KEE@FSWMAG.COM
IN LOVE SWITZERLAND AND GENEVA IN PARTICULAR SINCE IT IS SO FRENCHY AND SOPHISTICATED AND LOADED WITH THE FINEST THINGS LOVE AND MONEY CAN BUY! ALMOST ANYTHING MY GREEDY, GRASPING HEART DESIRES CAN BE FOUND ON RUE DE RHONE, ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST SHOPPING STREETS FILLED WITH THE LATEST AND MOST DIAMOND ENCRUSTED WATCHES, SPARKLING JEWELS, DELICIOUS CHOCOLATES, GREAT RESTAURANTS, FABULOUS FASHIONS AND WELL, I GUESS THESE PRETTY MUCH ENCOMPASS EVERYTHING!
But Geneva is also fantastic for just strolling and making personal discoveries since NOT every Swiss is a millionaire and there are many shops and boutiques selling clothes, souvenirs and less expensive watches even poverty-stricken peasants from the Third World can afford to buy with impunity. In fact, the lesser known and not prestigious watches are in abundance and the choices are unbelievable and the prices so attractive!
This post focuses on Carouge, a gem of a precint that is part of Frenchy Geneva yet is unique as it has a distinct Italian accent! Carouge is home to small, individual shops with nary a big brand name like H & M, Zara or Top Shop in sight. And no McD either! So it is exquisitely well preserved and utterly charming to spend an afternoon!
So go to Carouge in Geneva for a gloriously great time!
The Old Town in Geneva is very historic and excellently preserved. This is my favorite cafe
So charming
Serene and peaceful and so romantic
The cafe provides blankets during winter and customers don't steal them unlike in Third World nations but of course the weather is hot there
Warm knees are de rigeur!
I like this shop called Stuff
Intercontinental hotel is one of the Top 3 hotels in Geneva where I stayed in utter splendour and luxury!
Grand lobby of Intercontinental which boasts the biggest space with triple storey height! The President Wilson hotel, Beau Rivage and Kempinski have shockingly low ceilings despite their superb reputation and price. My room at Intercontinental cost 780 Swiss Francs a night which is RM 2,900 a night but this is one of Geneva's best hotels and I only live once though I will be reincarnated as an Emperor in my next life so OI have to get used to such luxury.
My meal at Lipp Brasserie in Geneva
This Swiss kuay teow was delicious!
Lipp Brasserie
My sinful creme brulee dessert
And my second dessert!
Then I went to Patek Philippe Museum to admire their watch collection---this is the best watch museum on earth as it showcases stunning examples of clocks, watches and timepieces through the last 4 centuries and not just PP watches!
Only 1 floor out of 4 is devoted to Patek Philippe watches
The entrance to Patek Philippe Watch Museum.
I took this photo before I was stopped as photography is not allowed but why? All the watches can be found in their book anyway
Carouge is 15 minutes by tram from Geneva and is its historic artist quarter filled with one off shops and boutiques and cafes. It is so lovely and pretty!
Carouge is the Greenwich village of Geneva
The shop owners are so friendly
Nice but too warm for KL. My guide Gianna Loredan with the boutique owner
A local jeweller
This ring can open and close!
Boutique owner in Carouge
A touch if India for the locals
A cake shop? They are displayed like cakes but these are soaps!
Sticks of marshmallows? They look good enoughb to eat but these are soaps!
Bars of soaps?
delicious looking soaps!
Lollipops? No, these are soaps!
Lime ice creams? No these are soaps!
Not to be licked ot eaten!
Looks delicious enough to eat but these are soaps!
Yummy cupcakes? No, these are soaps!
These slices are cake are for bathing, not eaten!
Cupcake soaps!
I wanted to eat them as they smelled so divine!
Beautifully wrapped and ready to go!
The world's most delicious looking, non-edible cake soaps!
I almost fainted at this clock shop, truly one of a kind! You don't find it anywhere else!
They look like wall sculptures but are working clocks!
Each is unique and one of a kind
Each is unique yet is not that crazily prized at around 8,000 to 12,000 swiss francs
I love this one!
The workshop is humble and nondescript
This is the creator Jean Kazes!
Jean Kazes is famous in the clockmaking world
Jean Kazes creates clocks for other famous brands
Looks complicated and telling time seems like you need a skill
This is easier to read the time
Stunning and unusual clock!
Your guests will be impressed and bemused!
I love this one!
Stylish or what
Elegant too
Jean Kazes in his studio
Jean Kazes has a long wait list for his clocks
His clocks are much sought after like Hermes Birkin handbags
I love this transparent clock that tells time like Cartier's mystery clocks!
Wonder how the hour and minute hands move! Like magic!
With no mechanisms and motor to move the hands, this clock seems to tell time like magic!
Jean Kazes' window is a traffic stopper!
Funky hair salon
The owner returning to open shop
History of wine
Geneva produces wine but for local consumption
Nice Indian dress
Boutique owner
I love this funky, furry bag
A treasury of shopping finds
Hot bags
Grand boulevard in Carouge
Impressive and ideal for horse carriages
Private courtyard
Elegant private garden
Homes in a park
Well maintained gardens are the norm
So nice to live here!
I like Carouge homes
Feels like a resort by the Mediterranean
Very Italianate this garden
Carouge is Italian inspired as it was home to Italians at one time
This is more French
A book binder
A rare and dying trade
Repairing a precious tome
My desk in Intercontinental hotel
I love my glass work desk
Not the Olympics
Stylish decor
Yes, they form the backdrop for the reception desk at Intercontinental hotel!
The Intercontinental is one of the best hotels in Genevaa
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