The Bise, Looking for a barn, and Living in Nyon talk

The Bise wind has now finally died down but it left some pretty spectacular sights in Nyon when it was here. Take a look at this video by Brian Thomas filmed near the lake during the very cold and windy spell this week.  (Mute  your speakers if you want the video without music). Meanwhile, a few icicles still remained around the area of the lake front.

Below is an  eclectic mix of events and information for you all, plus details of the next Living in Nyon event

The next Living in Nyon evening event will take place on Tuesday the 6th April.

 There will be a talk in English by Mr Jean Perret of  Nyon's Visions du Reel film festival, he will explain all about the festival, the history about it, the story behind some of the films and what's on the agenda for this year. Spaces are limited for this event and there will be a small cover charge for room rental, however this is a great opportunity to meet other Anglophones and to chat after the event too. Please email cnp at bluewin.ch to reserve a place. This event will be held in a new venue near the lake called http://www.libresespace.ch/ The venue will be open from 19:00 and the talk is provisionally scheduled for 19:30 (to be confirmed).

GEDS is looking for space, a barn, garage etc.

The amateur volunteer theatrical group Geneva English Drama Society  must leave its present storage and workshop area and is seeking 100-200 sq. metres. with ceiling height 4 metres and large door, with truck access. Preferably a disused barn, old double garage, hangar, etc. in Geneva countryside or nearby Vaud (not France), on ground floor, with electricity and preferably with running water. Will consider rental or purchase. Repair work or modernisation can be done either by GEDS or professionals depending on needs. Tel. 022 776 3675 until 23 March (r.williams@sunrise.ch)

 after 25 March 022 345 8233 (h-hornfeld@bluewin.ch).

Bringing up Babies and Toddlers

The site Geneva Anglo Info has got many useful sections on living here that are packed with information check out their sections under "Family life and Living in Geneva". There is a also a section on "Having a baby in Geneva" and "Bringing up Toddlers".

Wine school in Changins introduces course in "Introduction to wine tasting"

This is what their publicity says

"This course, given in English by a wine specialist, is the ideal introduction to the subject of wine tasting. During the first evening you will learn to differentiate flavours and to describe the appearance of wines. Then you will train yourself to recognise the aromas and to comment on the bouquets. At the end of the fourth session, and after tasting many white, rosé and red wines, you'll be able to describe wines in an organised and precise way. " 

Each session consists of one third of theory and two-thirds of wine tasting. Course material will be provided.

Duration of module: 4 sessions of 4 hours each Time: 18h00-21:5  Required requisite: None

Price : CHF 620.- 

Dates:  Session 1 : 15/04 - 22/04 - 29/04 - 06/05, 18: 00-21:15

Session 2 : 04/11 - 11/11 - 18/11 - 25/11, 18:00-21:15

Contact Romain Cellery  Responsable Ecole du Vin  Ecole du Vin de Changins CH-1260 Nyon

Tel : +41 22 363 40 50  Wine school site

Amateur Photo Competition from "Know it All Passport"

Do you take beautiful or unusual photos?  Would you like to see your photograph published in the new edition of Know-it-all Passport ® 2011/2012 due out at the end ofAugust this year?

Here is the table of contents for the 7th edition and they need one photo per section (8 in all). The photo will be used as a category separator. (See below for rules and prizes.)

Categories 
1) YOUR HOME

Welcome to Switzerland!  Know-it-all’s Must-Knows  Calendar 2011/2012  Checklists  To Rent or not to Rent?  Make Yourself at Home  Potentially Toxic Outdoor Plants  Gardens and Gardening

2) TRAVEL

Getting Around Town  Parking  Outings and Trips  Wineries, Breweries, and Farm Visits  Holidays

3) FOOD

Night Life Restaurants  Eating Out with Kids   Specialist Food Shops  Chocolate! 

4) LEISURE

January through November Events  December Festivities Entertainment  The Arts and Creative Courses

Sport Stores, Lessons, and Clubs  Swimming Pools and Lessons  Winter Activities  Museums

Parks and Playgrounds  Holiday Camps and Workshops  Birthdays and Parties  Adult and Youth Clubs

Religious Groups 

5) EDUCATION AND WORK

Schools and Universities  Language Courses Special Needs  Jobs and Money Matters

6) FAMILY

Health and Wellbeing  Pre-Natal and Newborn Care  Maternity Wear and Supplies

Parent and Baby/Child Activities  Daycare and Babysitting  Romance and Heartbreak  Pets 

7) SHOPPING

Clothes and Shoes  Shopping in Switzerland  Shopping in France  Toys and Play Equipment  Multimedia

