Equity Magazine July 2017 Issue

TRAVEL
THE
GENEVA
DIARY
Skip the tourist traps and live like a local in one
of the richest cities in the world
Words by Varun Godinho
ST. PIERRE CATHEDRAL
If you’re flying into Geneva, your aeroplane will land
in France and taxi into Francophone Geneva.
Switzerland and France share the airport, runway
and a history too that’s joined at the hip.
Geneva wasn’t always the placid lakefront city that it is
today. It was the seat of unrest during the 16th century with
the rise of Calvinism and the social upheaval that resulted in
its wake. The French Huguenots brought the know-how of
watchmaking to Geneva during those tumultuous times, but
it was perfected to an art form by the indigenous population
who couldn’t farm during the winters and had to spend all
their time indoors. Today, Geneva’s ground zero to some of
the most venerable names in watchmaking from Vacheron
Constantin to Patek Phillippe.
You’ll notice primarily two types of visitors that come to
Geneva. The first are the pin-striped suit elite ready to do a
day’s business in one of the world’s richest cities which has a
private banking system so secretive that you have a better
chance of finding out whether aliens reside at Area 51 than
knowing the names of its account holders. The second are
the ski-set that head straight to the outskirts of the city to the
mountain ranges that line the valley.
If you’re a wide-eyed tourist and belong to neither of the two
groups, you’re likely ready to soak in the city sights and patisserie
smells that seems to waft through every alley in the city.
The city is best enjoyed on foot. You can start by walking
the length of the Promenade du lac Léman with the lush
garden to one side and the lake to the other – the Jet d’eau
fountain pushes132 gallons of water up to a height of 459ft
every second is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
Stray from the waterfront and cross the road and into the
intersecting alleys to eventually wind up at St. Pierre Cathedral
in the old town of Geneva. Make sure you walk up the 150-
plus steps of the tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the city.
Geneva is old-moneyed and discreet – there’s none of the
flash cash and the abrasive attitude among locals or
establishments in the city. The vibe is warm, never pretentious.
Geneva is used as the staging ground for diplomatic back
channels which explains the presence of permanent outposts
of international missions including the UNHCR (you can book
a tour of the facility), WTO and the Red Cross. It is also where
some of the world’s biggest expos are held. Come January and
the sprawling Palexpo plays host to the annual Salon
International de la Haute Horlogerie, the world’s most
prestigious watchmaking exhibition. Every other March, the
same venue hosts the Geneva Motor Show.
There’s Zurich, Lucerne, Basel and Biel/Bienne. While each
has their charms, it’s the cosmopolitan cultured powerhouse
of Geneva that steals the show. If you aren’t fortunate
enough to be born a Swiss citizen, it takes up to 12 years of
residency to become one and even that doesn’t deter the
multitude determined to call Switzerland home. A visit to
Geneva can answer why.
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EQUITY