No ideas yet?  I thought we'd be swamped with stuff already!

John,

Welcome (soon) to Geneva!

Which long weekend are you arriving on?

Tiffany is walking distance from center town. Here's what your wife can do with the kid:

1. Take her on a mini-train ride of the Geneva (it'll be fun for the kid and for Mum). The mini-train leaves from center town every 10 min or so, and the tour takes around 30 min. Here's more info

2. On Sat or Sun, take her to Yatooland, a bouncy-castle place about 15 min by car out of Geneva. When my kid was 2 he couldn't get enough of it, and now he's 5 and he still can't get enough! We go nearly every Sunday, email me when you're here and we'll see if I can give you guys a ride.

3. Post your question on the Geneva Parents group, and see if there's any kids-groups getting together that weekend. Then you'll catch the kids and parents at ones.

For cheap places to eat around Tiffany:

Holy Cow is a great burger place about a 10 min walk from your hotel. You want the "Rue de Carouge 14" address.

MikeWong is a fast-food asian around the corner from your hotel, the reception will know where it is.

Enjoy your stay here!

By the way, which company will you be working for if you decide to make the move? I'm guessing P&G or JP Morgan.

Nir

Thanks Nir ..

We're coming this Thursday 4th > Tuesday.. I'll be working each day, except maybe Sunday.. It's Barclays by the way, up at Canal Grange. Worked for JP a few years ago, never again :) 

Great ideas by the way.. They're building a little to-do list at the moment. I'll get over to that other group too.

Cheers.

Ah, Barclays. I thought it would be some bank. That's why they put you up at the 5 star hotels...(-;

Drop me an email when you're here if you have a few minutes, will be happy to show you guys around a bit.

she can really enjoy the shopping and the baby will really enjoy Vitam Parc , just 15min outside Geneva. There is a bus from Geneva Center that will take here there. Its a great water park, even for 2 year old and is indoor heated pools for all ages.

http://www.vitam.fr/fr/page/espace-aquatique

Many thanks Nir.. Hopefully i won't be stuck in work too long and manage to say hello!

Been in the Bristol hotel last times i've been over, not tried the Tiffany yet, looks nice though, they do look after us..

Not that I'm suggesting for 1 minute that you'll need this, but around Tiffany's are many of Geneva's drug dealers. The Police policy in Geneva is to pretty much leave the light-drugs dealers alone (except if there's violence involved), with an occasional show of force.

So if you walk around there at night and see all these people saying hello to you and making extra eye contract, don't go believing it's because they just want to invest with you in Barclay's...(-;

Ahha .. I thought i noticed some strange behaviour around that area before.. We have an office at rue de la synagogue.. There were african looking gentlemen on every corner whistling and making gestures etc.. I assumed that's what they were doing.

either that, or you're just an attractive looking guy!

LOL .  I think my photo answers that one!

I think I mentioned this before, have her join bumpsnbubs, the facebook group Parents in Geneva and Neighbouring France and moms-in-vaud and she can ask herself and start meeting up with other women right away.  It's great that you are helping (so important here) but she really needs to join herself.  Being in Geneva with a toddler is MUCH easier and more enjoyable if you are with someone else (especially if it is raining, toddlers get cabin fever VERY quickly!).

Other ideas:
- Gymboree (if Kirstie is there your wife can tell her that Michelle from Moms-in-Vaud referred her).
- BabyGym
- In sunny weather any of the parks

If she can find someone to go with (you or someone here) then:
- Yatouland
- Vitam'Parc

If she likes museums and your 2 year old is closer to 3 than 2:

- Natural History Museum

I could write more but it's late.  

Michelle

--
Founder, Moderator & Parenting-Peer Supporter
Moms-in-Vaud Social Network

P.S. it's NOT a holiday here the 4-6th.   Sunday everything is closed.

Haaa don't worry, creative meant sharing my dinner ;-) 

The missus just isn't as "internety" as me.. And i think because we're not quite confirmed as coming.. She doesn't really want to get into much yet.

Me on the other hand, i talk to anybody,  I like to try immerse myslef before hand, if we end up not coming to stay, I'll out to work every month or two anyways.

I think once things are more definate, like we have a date then this will change.

That's a bit worrying... it's really important to be able to work "online" as this is really how you find out about things in the Geneva area, at least until you build your own circle of support.

Despite Geneva being an international city, it's NOT easy being a trailing partner/spouse/family and touching base with a network of people beforehand (who speak the language and can show you the ropes) is UBER important otherwise you can really suffer.

John, the best thing to do is get a city map and start scribbling the spots and bus stops mentioned above TONIGHT :-).

Get a bus daypass for your wife (i think your daughter is still free) so that they can ride the bus/tram when they get tired of walking. Geneva is very small that staying in the bus can be relaxing and you'll end up getting off at the same spot.

I'm sure they will enjoy this routine for a day.

Well the wife and kid are loving it here!  Poor old me has been in work until midnight friday and all of saturday so far .. But hey, they've been everywhere and shopped until they dropped and seen loads.

Hopefully I'll get tomoro off .. for some more touring around.