Hairdressers

8) INFORMATION

Country Contact Information  Index  Geneva Map  Lausanne Map  Lake Geneva Map Index for Lake Geneva Map  Map of Geneva/Vaud Communes  Map of Switzerland’s Cantons  Contributors

For details of prizes and rules see Know it All Passport

Opening of new Grinberg centre in Nyon 

Saturday 13th March  14:00 -18:00  in 38 Rue de La Gare Tel 078 697 60 26

Opening of new centre in Nyon specialising in the Grinberg Method  or see site of Jenny Klein
mail@jennieklein.com

Further afield 

Event THIS weekend

Stained Glass Exhibition (using the Vitrail Tiffany technique ) this weekend over in Versoix

Vernissage: Friday 12 March  18:00 20:00

Exhibition  Saturday 13 March, 10:00-19:00 Sunday 14 March, 11: 00 - 18:00

Maison du Charron,  6, rue des Moulins, 1290 Versoix  See Ecole et Quartier Versoix

Visitors to the exhibition can take part in the demonstration in the cutting and mounting of glass

  

and further afield on the 22nd March  Talk in Lausanne. "Understanding the Vaud School System" Organised by Léman Events

Living in Rolle

Living in Nyon spoke to expatriate Sandra Wilmer who moved to Rolle in July 2009. Sandra, originally from Johannesburg in South Africa, tells us why she loves living in Rolle.

Going for a stroll in Rolle March 2010

Rolle lakeside April 2008

"Rolle is a magical and charming town. Even though it has a population of just *5,000 people, it has everything one needs to go about one's daily business, with a butcher, baker etc. Rolle has the most beautiful waterfront that is set away from the road, making it a quiet place to go for a stroll. The Chateau is a working chateau, there are administrational offices that are run from within the building. There are also exhibitions held in a gallery space in the castle and a wonderful market at Christmas too.

Art Exhibition held inside the Chateau 

Rolle is peaceful which I love even though it is still very close to the other towns of Nyon and Morges.  Lausanne, Coppet and Geneva are a short drive or train ride away. We have wonderful wineries on our doorstep and we are within walking distance to Mont sur Rolle. We often go to Fechy for wine tasting, lunch in St Prex or Perroy, which is just around the corner from us.

There is an international feel to the place due to the A1 Business centre, but there are still many Swiss people here, although you don’t hear as much English spoken as in our neighbouring towns. I have always found everyone to be friendly and when I try to speak French, people are very helpful and patient.

We often take our bicycles in the summer and just ride around the apple orchards and vineyards and we stop to pick apples that have fallen on the ground, there are also opportunities to pick grapes in the Autumn season too. There is a local gym in Rolle and a beautiful conference centre along the lake side.

The local Rolle Green Bus travels around the town regularly and picks up people at designated spots and takes them to the train station in a very timely fashion so it's all very convenient. The train station is very clean too and very accessible to most everywhere. If there was just one thing I wish for, that would be that were more trains from Rolle, the frequency could be improved. 

We have a very well known fish restaurant called Café du Port which has an excellent reputation.

There are many other nice restaurants too. Rolle also has a shop called the Tournesol (sunflower) which is an organic food store and there is also a market on Tuesday and Friday mornings, with fresh produce, pasta, cheese, meat, olives, fish, flowers all on sale.

Hundreds of choices of tea from the Boîte à Thé

However my favourite shop of all has to be La Boîte à Thé which is a very special shop indeed.  You can sip tea or drink coffee at the back of the store, while looking through all the photos of the owner’s travels.

The owner Ursula Selig, sources many products while she is travelling in other countries and there are teas and interesting products for sale from all over the world in this shop. I have spent hours here as it is so peaceful and interesting too!

Rolle also has a ferry dock, and the ferries cross over the lake to the main towns and villages in the summer. All in all, I think Rolle is a very special little place and I love living here."

Editor's note: Rolle is also home to Le Rosey the prestigious international boarding school (said to be one of the most expensive schools in the world)

See previous post about the A1 business centre in Rolle 

* The population of Rolle (December 2009) was 5,686   The official website of Rolle also incudes the communes of Allaman, Bursinel, Bursins, Burtigny, Dully, Essertines, Gilly, Luins, Mont-sur-Rolle, Perroy, Rolle, Tartegnin and Vinzel.

Rolle also has a tourist office in the centre of the town which has its own website 

Rolle High Street

Jazz night, Green film festival, Nyon's street names and University lecture

A few events coming up in the Nyon area (and further afield) over the next few weeks. Also, don't forget to check out the English column in la La Côte newsaper each Friday. Today's column is a wry look at the street names of this area. Pick up your copy in any newsagent.

