[Summer in Grenoble] Geneva - Day 2: Fête de la Musique and the Reformation Wall

June 20th, 2015

My friends and I were finding our path through the crowd of people that suddenly increased in mass

and passed this wonderful looking cathedral along the way.

It was called St. Pierre Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre Genève)

  ???
and few moments later, we found a small outdoor stage, where some musicians were performing some music.

I had no idea what this place was back then, but this was actually the front of St. Pierre Cathedral.

We continued our adventure.

and walked into another group of musicians who were performing.

as we were approaching our destination, the sound of music kept becoming louder.

When I dashed to the edge of the hill with excitement and looked over, I spotted a big stage with a pretty big crowd.

and on top of the hill, right next to where I was also a big crowd and all these booths selling foods and etc.
This was the moment when I finally started to question "Is today some kind of a festival day?"
Typical me, right there.

Regardless, we kept walking toward our next destination

but the crowd that we had to penetrate kept increasing in its mass

and we discovered ourselves in the middle of a festival site, where all sorts of people were having fun.

However, the landmark that my friends were looking for was this.
The Reformation Wall

I personally am not a person who blindly looks for symbolic or popular tourist attractions.
I like to experience the heat of the moment, the local culture, and the local atmosphere in person, so I tend to include festivals and night markets into my trip itinerary when I plan it.
For that reason, the festival happening right across the Reformation Wall was what drew my attention.

However, the rest of the friends I was traveling together with did not share my preference.
They weren't a big fan of a big crowd and loud music. (but it wasn't even a rock concert!)
Well...
I did choose to travel with friends who were traveling to the cities that I haven't been to yet.
The summer study abroad program is pretty short, so it's not enough time to fully get to know my friends.


Regardless, I think I do qualify to be a very weird person.
because I don't normally like being in a crowded place, but I still enjoy festival occasionally.
I love music concerts. I also like eating street food from food trucks and night markets.
BUT!
I don't drink, smoke, nor do drugs

Those qualities seem to be a very weird combination
because most people who share my love of music concerts, love alcohol
and most people who don't drink, don't like loud concerts.
This might be why I don't have close friends


Anyway, while my friends were taking a rest,

I decided to have myself some photography time, because I also like taking candid pictures of the people!

Some booths were cooking some barbecue meat.
I honestly wanted to have some for dinner, because it actually was almost dinner time

Unfortunately, my friends were against this
Yeah Yeah, I'm the crazy one.

I also briefly enjoyed the concert held in front of the Reformation Wall
I don't mind seeing lesser-known artist if it were a low-cost or a free festival like this one.

and Behold!
I finally found the identity of the mysterious music festival that my friends and I kept running into.
The festival was called "Fête de la Musique," and it was happening throughout the entire weekend when we were at Geneva.

I am not completely sure if this festival is held in other countries as well,
but it sure seemed like a HUGE music festival that was held all over France
Why in Geneva?
Probably it's because Geneva is pretty much France.

As much as I wanted to have dinner and spend the rest of the evening at Fête de la Musique, my friends were thinking otherwise.
I was the minority, so I decided to follow their idea.

but if you really want to enjoy the best trip of your lives, go with your closest friend.


So, where will our dinner be, then...?