Apparently my earlier post about traveling to Europe confused at least one person. When we showed up at church tonight for a business meeting, she greeted us, “What are you doing here?!” Nope we’re not in Europe yet, but soon.
The second city in our itinerary will be Geneva. You can check out the Desiring God website to see what Johnny will be doing there.
We went to Geneva once–for about 2 hours in 1972, during a layover between trains, traveling from Munich to Albertville, France. We dashed from the train station to catch a glimpse of the Reformation Wall.
One of the people most associated with both the Reformation and Geneva is John Calvin. So I’ve stashed in my carry-on a copy of Travel with John Calvin: Geneva’s Minister Whose Thinking Changed the World. The publisher, Day One, has an impressive catalog of Travel with . . . guide books.
Also, let’s celebrate my long-delayed return to Geneva with another of my mystery gifts, this time from Europe–maybe Geneva.
To be eligible, comment at this post with any or all of the following:
- Are you Swiss?
- Have you ever lived in or visited Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland?
- What do you think of when you think of Geneva or of Switzerland?
- What would you want to do if you were visiting Geneva?
- Is there particular Swiss food one should not miss?
- What would you recommend as a gift to bring back?
Deadline is 11:59 pm cst, May 18.
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Not Swiss. It makes me think of the mountains! Enjoy your trip!
I am not Swiss!! I’ve been to Geneva but once, and that for only 2 days. I remember visiting the Reformation Wall and Le Jet D’eau. This was part of my high school graduation trip that my parents gave me…way back when! Lovely city…but my favorite part of one day was the side trip to the town of Annecy, and it remains one of my favorite places in the world. It has canals like Venice, only smaller-so quaint and so beautiful! I believe it’s less that an hour from Geneva…truly worth the time taken to visit. Hope you and John have a wonderful trip! What are you speaking on?? And have you recovered enough from the China trip to take another??
What in the world made me think of Servetus because of Geneva. Oh, I praise GOD for Calvin.
When I think of Switzerland, I think of beautiful mountains and L’Abri and the incredible work that the Schaeffers did there. I’ve never been to Switzerland, but would love to go someday.
I was in Geneva on a Christian Spirituality seminar back in May of 1976. We visited the World Council of Churches but the one thing I remember most were all the lovely gardens filled with flowers in each quaint little yard. Some in my group took a small train up the side of some mountain, some of us slept due to jetlag. We felt VERY safe in Geneva perhaps because everything is so expensive that it keeps those less fortunate out. What to bring back as a gift? Photos of the gardens in Geneva with the mountains as a backdrop.
I am not Swiss and have never been there although some day I’d like that. Switzerland makes me think of a friend, Alex, whose company transferred him from there to here in the US and also of the ministry of L’Abri and the Schaeffer family that I’ve been blessed by several times over. I also think of wonderful cheeses! I think I’d probably like to visit the Reformation Wall on the east side along the old city wall. Any gift that had to do with the Reformation would be a delightful gift
If I were to visit Geneva, I would like to take a historical tour of the city. In western Canada, where I’m from, if something is 100 years old, it’s considered ancient history, but in Europe, 100 years is nothing!
We were in Switzerland in 1991 and it was our favorite stop on our trip to Europe. Tomlinson’s had gotten cheap tickets following the Gulf War when people were afraid to fly, and Mike surprised me one day with a trip of our own. We had wonderful pork dishes there that we ate outdoors overlooking the Alps! What a majestic view of God’s creation! As far as gifts, cuckoo clocks are wonderful but very pricey. We got my sister a beautiful cup and saucer set that she still has. Enjoy the trip!
I sooo want to see the Alps! Reminds me of Sound of Music! And, I love all European history!
I have been to Switzerland on a snowboarding trip. We stayed in an adorable little lodge at the foot of the mountains in Saas-Fee (about 100 mi east of Geneva), and I had fondue for the first time at one of our dinners. The people in Switzerland are so kind and they all have a lovely sense of humor. I think of cozy sweaters and cheese when I think of Switzerland.
Not Swiss, but would love to go. Will have to travel vicariously with you!
Never been to Switzerland but of course would love to go some day if the Lord sees fit! I think of L’Abri as a friend spent a year studying there. Also think of a former piano student who is now a Hollywood movie music composer. He hailed from Switzerland and was one of the most delightful people I know,
My husband has been in the pastoral ministry 30 years. Each summer we go to the same small home owned by the family at the ocean. I love to travel, and would LOVE to go to Switzerland !!!!!!!!
Mountains! I have always wanted to go to Switzerland. But I think now I would want to see as much ‘Reformation’ as I could. Hope you are having a wonderful trip.
Are you Swiss?
Have you ever lived in or visited Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland?
What do you think of when you think of Geneva or of Switzerland?
What would you want to do if you were visiting Geneva?
Is there particular Swiss food one should not miss?
What would you recommend as a gift to bring back?
When I think of Switzerland, I think of Ikea and then I think about Swedish meatballs and other tasty treats they offer at Ikea. I also think of chocolate. One of my family members worked for the UN in Switzerland and she brought chocolates once. If I were to visit Geneva, I’m not sure what I would do, probably find some sort of walking tour to take it all in. It would be interesting no doubt. As a gift, something handmade.
I didn’t mean to leave the questions, I pasted them so I would remember the task at hand.
I am always partial to seeing sites that are God-made! So Lake Geneva with it’s shooting fountain has always sounded beautiful.
Hi Noel, I am Swiss and what I would try or take home are chocolates. The following link will melt all your doubts
http://www.chocolateatlas.com/Chocolate_in_Geneva/Chocolate_In_Geneva.htm
The Swiss Alps, and huts high in the mountains, and CHOCOLATE! and Swiss knives.
I’m not Swiss, but I live on the Austrian border to Switzerland and my best friend is Swiss, so our family regularly pops in and out of Switzerland. It is a beautiful country – we love hiking in the Alps! I’ve only ever driven through Geneva and that was in the middle of the night because I missed my exit somewhere in France while coming back from Paris! My favorite Swiss foods are Rösti and Biberfladen. Rösti is similar to hash browns but 10 times better because of all the toppings you can get. Biberfladen is a round kind of gingerbread. If you find a Migros Supermarket, then you can get it on the shelf in the bread section. We like to eat it spread with butter, while drinking cups of steaming black tea. Enjoy your stay!
* Are you Swiss? No, but it would be nice…
* Have you ever lived in or visited Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland? On my bucket list!
* What do you think of when you think of Geneva or of Switzerland? Cheese, watches, chocolate…oh, and Swiss Army knives!
* What would you want to do if you were visiting Geneva? After seeing “the sites” I’d get out into the country, visit a castle and also visit a friend that lives there.
* Is there particular Swiss food one should not miss? Probably homemade bread + cheese!
* What would you recommend as a gift to bring back? Swiss chocolate (no brainer)!
Not Swiss, but been to Geneva and all over Switzerland….. Beautiful country, Beautiful people, Wonderful CHOCOLATE!!
I am not Swiss, either
. However, I *have* been to Switzerland, a couple of times, and to Geneva in particular. I think of John Calvin and the Reformers’ monument, which we drove through. Britton has a sister who probably lives very close to where you are staying, with her Swiss husband and two children. (He may even be attending the conference, as he is a church planter there.)
Switzerland = aah, those tall, sharp mountains, cold, lots of snow, swiss cheese?