Green Film Festival - Starts tonight in Nyon - two days of film on the theme of environment, development and North/South relations. This festival is in its fifth year and takes place across fourteen towns across Swiss Romande. This weekend it's Nyons turn. The first film "Il etait un fois .. notre terre", is for young cinema goers. It begins at 16:30 and will be shown in the Salle Communale in Nyon followed by a discussion.  See  the film festival website for details (click on Nyon on the left hand side)

Jazz Evening - Friday 12th March 20:30 down at the 1306 club (the oldest house in Nyon, it was built in 1306). "Soft Winds" with Mario Schneeberger on sax. The best of  Charlie Parker, Benny Golson, Fletcher Henderson and more.

Patchwork Exhibition

Saturday 6th March 17:00 - Opening of the 8th Exhibition of the Patchwork Club of La Côte at the Library in Crans (in the Salle Communale) See previous post about this library.  For further information, email beatrice.bernard@sunrise.ch or call 022 368 1418

Photography exhibition

New photography exhibition at Focale in Nyon - Bertrand Rey  from 7th March -11th April  See Focale

(More on this site about exhibition after the opening).

Spring Brocante Sale  in Gex (over the border in France)

Friday 19 March - 09:00 to 20:00 Saturday 20 March 09:00 to 17:00

L’Ancienne Ferme, 485 rue de l’Etraz, Gex. Small items of furniture, mirrors, pictures, china, trunks, rugs and antique gifts. English, French, Swiss and Scandinavian influences. Bring a friend and come for chat, coffee and cake.  For directions contact Sian Sibley on +33 4 50 41 92 30  email s.sibley@orange.fr

Lecture - Webster University - Bellevue

Wednesday, March 17th 2010  18:30 – 20:00 The Psychology and Counselling Department of Webster University Geneva presents  The 2010 Lecture Series - Moving to Switzerland: how families and children manage transitions Rachel Melville-Thomas - Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist  WRS Kids in Mind  See Webster university

Skiing options near Nyon and further afield

Skiing Options Near Nyon - From St Cergue to Chamonix

The snowdrops are out, yet the snow is still in great condition, so what are the best options for skiing from Nyon, both nearby and up to 90 minutes drive away?

St Cergue

Nyon's own "ski-hill" is at St Cergue which is easily accessible via the red NStCM train from the centre of town. The two slopes are open all day Saturday and Sunday, and Tuesday to Friday afternoon. However, arguably the best way to enjoy skiing at St Cergue is to finish work early and try the night skiing from 7-10 pm on Tuesday to Saturday. You can combine this with a fondue at one of six participating restaurants.

See their website for more info

A little bit further on and worthy of a full day is to ski at La Dole. Accessible by car or by the red train and a bus connection (take either the 07.56 or 08.56 trains from Nyon), La Dole has a chairlift and 8 button tows. It is also connected through to the French resort of Les Jouvencelles. Take your passport!

See La Dole website

Options less than a 90 minute drive away

Further afield there are many options within less than 90 minutes drive from Nyon. Heading east around the lake past Lausanne, there are a range of options including Leysin, Villars, Verbier and les Portes du Soleil.

For families, Villars is a good option.

Park either at the free car park on the left hand side on entering the town, and take the gondola onto the slopes, or alternatively, park in the underground carpark in the centre of Villars opposite the train station and take the train upto Bretaye. Take plenty of coins for the underground carpark - you will need CHF12 for 6 hours. Bretaye is the centre of the ski area from where the slopes radiate out. There is a flat area for beginners, a ski rental shop and several restaurants.

Villars website

Champery

Across the other side of the Rhone valley, and opposite the Dents du Midi mountain range there is the village of Champery. It is part of the vast Portes du Soleil resort which has 650km of slopes.

Set off from Nyon at 8.15 and you could be pulling up at the carpark in front of the cablecar by 9.30. Pack your passport as the best skiing is arguably over the border in France on the slopes of Avoriaz and Chatel. Whilst there are plenty of blue slopes, there are also unpisted and steep slopes - including the downhill course at Avoriaz and the infamous "Wall" which is the Swiss side of the border on the way home (though there is no embarrassment in taking the chairlift down if you don't fancy the moguls). There are also plenty of typical Savoyard restaurants, including several nice ones in the Les Lindarets "goat village" above Montiond.

Portes du Soleil website

Both Villars and Champery are also accessible by train from Nyon. Take the train to Brig and change in Aigle. There are mountain trains that connect to Villars and Champery, as well as Leysin and Les Diablerets.

