Picture: Geneva making a splash.
Geneva is internationally better known than Zurich as it hosts several big international organizations like the United Nations. Geneva is also where Calvinism, also known as the Christian Reformed Tradition, a variety of the Protestant Church, took roots in the 16th century. John Calvin was a French reformer who was exiled to Geneva and because he published books about Christianity and faith. His views spread from Geneva all over Europe and was taken on by Huldrich Zwingli in Zurich, for example. Besides a marvellous old town with the cathedral where Calvin used to preach, Geneva has a wonderful lake and is close to the French Alps, which offer good skiing. At the same time Geneva is posh as for example the King of Saudi Arabia regularly visits Geneva for banking and leisure. Where Zurich is understated and muted, Geneva can be boastful and extravagant.
Geneva’s Rue du Rhone is also a prime shopping destination, boasting the new flagship store of Patek Philippe. The store is fortified like a bank and all the watches are behind bullet-proof glass. One only can enter the store through a very solid double door that is operated by a guard. It felt a bit like in the good old days of banking.
For more pictures click here: http://easteatswest.typepad.com/photos/geneva_switzerland/index.html
Read more about Calvinism here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvinism
Fore more visiting information go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geneva#Monuments_and_landmarks
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