It first spurted in 1886 as a safety valve for the city's hydraulic power system. Water was sent at pressure to various users to power lifts, machinery etc. The city fathers realised that it was an attraction in its own right and installed a bigger fountain.
The first Jet d'Eau was installed in 1886 at the Usine de la Coulouvrenière, a little further downstream from its present location. It was used as a safety valve for a hydraulic power network and could reach a height of about 30 metres (98 ft). In 1891, its aesthetic value was recognised and it was moved to its present location to celebrate the Federal Gymnastics Festival and the 600th anniversary of the Swiss Confederation, when it was operated for the first time. Its maximum height was about 90 metres (295 feet). The present Jet d'Eau was installed in 1951 in a partially submerged pumping station to pump lake water instead of city water.
fbb's knowledge of Geneva is derived, not from a visit or excellent geog at school, but from a TV programme which ran for 30 episodes between 1968 and 1969.
The three heroes survived an air crash in Tibet (or was it Wigan?) where they were revived by ancient monks (typical of Wigan) and giver supernatural powers.
Of course, these powers were used to solve crimes (as you do) and rid the world of megalomaniacs, arch criminals and the occasional shoplifting teenager in Wigan. As you do!
The best character was a typical English "old buffer" called Tremayne (just Tremayne, no first name was ever used).
As he directed the crime-fighting trio he never twigged that they had, and used, their supernatural powers.
He was the 1960s version of Harry Enfield's Tim Nice-but-Dim.
Without special powers, correspondent James landed at Geneva Airport. He was amazed to see a machine which dispensed tickets; not just any bus ticket but a FREE ticket for 80 minutes ON ALL MODES OF TRANSPORT for 80 minutes (typical European fares structure).
It's actually valid for ten minutes longer than the normal "one journey including changes" ticket. But there's more!
When James and Mrs got to their hotel, they were given FREE "rover" tickets for the duration of their stay.
It wasn't because James was a splendid chap (which he is, of course), or that he had booked some sort of "package". No, this freebie is available to any (non-Swiss?) tourist staying in the city.
He was also able to pick up a neat pocket sized folder of "Fares" - and in English to boot.
Everything you could possible want to know is therein contained.
Then, in similar style, was the route map.
On one side was the "regional" network (outer suburban) ...
... and on the other, the full city network.
Unfazed by all these goodies, James also found a local rail services mini booklet ...
... two leaflets for new bus routes ...
... and a booklet (UK TOCs please note - a PRINTED booklet) giving full details and timetables for arrangements during a piece of major rail engineering, including a line closure.
Finally in this cornucopia of excellence, James garnered a folded "magazine" style leaflet suggesting jolly good places to visit and spiffing things to see.
As it is the weekend, get out your Collins "Gem" dictionary ...
Beside the ticket machine at Geneva Airport there was a supply of public transport maps, including details of two new cross border bus routes, and took a second copy to send to you if you were interested. (erm, yes, fbb was!) I also picked up some interesting details about engineering works, there was lots of investment in upgrading going on all around the country, which might make an interesting comparison to how NR and the TOCs manage things here.
It was ALL at the Airport!
What would a visitor to any UK airport find at they waited for their baggage? Bus information? Train information? ANY information?
Clearly, some of this needs more "looking at"; so expect more Geneva blogs over the next week or so. In the meantime we need to catch up on various bits of more mundane (?) news.
Next catch-up posting : Sunday 9th September
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