If you are looking for some fun outings during the Easter holidays, then check out the Cerdon area in nearby France. Not only is Cerdon famous for its rosé sparkling wine, but you can also visit the Grottes (grotto) and Silk Museum in the old factory of Musée Soieries Bonnet. There are a few restaurants in the nearby village of Cerdon as well, or prepare a picnic if the weather is suitable.
Here we visit the silk factory turned museum, Musée Soieries Bonnet. It takes you through all the stages of the caterpillar through the finished clothing.
All photo credits ©2025 Lisa Cirieco-Ohlman
The Téléphérique du Salève is an absolutely fine thing to do whether it is with friends, visitors, or family. Open through 31 March 2025: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday from 9h-16h45. The rest of the year you can go every day from 9h-18h45 with a few later evenings planned. Check the website link at the bottom of this article.
Recently a school friend of mine and I went up on a whim... not prepared for the icy path but still enjoying every minute of the amazing view and sunshine with an improvised picnic (all bought at Aligro Geneva).
The round trip ticket per person is €18.- but if you have a SwissPass or TPG ticket you only pay €12.-!
PANORAMIC VIEWS
Admire the Alps and Jura, Lac Léman, and Geneva itself. The best is to check their webcam at this link to make sure you will get good visabilty when you visit. (Check out our article on local webcams at this link.)
THE ROOFTOP
The rooftop has some of the most iconic views in the region. Here you can soak up views of Geneva and Lake Geneva in a Natura 2000 site. Its 360° views mean visitors can see as far as Mont Blanc and the Jura Mountains. The experience continues with information boards detailing the landscape. You can download their mobile app for free so you can quench your thirst for knowledge.
Karin with the "brown hats" team on the island of Nólsoy (turquoise jacket)
Would you be interested in the opportunity to winning a place on a sustainable tourism project on the Faroe Islands?
Apply to be selected for an ÉcoVoluntaire Tourisme Durable spot in the Closed for Maintenance Program in the Faroe Islands (DK), taking place from 1-3 May 2025.
The application period opens Tuesday, 14 January 2025 and closes Thursday morning, 16 January 2025. It is highly competitive with over 6,000 applicants last year vying for 80 places.
Karin Holm writes, "I participated last year 2024 as one of the only Swiss participants in this fantastic experience, contributing to building a remote stone hiking trail as a proud member of the “brown hats” on Nólsoy. This experience galvanized my enthusiasm for sustainable voluntourism. I highly recommend it!"
Here is a selection of frequently asked questions about the Closed for Maintenance working days found on their website.
1. WHAT WILL I NEED TO PAY FOR?
You will need to pay for your travel ticket. We have an agreement with the national airline, Atlantic Airways, about promotion codes, which provide a discount for participants. Indeed, you can choose other travel solutions, but the promotion codes are only for flights with Atlantic Airways. Accommodation and food will be provided during the Closed for Maintenance period.
2. WILL I NEED A WORK PERMIT?
All non-Nordic citizens will be required to obtain a work permit. Obtaining a work permit is simple, and we will handle the applications for you. We will provide more information and guidance once you have been admitted to the maintenance crew.
3. DO I NEED SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS TO PARTICIPATE?
To become a volunteer, one must be at least 18 years old before the working days. Our projects have various difficulty levels, so all volunteers don't need to be highly skilled. We only require a willingness to assist and some physical fitness, as volunteers may need to walk on uneven terrain.
As something new, out of all the applicants, 50 people will be selected randomly, while 30 will be selected based on their relevant skills and experiences that align with our 2024 projects.
6. WILL FOOD BE PROVIDED?
All volunteers will receive breakfast, lunch, and dinner during the maintenance days. They will also receive a light meal upon arrival and a meal during the celebratory party on the final day. We do our best to provide vegetarian and gluten-free options, but it can be challenging on some of the more remote working sites.
17. WHEN WILL I KNOW IF I'M ADMITTED TO THE TEAM?
The 80 people admitted to the Maintenance Crew 2024 will receive an email from Visit Faroe Islands on Wednesday, 24 January 2025.
The timing of your registration during the 48-hour registration window will not affect your chances of being selected for the Maintenance Crew.
The program was featured in an RTS émission led by Delphine Gianora Stoll: “Chaque année, les îles Féroé luttent contre le tourisme de masse en faisant appel à des écovolontaires”
on the 19h30 show on 26 May 2024 (5 minutes long).
Read more about Closed for Maintenance on the webpage:
https://visitfaroeislands.com/en/closed
If you want to keep track of Santa Claus/Father Christmas this month you must add this website (www.noradsanta.org) to your favorite’s list! On the 24th December check the website on a regular basis to see where Santa has been sighted. Your kids will bubble with excitement! Don't forget that there is still a lot to see on the website before Christmas.
Note: The website also has delightful stories about Santa, full explanations about how they do it (NORAD uses four high-tech systems to track Santa - radar, satellites, Santa Cams and jet fighter aircraft), a countdown from now until Christmas eve, videos, games, and songs.
Based on historical data and more than 50 years of NORAD tracking information, we believe that Santa Claus is alive and well in the hearts of children throughout the world.
Santa Claus is known by many names, including Saint Nick. Historians claim that the history of Santa starts with the tradition of Saint Nicholas, a 4th century Christian priest who lived in the Middle East in an area of present-day Turkey who became famous for his kindness. He was known for giving gifts to the less fortunate, sprinkling gifts of gold down people's chimneys and hiding surprises in their stockings.
Track Santa on the fly with mobile apps for Apple and Android telephones as well.
As we approach the holiday season, many of you will be out and about, dining with friends, partying in town, or having a drink after work with colleagues.
If you’re planning to have a drink, be sure to plan ahead and make arrangements for your return home — if you’re driving, then you need to remain below the legal limit (Swiss limits and French limits) and if you’re not, then you need to make sure you have a sensible means of transport back home.
If you can’t rely on friends to give you a lift home, and if public transport is not an option, think about putting some extra money in your wallet for a Swiss taxi or French taxi home. At this time of year, fees can be extremely high, so be prepared.
When your plans change, and you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, having set out in your car but having drunk more than the legal limit, DO NOT be tempted to get into your car and drive home. Instead, call up Nez Rouge, a volunteer organization set up in 1990, which will arrange for a driver to come out and meet you, and drive your car home! In French, Nez Rouge translates as Red Nose... a double meaning for a drunken person's red tinted nose and the Christmas story of Rudolf, the red-nosed reindeer.
When you call up their free number, 0800 802 208, Nez Rouge will send two volunteers to drive your car home (one driving and one assisting at the back of the car), both of whom will be followed by another driver in a Nez Rouge car who will return all volunteers back to base.
