. Non-smoking Casino with a ventilated smoking room.
Note: Once a month there is a themed evening buffet. You must be age 18 with ID and dressed appropriately. Menu and à-la-carte too. Check the hotel (page 152) for the Sunday brunch en famille.
