We love writing articles about entrepreneurs that have found the right balance between work and pleasure. Olivier Dunand founded Changez d'Air in 2000 and after 22 years, is still going strong. We asked him to let us know more about this passion for hiking locally, a bit further afield, and trips around the world!
What has been the inspiration behind Changez d’Air?
I started traveling after I graduated to countries such as Nepal, India, Patagonia, Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, and more... the desire to share the taste of travel associated with the joys of the outdoors quickly arose.
Now I propose day trips locally, overnight trips to destinations a bit further away, and longer trips to India and Morocco.
What has been the inspiration behind Changez d’Air?
The desire for wide open spaces, travel, discoveries and to share them with like-minded people. I speak French and English (even though my website is only in French) and enjoy meeting new people.
What is the newest hike or trip you have added to the Changez d’Air menu?
Calanques - Sainte Victoire et Marseille, a 4-day trip including an initial city walk on arrival followed by 3 days of hiking through the hills and mountains. Click here if you are interested in the upcoming dates of 21-24 November 2022.
The Exiles playing at Nyon Rive Jazzy festival on 14 July 2022
Some of you know about local band The Exiles already, but for those that don't, we asked Colin Colvin to give us some additional information, "The Exiles arrived from the UK and Sweden with much semi-professional experience and were brought together through different contacts. Not being Swiss and living in Switzerland initially inspired the name ‘The Expats’ but ‘The Exiles’ came along soon afterwards and seemed cooler!"
Formed in Nyon in September 2010, The Exiles perform cover songs plus their original compositions but now mainly focus on their own compositions. This is not their day jobs, and they do this as a passion.
Oliver (left) - from Stirling (Scotland) skis & jogs, likes cheese & bacon toasties, Tartan Special, fan of Queen: plays guitar
Col (middle) - from London (England) into hiking, football, Frank Lloyd Wright, souris d'agneau, London Pride, fan of The Beatles: vox & plays bass
Henrik (right) - from Luleå (Sweden) skis & bikes, likes Big Macs, Tartegnin Clos de Roussillon, fan of Rush: plays drums
What has been the inspiration behind your musical style?
A mix of many different rock and pop artists who have created great melodies have created the sound of The Exiles.
How has the pandemic changed/influenced your creative side?
We were a covers band before the pandemic but always played a few compositions well received by the public. Our concerts were cancelled due to Covid so we took the opportunity to create many new songs with strong melodies. This then gave us the confidence to drop our cover song repertoire and the gamble has paid off. The public are really enjoying our efforts when hearing them for the first time. We're getting great feedback after our shows.
Monsieur le directeur comm, Photo credit: Circusography
After the success of its previous editions, Arts à la Rue, le festival éclaté, is back on the Geneva streets with even more shows.
From July 5 to August 11, every Tuesday and Thursday evening, make way for an offbeat universe. The Agrippa d'Aubigné Terrace, in the Old Town, will be transformed into a playground of discoveries punctuated by humor and tenderness.
On the program, a multitude of artistic talents where street theater, circus arts, musical humor, object theater, magic, puppetry and dance are mixed.
Fil à retordre, Photo credit: Pierre Colletti
From Thursday, 9 June to Sunday, 26 June, the festival 'Pianos égarés' is back in the Geneva communes!
Come and try out one of the 18 self-service pianos available to passers-by in public spaces around Carouge, Chêne-Bourg, Cologny, Geneva, Perly-Certoux, Vernier, Versoix, and Veyrier. These musical moments in the streets and parks create new opportunities to meet and exchange with like-minded people.
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839-1892)
Illustration du pont Gojô de la Chronique de Yoshitsune, 1881
Fondation Baur, FB.DFC.2019.9 © Fondation Baur, photo Marian Gérard
The Fondation Baur exhibit on Japanese prints take place from 25 May through 24 July 2022 in Geneva. Make sure you try to pass by and see this exceptional showing of rare items.
This exhibition presents, through three distinct themes, a glimpse of the enormous diversity of subjects and styles that characterize Japanese printmaking in the second half of the 19th century. All of these works were produced between 1860 and 1890, three decades corresponding to the last years of the Edo period 江戸 (1603-1868) and the beginning of the Meiji era 明治 (1868-1912), a crucial period in the history of modern Japan that saw profound political and societal changes brought about, among other things, by the opening of the country to ideas and technologies from the West. The first part of the exhibition, the so-called "Yokohama images" (Yokohama-e 横浜絵), illustrates the initial phase of this exchange, that of the encounter with Westerners, marked above all by curiosity.
The second part, the hashika-e 麻疹絵 ("measles pictures") reflects the hopes and fears felt by the population in the face of a deadly epidemic in 1862. The exhibition concludes with a presentation of the great draftsman Tsukioka Yoshitoshi 月岡芳年 (1839-1892), whose professional career took place precisely between 1863 and 1892: deeply attached to the history and values of his country, he was also an innovative and creative artist.
