It’s now time for some more pictures from our May visit to our old stomping grounds in Geneva, Switzerland.

When we lived in Geneva our daughter went to the International School (Ecolint). Every year they hold a “Kermesse”. According to Wikipedia:

Kermesse, or kermis, or kirmess, is a Dutch language term derived from ‘kerk’ (church) and ‘mis’ (mass) that became borrowed in English and French, originally denoting the mass said on the anniversary of the foundation of a church (or the parish) and in honour of the patron. Such celebrations were regularly held in the Low Countries, in Central Europe and also in northern France, and were accompanied by feasting, dancing and sports of all kinds.

This pretty much describes the Ecolint event, but without (as far as I could tell) the religious connotations.

Since we were in Geneva for this year’s Kermesse, off we went.

View of one of the rides with the main school building in the background.

Closer view of the original school building.

Boy in a maze. One of the rides included this maze (for want of a better word). In the side there was a small observation window. I was fascinated by the shapes of the children flashing by the window so I took a few pictures of this boy and combined them.

Girl on a trampoline. She looks as if she’s having a great time.

Another feature of the Kermesse is the food. This is an international school and many countries showcase their native food by setting up food stands. The food is delicious. Not surprisingly this is the Canadian stand.

The UK stand features Pimm’s. The Daily Telegraph describes (and continues by telling the reader how to make one) Pimm’s as follows:

On hot sunny days, there’s no drink the British like to guzzle more than Pimm’s. Seductively tawny in colour, and festively festooned with fruit and sprigs of mint, it’s a drink inextricably connected with the great British summer, especially events like Ascot and Wimbledon. Even if you end up shelling out half your week’s salary for a round, you can’t help but feel a little happier as you take that first refreshing sip.

The birth of the drink was, literally, a fishy business: it was invented by Mr James Pimm, a 19th century London oyster bar owner who decided to offer his clients a “fruit cup” – a mix of spirits, wine, spices and fruit that developed from the popular punch. The drink, which he pushed as an aid to digestion (the Victorians had a commendable desire to believe that alcohol had health benefits), became so popular that Mr Pimm began selling it around the capital for three shillings a bottle, and eventually flogged the entire business in 1865. Various other “cups” such as Pimm’s No 2 (whisky) and Pimm’s No 3 (brandy) followed, though most of them later disappeared off the shelves.

I don’t generally like Pimm’s, but it was very hot that day and I must admit that it tasted good.

Taken with a Sony RX100 M3