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Geneva Journals

Working the U.N. in Geneva

Best of IgoUgo

A December 2006 trip to Geneva by girlfromals

Flag-lined Bridge Photo - Geneva, Switzerland More Photos
Quote: What could have turned out to be a stuffy behind-the-scenes business trip to the U.N. in Geneva turned out to be a great 10-day visit.
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Working the U.N. in Geneva Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Roasted Chestnut Vendors Photo - Geneva, Switzerland
Quote:
Geneva is a truly international city. It is home to international organizations, corporations and people from around the world. It is home to the headquarters of various U.N. agencies, NGOs such as Medecins sans Frontiers as well as famous watch companies. I was sent to represent my employer at WIPO’s (the World Intellectual Property Organization) 10th Intergovernmental Committee Meeting on traditional knowledge, genetic resources, and folklore. I spent most of my 10 days in Geneva sitting in a stuffy meeting room at the WIPO headquarters but I managed to find time to wander the city and eat a lot of chocolate with a few colleagues from other Canadian organizations. The meetings were hoste...Read More

Atel Windsor Best of IgoUgo

Hotel

The Bed Photo - Atel Windsor, Geneva, Switzerland
Quote:
Never have I had an experience requiring a negative review. That is until now. Working at a non-profit organization we’re conscious of costs. So when the usual moderately-priced hotel used by our organization in Geneva was unavailable we trusted a recommendation. Everyone was pleased with the central location and the price point (120 Swiss francs) until we took a look at reviews on the web. We knew we were going to have a problem.We checked in upon arrival in Geneva on a Wednesday morning. The lobby looked just fine but that must be where the owners spent all of their money. A colleague of mine did not even make it up to the elevator. She got that far and turned around saying she was not g...Read More

Member Rating 1 out of 5 on December 31, 2006

Atel Windsor
31 Rue de Berne
Geneva, Switzerland
+41-22-715-1600

My Room Photo - Manotel Royal, Geneva, Switzerland
Quote:
After the disaster that was the Hotel Windsor, the Royal Manotel felt like a palace. The Royal Manotel is one of 6 hotels owned and operated in Geneva by the same group. Each has its own theme and the Royal is a blend of French and neoclassical design. The lobby was immediately open and inviting and was buzzing with activity the morning we changed hotels. Even though we checked in around 9am our rooms were available and we dropped off our luggage before heading up to the U.N. Everyone else had warned me that these hotel rooms would be much smaller than North American ones. While the room was a bit smaller than a North American room I definitely could not complain. I opened the door ...Read More

Member Rating 5 out of 5 on December 31, 2006

Manotel Royal
41 43 RUE DE LAUSANNE
Geneva, Switzerland 1201CH
+41 (22) 9061414

Restaurant El Faro Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Our Waiter Dishing out our Food Photo - Restaurant El Faro, Geneva, Switzerland
Quote:
One of my colleagues had been to a Spanish restaurant during a previous trip to Geneva. He spoke very highly of Restaurant El Faro but could not remember its location. He found one of the North American staff members at the U.N. who had a business card with the restaurant’s location. We planned an evening out at the end of our stay and after many nights of cheap sandwich meals put together from supplies bought at the Coop grocery store across from our hotel we were ready for something substantial. When we arrived we were greeted by a heavy curtain just inside the entrance door. It opened into a small bar area where there were no patrons. We walked half-way in to the establishment to...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 31, 2006

Restaurant El Faro
5 Rue De Fribourg
Geneva 1201
+41 (22) 7322198

Geneva Christmas Market Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "International Christmas Market"

The Market Photo - Geneva Christmas Market, Geneva, Switzerland
Quote:
Having lived in Europe I knew all about the fantastic Christmas markets that are held in cities in the month leading up to Christmas. Considering I was going to be in Geneva in early December I thought I’d search the Internet for a Christmas market. I was thrilled to read about the International Christmas Market at Place de la Fusterie between Rue du Rhone and Rue de la Confederation in the Old City.I was excited about the market and all of the little chalet-type stalls filled with traditional woodworking, Christmas candy and treats, other treasures and, of course, mulled wine. I had told colleagues from other organizations about the Christmas market and we made plans to head out on...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 31, 2006

Geneva Christmas Market
Place De La Fusterie
Geneva, Switzerland