As pretty as a postcard; The Great Escape.

Byline: By Patrice John

NESTLED between two mountain ranges and close to the Rhone River, Geneva is a city with a privileged location.

Known primarily for its international links, fine chocolate and ski slopes, there has never been a shortage of things for visitors to do.

But on my visit to the city I found there was much more to it than this, and a variety of things to add to its charms.

The Old Town

During a visit to Geneva's Old Town we uncovered a cute cobble-stoned section of the city.

Lined with interesting shops selling art work and artefacts, this part of Geneva is really a gem of a find.

We decided to dine here in the late evening and by chance found a violinist who serenaded us as we ate our evening meal.

Such wonderful sights and sounds only served to complement what was a simple, yet lovely meal of roast chicken at Chez Ma Cous-ine - but it was a wonderful way of being introduced to the city.

A gentle stroll back to our hotel, lead us past the English Garden with its superbly manicured working garden clock and then the thumping beats of an open-air Salsa lesson.

Such contradictions and contrasts only added to the charm and diversity of Geneva which is not only found in the choice of things to do, but also in the hearts of the people.

The Gardens of Geneva

Geneva does not get its nickname 'city of parks' for nothing and a gentle stroll through some of the city's varied green spaces showed me why. We decided to walk from our ho- tel the Royal Manotel to the Botanical Gardens on a scenic traverse through Geneva.

We could have opted for the tram but instead took a walk up to La Perle du Lac.

The route along Rue de Lausanne lead us to the Pare Barton which is the home of the History of Science Museum.

It is nestled between the greenery of manicured lawns and the gentle lapping waters of Lake Geneva, which makes it a picture-perfect beauty spot providing something for everyone.

At the junction of Rue de Lausanne and Avenue de la Paix is the enchanting Botanical Gardens, filled with flora and another beautiful example of all that Geneva has to offer.

A walk up Route de Lausanne lead us to Le Reposoir Geneva's answer to a beach.

The fact it is not particularly pretty and devoid of sand is lost on the locals who still don swimming outfits and take up space lounging in the sun.

We took the opportunity to eat our sandwiches at the edge of Lake Geneva and tried to ignore the lack of surf.

A Visit to Carouge

Located close to Geneva is the sister-city of Carouge.

Named after the Latin word for crossroads, this beautiful place was one of the highlights of our visit.

Served well by the transportation system of Geneva, a 15-minute tram ride will deliver you into its centre.

The first thing that struck me was the architecture. The beautiful picture-postcard scenes mark it apart from its larger sister-city nearby.

Lined with a variety a shops that are sure to appeal to the most discerning of tastes, this is not an area populated by multi-national chains or the stores that have come to dominate most European cities.

This is a place of one offs, uniqueness and high-quality purchases that demand your attention.

Often likened to Greenwich Village, in London, it certainly appeals to those with high-end tastes.

We discovered all kinds of shops that were worth our attention.

There is the shop of Jean Kazes, who is a Guinness World Record holder for designing the clock with the largest pendulum in the world (30m).

His enchanting business is a one-off and his works can be seen around the world - 'without the help of a website' - as we were told.

Saunter past him to shops that serve fine Geneva wines and then to Betjeman and Baton, which is home to 180 types of tea (and possibly 180,000 individual tea pots! which my guide said were of particular interest to most of the English visitors that come to Carouge.

But for a guided tour that gives you a better insight into the real gems of Carouge we took the CaTour.

Unlike Geneva, Carouge does not benefit from a large amount of public green space, so what it makes up in architecture it lacks in public parks which is what makes the garden tour so special.

The tour is run three times each year which explains why it is so popular with visitors.

You essentially get to tour the city on foot with the benefit of both historical and annecdotal information provided.

Our expert guide Gianna Loredan - of Italian descent but an adopted Carougeois - swiftly navigates you through the city telling you about each of the private gardens.

We could never have imagined at the turn of a corner, gardens of Edenic-like beauty lay concealed in this compact city.

Each of the gardens is well loved and tended by its owners and each is private - but on these three occasions in a year they open this space for visitors to see.

They vary in size and stature. Some are more focused on growing vegetables. Others are there as the centre of family live for the owners, but whatever they look like these gardens are unique in that they show you how true Carougeois live. The tour only survives through the co-operation of the owners who open their homes to Gianna and her team at set times.

A thoroughly enjoyable experience.

A word of advice - the tours are popular so be aware you could be with at least another 20 people, which means listening closely to your guide. Also, wear comfortable walking shoes as the stops and starts can play havoc with your feet.

Gettinq There

Chez Ma Cousine, 6 PI Du Borge-De-Four, Vieille-Ville, Geneva, Tel: [phone]

The Carouge and its hidden gardens tour runs three times a year and costs 10 francs for adults. For further details about tours see www.carouge.ch or email events@ illico-travel.ch.

We stayed at the Royal Manotel, which is a four-star hotel in 41, Rue de Lausanne, Geneva. See www.manotel.com or call 022 906 14 14 for details.

Top tips for Geneva

To get the best view of the Jet d'eau in full force take a walk over the Mont Blanc bridge at night and watch it while it is illuminated.

For cheap Chinese food try Mike Wong restaurant at 20 Rue du Conseil-General, near PlainPalais station, Geneva. Meals cost 15 CHF (pounds 7.50 approx) for Thai Noodles and chicken or beef dishes. See www.mike-wong.ch or call 022 800 15 03 for details.

Visit the Red Cross Museum on a Monday as it is the only museum in Geneva open on that day. All others are closed.

Try visiting one of Geneva's streetside patisseries like La Gourmandise, in 18 Rue de Lausanne which serves croissants, fresh juices and crepes.

If you're looking for things to do on a Sunday when most of the shops are closed, try visiting Jetee des Paquis Bains in Lake Geneva. The pier stretches into the Lake and is a hotspot for people who want cheap food and a place to congregate.

CAPTION(S):

Surrounded by spectacular natural beauty, Geneva is a city of countless wonderful sights and sounds.