ZURICH – BERNE – GRUYERE – GENEVA
Travel along an excellent highway through some of the country’s best farmlands to its stately capital, Berne. Sightseeing with a Local Guide starts at the popular BEAR PIT and then focuses on the monumental Federal Palace and the beautifully preserved medieval Old Town. Witness the hourly parade of painted figures at the Clock Tower and take your pictures of ornate, flower-adorned fountains. Afterwards, continue to the Gruyere area, where you will visit the picturesque town of GRUYERE. Overnight in Geneva. (B)
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Today, was a bit of a filler, as we journeyed from Zurich to Geneva, stopping in Berne and Geneva (some 300 km). The main significance of Berne is that it became a reformed city as early as Zurich.
Gruyere is a beautiful, picturesque small town. The town has been preserved as an 18th century village with no power-lines in the main parts, original streets and shop-fronts, etc. We purchased some nice cheese in Gruyere as well as other goodies as well as having an embarrassing experience with 5 Gruyere-Cafes (in Australia we’d call these Irish Coffees).
I will let the pictures tell the story:
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DAY 11 – WED 30 JUN
GENEVA.
Your orientation tour of Geneva, the city where John Calvin and John Knox preached, includes the United Nations Headquarters, Red Cross Headquarters, the World Council of Churches Headquarters, and a stop at the REFORMATION MONUMENT. Also visit ST. PETER’S CATHEDRAL, where John Calvin served. Balance of the day is at leisure. Farewell Dinner included. Overnight in Geneva. (B, D)
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The old adage that all good things must come to an end was realised today as we had our final day of tours, museums, coffees, beers, a farewell dinner and speeches! Fortunately, though the tour has come to an end, many including ourselves, are continuing to other exciting destinations before returning to the great south land!
The official part of today's proceedings concerned Calvin and the impact of the reformation in Geneva. After countless Luther-Houses, monuments and associated superstitions (the irony!), it was interesting to see Calvin's wishes respected. There are very few genuine Calvin-attractions to see. Apparently Calvin, in true style, said that he didn't want a special burial place (there are various myths about where he is buried), nor did he want attention drawn to him but to the movement. Geneva has been true to this by erecting a "Reformation Wall." Wikipedia offers a full listing of those depicted on the Reformation Wall, click here for details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reformation_Wall. The reformers pictured here (the central part of the wall) are from left to right: Theodore Beza (1519 – 1605), John Calvin (1509 – 1564), William Farel (1489 – 1565) and John Knox (c.1513 – 1572).Like many important figures of history, Calvin did not only reform the Church in Switzerland but brought about social and cultural reforms. From our Guided tour we learnt that in response to the Roman Catholic viewpoint that people were illiterate and in need of statues, frescoes and mosaics to understand the Bible, Calvin began schools that were accessible to all people. 
Therefore he contributed substantially to literacy and education in Geneva. Calvin also believed that people should be at Church on time. Again the Catholic Mass was in a language that was foreign to most people, therefore the time of arrival seemed to have little significance. Calvin’s passion for punctuality is (at least in part) responsible for the Swiss’ reputation for time-keeping and watches. We also learned from Rhys that Calvin taught that Sermons should be dated and adjusted to the congregation that they are being preached to. This seems consistent with the Swiss; love of organization.
He reformed the Church too, and this is perhaps what he is best known for. Luther’s reforms were about individual justification by grace, he was excommunicated before he could really influence reforms of the Church. Calvin was the great-organiser. He rejected the traditional three-fold order and introduced four-fold order: pastor-teacher-deacon-elder which involves lay people and is a more collaborative and democratic model. His theology is contained in his four Institutes which are structured around the four big themes of the Creeds. There is of course much more to say about Calvin and his influence on Geneva, Strasbourg and to the Reformation movement (I’ll save that for the essay), suffice to say that what I experienced in Geneva was a city that was in debt to the legacy of Calvin, not only theologically but socially and politically as well. When we think of all the things that Switzerland is famous for, it is not too far of a stretch, in my opinion, to see the influence of Calvin’s pasturing, teaching and theology.
Following the city tour, Heather and I stole some time for relaxing, catching up with work and planning the next leg of our trip. Later that evening, the tour group made its way to a local Italian restaurant for a final farewell dinner. It was joyful and sad as we finished what had been an informative, enriching and community-building experience, albeit an exhausting one. Heather and I gained great insights into the reformation and the culture of the places we visited but we also made some good friends and enjoyed the community aspect of the tour.
We later returned to the lovely outdoor atrium of our hotel for thank-yous, prayer, hymn-singing and farewells. George and Anthea announced Heather and I as the winners of the Scavenger Hunt (hence some of the more obscure photos), touching thanks and farewell to our tour guide, Frau Hertzberg and Robert our driver and also to Rhys for all his work in making it happen. Though tired, Heather and I managed to find the energy to go out for some further drinking at the end of the night!
Thanks everyone for this truly special experience. More Geneva and Farwell photos below:
Therefore he contributed substantially to literacy and education in Geneva. Calvin also believed that people should be at Church on time. Again the Catholic Mass was in a language that was foreign to most people, therefore the time of arrival seemed to have little significance. Calvin’s passion for punctuality is (at least in part) responsible for the Swiss’ reputation for time-keeping and watches. We also learned from Rhys that Calvin taught that Sermons should be dated and adjusted to the congregation that they are being preached to. This seems consistent with the Swiss; love of organization.He reformed the Church too, and this is perhaps what he is best known for. Luther’s reforms were about individual justification by grace, he was excommunicated before he could really influence reforms of the Church. Calvin was the great-organiser. He rejected the traditional three-fold order and introduced four-fold order: pastor-teacher-deacon-elder which involves lay people and is a more collaborative and democratic model. His theology is contained in his four Institutes which are structured around the four big themes of the Creeds. There is of course much more to say about Calvin and his influence on Geneva, Strasbourg and to the Reformation movement (I’ll save that for the essay), suffice to say that what I experienced in Geneva was a city that was in debt to the legacy of Calvin, not only theologically but socially and politically as well. When we think of all the things that Switzerland is famous for, it is not too far of a stretch, in my opinion, to see the influence of Calvin’s pasturing, teaching and theology.
Following the city tour, Heather and I stole some time for relaxing, catching up with work and planning the next leg of our trip. Later that evening, the tour group made its way to a local Italian restaurant for a final farewell dinner. It was joyful and sad as we finished what had been an informative, enriching and community-building experience, albeit an exhausting one. Heather and I gained great insights into the reformation and the culture of the places we visited but we also made some good friends and enjoyed the community aspect of the tour.
We later returned to the lovely outdoor atrium of our hotel for thank-yous, prayer, hymn-singing and farewells. George and Anthea announced Heather and I as the winners of the Scavenger Hunt (hence some of the more obscure photos), touching thanks and farewell to our tour guide, Frau Hertzberg and Robert our driver and also to Rhys for all his work in making it happen. Though tired, Heather and I managed to find the energy to go out for some further drinking at the end of the night!
Thanks everyone for this truly special experience. More Geneva and Farwell photos below:
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