30 December 2016. THE FOUNDER ***1/2 Everyone knows the McDonald’s name, the mass-produced, fast food hamburgers that have conquered the world, for better or for worse. The original idea came from two McDonald brothers in California who were proud of their innovative success. That was in the mid-1950s, and it was like a “symphony in hamburger […]
Alpine panoramas, fondue and snowballs at Europe’s highest railway station
On top of the Jungfrau, the alpine views (and elevation) will take your breath away. By Bill Harby The two-plus-hour train ride up, up, up from Interlaken is at least half the fun of going to the Jungfraujoch visitors center, 3,454 meters above sea level. Traveling slowly on winding mountain tracks, you’re suddenly surrounded by […]
Easyjet adds six new destinations from Switzerland
Easyjet will add six new destinations from Geneva, Basel and Zurich starting next summer. Geneva There will be new flights from Geneva to Tivat in Montenegro from 1 July 2017, running weekly until 2 September. Basel From Basel, two flights per week to Biarritz, in France, and to Dubrovnik, in Croatia, will be added and run from 28 […]
Bill Harby’s new fave burger joint in Geneva
Writer and Geneva resident Bill Harby went for a wander in Geneva on Sunday. Here is what he found. Today in Pâquis, Geneva’s intriguing neighborhood full of immigrants and Swiss who run cafés, restaurants, and other, ahem, businesses, I had the luck of the flâneur. Flâneurs are people who simply wander to see what they […]
Art in an alpine setting – the Pierre Arnaud Foundation in Valais
On 12 November 2016, Museums in Switzerland are free. Valais resident Peter Hulm suggests going to the Pierre Arnaud Foundation in Lens, just below Crans-Montana. Not just because of its magnificent building and a restaurant whose young chef was trained by a three-star Michelin cuisinier. The chances are you won’t have seen the “Dutch and […]
West zest – Zürich’s hippest quarter
By Bill Harby Aficionados of über urban culture, get thee to Zürich – specifically, the trendy neighbourhood locals call “Züri West”. You can get started at Im Viadukt, where the neighbourhood’s past and present meld. A railway viaduct hand-built in 1894 to transport coal for the area’s 19th-century factories, today the 36 archways are home […]
Frankenstein’s monster spotted in Geneva at his first murder site
By Bill Harby Beware: Dr. Frankenstein’s creature still lurks in Geneva. In 2014 he returned to the scene of his first murder in the Plainpalais quarter, and there he still stands near the skatepark, a fearsome hulk, an expression on his face halfway between horror and grief, oblivious to the shocked stares of passersby surprised […]
Iconic Swiss vegetarian restaurant coming to Lausanne
Late last week, Swiss Rail announced that it has a new tenant for the vacant restaurant space at Lausanne train station. Meat lovers may be disappointed, however fans of vegetarian food will be licking their lips. The restaurant chain Tibits, which has eight restaurants in German-speaking Switzerland, and one in London, will open its first […]
Exploring Geneva in one day
Explore Geneva in one day? No way, right? Well yes. Here’s an itinerary. By Bill Harby Get up early and start your day at Cornavin, the main train station. Pick up delicious fresh pastries and coffee from one of the patisseries there. Stroll to the Pont du Mont-Blanc and cross where the lake feeds into the […]
Film: Hell or high water – a tragic, wise, tale of two reckless bank robbers
7 October 2016. HELL OR HIGH WATER (Comancheria) **** This gripping road movie opposing two reckless bank-robbing brothers (the intense duo of Chris Pine and Ben Foster) and a crusty Texas sheriff (the always brilliant Jeff Bridges) is directed, of all people, by a Scottish Brit. David Mackenzie is an expert at such atmospheric films as […]
