![\"Schtroumpf's](\"https:\/\/www.jmcw.blog\/swissblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2013\/04\/DSCF3360.jpg\" "\\"Schtroumpf's")
<\/a>Schtroumpf's Buildings, designed by a brain trust, meant to be an alternative to concrete box high-rises.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Jon's preferred architectural style: naked ladies, any era.<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/a>Brunswick Monument, a mausoleum designed and paid for by its inhabitant<\/p><\/div>\n
Unexpectedly, the timing of the concert coincided with Geneva’s unique holiday, \u201cEscalade\u201d.\u00a0 This commemorates the day, Dec. 12 1602, when Geneva fought off a stealth attack by the Catholic Savoyards, saving the independent city.\u00a0 The Savoy troops tried to scale the city walls in the dead of night to open the gates from within, but were seen. The alarm was raised, battle ensued, victory was theirs.\u00a0 The most famous anecdote from the night was about La Mere Royaume, a mother of 14, who threw hot vegetable soup out her window onto some Savoy soldiers (some say she threw the whole cauldron).\u00a0 So the celebration includes vegetable soup and chocolate \u2018cauldrons\u2019 filled with marzipan.\u00a0 In the old town lots <\/em>of people wore costumes of the era, muskets and cannon were fired throughout the day, drum and fife bands played, and of course Vin Chaud (hot wine) flowed.<\/p>\n 17th Cen. costumes, roasting pigs, spinning yarn, all part of Escalade<\/p><\/div>\n The town hall guide lectured at length in French. We were not along in escaping by a side door.<\/p><\/div>\n <\/p>\n Geneva's St. Pierre Cathedral was closed, but we listened to a large drum & fife band.<\/p><\/div>\n We loved that we were there for this special event.\u00a0\u00a0 And we did enjoy our day.\u00a0 But it was very <\/em>cold and the wind off the great Lac Leman did not make it any easier.<\/p>\n Unlike me, these birds didn't seem to mind the wind off Lac Leman.<\/p><\/div>\n Temporary ice rink in Parc des Bastions<\/p><\/div>\n The concert was quite a success.\u00a0 Knowing the hall had at least 200 seats still available and worried that we might not receive a mailed ticket in time, we did not purchase one for me, planning to do so on arrival.\u00a0 Finding the front door still locked at the pre-concert rehearsal time, we were rescued by a chorus member who noticed us and took us around to the side door.\u00a0 Entry here is guarded, so as we go in this gentleman, who already had his own backstage pass, points to Jon and says to the guard\u00a0\u201cTenor\u201d and to me and says \u201cSopran\u201d.\u00a0 He\u2019s a Czech and lied to authority as though it were the most natural thing in the world!\u00a0 We were given passes and went on into the dressing rooms.<\/p>\n We imagine one day "Petker" will be carved on the face of Victoria Hall.<\/p><\/div>\n It\u2019s fun to be allowed backstage, but it got better.\u00a0 Another member, who speaks a little English and recognized me, took me up staircases, through the orchestra\u2019s prep room and into the main hall for the rehearsal.\u00a0 A rare treat to see this gorgeous space empty and\u00a0to sit right up front (in the 125chf seats).<\/p>\n Victoria Hall Interior - Belle Epoque elegance<\/p><\/div>\n The pi\u00e8ce de r\u00e9sistance, as the Genevois might say, was a TV in the dressing room which broadcast a camera pointed at the stage so I could skip buying a ticket and watch the show from there!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A concert in Geneva, in the famous Victoria Hall, ooh sounds lovely!\u00a0 Might as well go early and spend the day seeing this famous city by the lake. Research turned up a few architectural sites: Unexpectedly, the timing of the … Continue reading <\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>