Buy your Christmas gifts at Bellevue's fair this weekend

: Published: 25 November 2024

Cirieco Mandala Flower cushions 2024

Lisa's flower mandala cushions will be on sale this weekend as well as other items

With all the holiday markets leading up to Christmas, it is hard to know which one to attend. You will surely find what you are looking for at any of them ranging from decorative items, handmade greeting cards, jams, cookies, clothing, knitted or crocheted items, stained glass, and candles. Have a look at our Events Calendar to see other markets.

Lisa Cirieco-Ohlman, author of Know-it-all passport®, and teacher of all creative things at Coffee and Creations, will be participating in only one market this year. It will be the Marché de Noël de Bellevue, just outside of Geneva.

CIRIECOflowers

: Published: 17 November 2024

Ariel Pierre Haemmerlé with the newly published book

Back in 2021 we wrote an article about Ariel-Pierre Haemmerlé at this link, the tour guide with a big personality. This lovely man has just published his seventh book! Check out another article in 2022 about his fifth book at this link. We met up with him again to find out more and get our hands on a copy of Geneva, a Voyage through its History... laced with a detective story.

This is an updated and completed version of the book “Genève et la tentative d'assassinat de la chancelière”, of which the 2nd edition was published in 2019 – and has been translated into English by the author himself.

In 14 chapters over 300 pages, this book takes you on a guided tour through the historical sites of the City and Canton of Geneva. As the author, Ariel Pierre Haemmerlé, is a professional tour guide for the city, he has been able to pass along his knowledge and integrate it into the storyline. In an entertaining way, the book tells how Geneva has become that City of Peace we cherish today with its history of 15’000 years.

To add another dimension to the story, a fictional attempted assassination of the Chancellor mixes into a routine tour one day, and all the tribulations that follow.

An excellent overview on the history of the protestant Reformation with Calvin and John Knox, a great number of events threads itself through the book. It’s the only book available in English on the fabulously rich history of Geneva.

: Published: 30 October 2024

Pamela Hunziker and Marie-Claire (Lorem) recently published a children's book that is worth knowing about. They were inspired by the Swiss culture they were surrounded by every day as they worked together at the Château de Prangins. Marie-Claire has also written short stories for the Château de Chillon. This is the first book they have collaborated on.

Pamela goes on to tell knowitall, "In all there will be 5 volumes. We are waiting to see if this one sells before starting volume 2! There is a lot of research to do as we must be accurate which is fascinating but time consuming."

She explained that the biggest obstacle was starting this project just before COVID. They finally finished it 4 years later. "It wasn’t easy finding a publisher because everyone wrote a book during that time… But we did and we are very pleased with Jets d'Encre Editions."

What is the storyline?

Pimprenelle and Léo are two adorable young Saint Bernard dogs born in Martigny, Switzerland. They will soon be nine months old, and the time has come for them to acquire the qualities worthy of a Saint Bernard. Being one of Switzerland's emblems has to be earned!

: Published: 15 September 2024

raclette

Almost every household in the area has a raclette machine. With the cold snap early this year, the desire for melted cheese is calling out! Most of you will have a set of wooden pine spatulas or heavy duty plastic ones but imagine replacing them with a series of beautifully smooth and unique olive wood ones like in the photo above!

I met Othmane at the Nyon flea market last winter. I was immediately very excited to see these amazing olive wood utensils and bought a set for myself and another as a gift. Othmane and his wife, Elaie, have created this business and items can be chosen in person at any event they will be attending (see below) or by appointment at the Epalinge location. In fact this weekend they will be attending the Garden Festival at the Château de Coppet and are offering our readers a special discount!

: Published: 13 September 2024

swissattractions

Switzerland has many attractions to offer, but these four have made it into the new stamp series:

CHF 1.00: The Geneva Water Fountain (Jet d’eau), a feature created out of necessity that became a landmark. This is suitable for 2nd class postage (courier B).

CHF 1.20: The appealing and often photographed Landwasser Viaduct over the Landwasser Valley. This is suitable for 1st class postage (courier A).

CHF 1.90: The Rigi and its spa resort region, which once had a mobile letter box. This is suitable for postage to letters outside of Switzerland within Europe.

CHF 2.50: Zermatt’s all-year-around ski resort, where winter sports stars and fans can enjoy themselves on the snow in summer. This is suitable for 1st class postage on A4 size enveloppes for Switzerland as well as international letters up to 20g.

Competition

Scan the “Swiss attractions” stamps from 5 September 2024 with the Post-App to win a luxury trip in Switzerland and other attractive prizes! Win the main prize of six nights in a 4-star hotel for two people including excursion, wellness and gourmet vouchers, plus many other attractive prizes totalling around CHF 15,000! Click here for link.