The Place du Nation was closest to the border so we investigated the United Nations building first, and the gigantic chair sculpture with one leg broken and torn off. The sculpture by Daniel Berset, is 12m high and is meant to remember the victims of land mines. Surrounding the sculpture is a large open area decorated in a grid form to represent regions of the world and filled in the centre with spouting vertical fountains.
The United Nations building is guarded with iron barricades to prevent vehicles from entering and sentry guards at the gate who weren't to perturbed about tourists taking their photo in front of the United Nations sign. The Aussie flag was 6th or so in the first row.
United Nations with the top of the double width metal barricade
Chair sculpture with a broken leg as a memorial to the victims of land mines.
Down on Lake Geneva is the water jet, Jet d'Eau, a very photographed feature of the city. Along the lake front is the Jardin Anglais, a garden area which is currently in the throes of being converted into stages, amusements and stalls for the Geneva Lake Festival in the first 2 weeks of August. In the Jardin Anglais is the Floral Clock or L'horloge Fleurie, a natural monument to the history of watchmaking in Geneva. It has Swiss precision timing that is transmitted by satellite so you can set your watch by it. The flowers and design change at different times of the year, so it is never the same.
Along the lake front
Jet d'Eau with floral displays set up for the Geneva Lake Festival
Water jet from the bridge
Shopping district
Clock in an arcade of shops
Geneva's Floral clock with the longest second hand in the world at 2.5m
It was a cooler day in Geneva after 30+ degree temperatures for the past couple of days and high humidity. The climate of the Switzerland's alpine areas in summer are much more comfortable.
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