Escalade - National Fete of Geneva

I realized how less I wrote about the swiss people, the swiss culture, the swiss history, and things like that.

So, now here is the time to introduce you the

L'Escalade

Escalade is the national fete of Geneva.
On the night of 11 December 1602 Charles-Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy, tried to storm the town. His "Escalade" was repulsed, (actually by a woman who poured hot soup on the enemy...) and thereafter this patriotic event is commemorated by the Genevese.
(For more info click here)

Actually they have 2 weekends.
The first one is just a race, ok not just, but it is mainly a marathon, where people dress up, and run through some villages.
This year thousands of people came and run!
My flatmate, Adam too!!! We are sooo proud of him!!! :)

The second weekend is always biggest, and actually a really unique weekend of Geneva.
This is so true, I mean, the Old Town is full of brigades on horseback in 17th century costumes, country markets, folk music, fife and drum parades and torchlight marches.

AND!

I have learnt that there is a secret mediave passage, this is opened for public only during the Escalade in the whole year, that is the Passage de Monetier. This takes visitors along the base of the old fortification walls under the Cathedral, offering a palpable look at Old Geneva. Those who brave the passage at night receive cups of hot wine to ward off the cold. Yes, and those who are there earlier... :S

Anyways, we ate soup!Soup de la mere Royaume!!!
This is the special soup, full of vegetables, they serve it in a special pot, on it it is written: Escalade 2007, and if you take it back you get back your 5 CHF, but of course everybody keeps it. :)

Me too, but than I gave it to Joyce, one of the Chineese girl, and forgot about it...
Anyways, hope she has got it... ;)

I forgot to mention that we organized this weekend for other aiesec interns.

Thanks for Emilia for the accommodation!!!
Thanks for Julia for the sight seeing tour!!!

Saturday an other historical event took place: The constructions in front of RDL officially ended, and they celebrated the new tram!!!!

You can not imagine how big relief is it for us. (Ok, not for me anymore, but for the others living at RDL....)
That was one of the main reason why I moved out of RDL... the noise, the traffic, the construction...)
Now, it is over!!!! :)))
There was a huge celebration, cheerleaders and everything! :)

(And, later on, this new tram will go directly to my workplace, so it will take less time to travel always in the morning... ;)

During the weekend I slept also at RDL, (because it is great to be together, to wake up together and have breakfast together... :) but actually it was not that easy to sleep... I always heard all the traffics, the horns, people were shouting, screaming...

Saturday evening of course we went out.
First, as usual, the party starts at RDL, drinking, and now: with Chocolate fondue !!!
That was great! :)



I will bring home also something like that, don't worry!!! ;)

Than we went out to Shakers. It was actually a good party...

Than on Sunday, a few more trainees arrived.. unlucky them... because on Saturday - despite the weather forecast - it was sunny, but Sunday... rainy...

We wanted to go ice skating, instead in the rain we discovered a nice hot chocolate place and a great crépe -place! (salty pancakes.... nyamm...)

Than we saw the torchlight procession through the darkened streets in the Old Town, which led a bonfire. However, it was soooo coood, and we were tired, so we missed that one...

Anyways, to sum up, it was a great weekend! :)

Part of the "Grouppicturreeee!!!"