Les Contamines

Heading west from Nyon around Geneva and down to Chamonix, another great option for families and those who prefer to ski on blue and red runs is Les Contamines.

Turn off the motorway at St Gervais and in the town turn left to Les Contamines. This is a resort that is "off the beaten track", with wide open slopes situated above the tree line. It is situated in the snow shadow of Mont Blanc and so often has good snow. Drive through the village. If there is no car park space by the first gondola station you come to, drive further up the valley and there is a larger car park and a second gondola that will take you up the mountain.

Les Contamines website

Les Grands Montets at Chamonix

A final recommendation for those who like steep slopes is Les Grands Montets at Chamonix. Drive to Chamonix, then carry on up towards the head of the valley to Argentière where the Grands Montets cable car is on the right hand side just off the main road.

Be prepared to share the cable car with ski-mountaineers complete with ice axes and other high altitude equipment. Pay an extra fee and you can join them and take a cablecar upto 3300m and enjoy some off piste skiing through mountain wilderness and up close to a glacier. All less than 90 minutes from Nyon.

Chamonix website

A few other tips. Most of the larger resorts allow you to buy your lift pass on the internet. You will need to have a "hands free" ski pass. Several resorts also offer a loyalty scheme. Collect points every time you ski and you will be able to get either a discount or eventually a free day skiing.

Bikes, Boots and Black Jackets - Rocking up in Longirod

Amongst the bikes, boots and black leather jackets of a Gland motor cycle shop, Longirock, the "one off " rock festival revealed the full line up last Wednesday for its three day festival in May.

Big names feature on the programme such as The Scorpions, Skunk Anansie, Gogol Bordello and Juliette Lewis, to other bands such as Katatonia from Sweden and Ensiferum from Holland. Thursday is a night mainly for heavy metal fans with bands such as Arch Enemy and Down from the U.S.A both performing.

There will be three stages for the festival, a main stage, a smaller one, and a stage just for Swiss artists such as Estaverde from Vevey and Josef of the Fountain  from Nyon and area. Ticket sales are going well and there is still a special guest to be announced for the opening night.

Longirod is a tiny village of just 400 inhabitants high up in the Jura above Nyon, so public transport has been arranged to the venue and car sharing is being encouraged. There will be two hectares of land for camping on site.

The festival organisers are conscious of the natural beauty of the area around Longirod, and are working with the local farmers and residents to ensure that the nature is left as it was found. 

Living in Nyon spoke to the  mayor of Longirod Monsieur Eric Chesaux who said he was delighted with this new venture. He knows that a lot of work has gone into it by the organisers and he just hopes the weather stays fine for the three days of rocking!  

BikerSuisse motorcycles - A place to rent Harley Davidson for the day or a weekend!

Nyon wins the gold medal of Swiss towns!

As if we didn't know it already, Nyon is a fantastic place to live and even more proof of that comes in the form of a gold award given to it by Bilan magazine. The survey looked at 30 towns in Swiss Romandie with a population of more than 10,000 inhabitants.It concluded that for many reasons Nyon was one of the most active and economically dynamic. The town of Montreux was awarded the silver medal and Ecublens bronze. You can read the full report here in Bilan magazine and also on Nyon's own town website 

Photo above: A wakeboarder on the lake at Nyon last summer

Madness coming to Caribana and where to find local sports clubs

Caribana the music festival taking place on 9-13 June at Crans près Celigny (just on the outskirts of Nyon) have just announced today, that British rock/ska group Madness will be performing on the Saturday night at the festival. With hits such as "One Step Beyond", "Our House" and " My Girl" it should be a fun night by the lake! Also on the billing on the big stage on the same night is Jamaican star Sean Paul.   

Other local events 

Last few days of lakeside ice rink in Nyon as it closes on Sunday 28th February.

Children's theatrical production on Wednesday afternoon 24th February at the Usine a Gaz for children up to 10 years old. Phillippe Campiche with "Ouh la la les loups!" Story telling with a harp (in French).

Sports clubs in the area

Want to practise your favourite sport in the area but don't know where to start looking to find out about the local sports clubs and associations?

Then help is at hand, as there is a comprehensive booklet listing all the clubs and associations in the 47 communes of Nyon. From badminton in Arzier, to martial arts in Begnins, to ultimate frisbee in Nyon, they are all in a booklet provided by Nyon council called "Et si je faisais du sport!".
This can be picked up from Nyon tourist office. It lists sports by each commune and has the details of the person to contact in each club.