News Update - Leisure from knowitall.ch

: Published: 26 October 2017

A new “mobile” paint-your-own-pottery studio has been launched in the canton of Vaud.

Called Doodlepotz, the studio was launched just a few months ago, by local mompreneur, Lucy Gottelier. A former management consultant with worldwide experience on fast-changing projects, Lucy decided to launch her own business in Switzerland after taking a career break to start her own family and and working as a part-time paint-you-own-pottery teacher whilst living in the US!

Lucy told us, “When our family moved to Coppet in 2016, I had the good fortune to meet life coach, Milena McRae, who inspired me to think hard about what I really wanted in life. I soon discovered that painting pottery was a passion that I was keen to continue so, in May 2017, Doodlepotz was born – a name inspired by the family’s new puppy, an Australian Labradoodle!

Lucy trained with UK-renowned Paint-your-own-pottery expert, Rachel Byass, and she is supported behind the scenes by the artist and teacher Joanna Foray-Mason, previous owner of "Glazy Days" in Coppet. She is also a member of multiple professional Paint-your-own-pottery Facebook groups, and she actively looks to share best practices across these networks.

: Published: 16 October 2017

AQUATISFlorida Redbelly TurtleMichel Roggo
© Michel Roggo

The largest aquarium-vivarium in Europe is set to open its doors in Lausanne on 21 October 2017.

Using close to 2 million litres of freshwater, the new AQUATIS center will support 20 different ecosystems, 46 aquariums/vivariums/terrariums, 100 reptiles and amphibians, 10,000 fish and 300 plant species from 5 different continents!

Part of a much bigger complex including 2 restaurants, a superior 3-star hotel, a wellness center, conference center and shop, AQUATIS belongs to a new generation of cultural and tourist destinations, and is the first of its kind in Switzerland to be dedicated entirely to ecosystems and sustainable development.

AQUATIS Hotel Conference Centre and Aquarium VivariumFernando Guerrera
© Fernando Guerrera

: Published: 02 August 2017

InterSoccer 4 500

3 places to be won – competition closes at midnight, 12 October, 2017!

As the October half-term holidays approach, many of you will be looking for activities to keep your kids busy again.

If your child is aged between 3 and 13 years old and likes to get outside and run around, then why not enter our competition and give him/her a chance of winning a place on one of three day camps that InterSoccer is offering our readers?

If you win, your child has the option of attending any of the day camps being held over the half-term holiday period between 16 and 27 October, each worth up to Fr. 75.-. Camps can normally be booked from 1 to 5 days so it is possible extend your place for additional days if required.

Camp schedule

With 7 different locations to choose from, you are bound to find a camp near you! Select from:

Nyon, Aubonne, Lausanne (Pully)

16 to 20 October
3-5 year olds (Mini Camps); 5-13 year olds (Full Day)
10h-12h30 (Mini); 10h-16h (Full day); supervised drop off from 8h40
Where:
CS de Colovray, Nyon
La Côte International School, Aubonne (indoor gym)
FC Pully, Lausanne

: Published: 25 September 2017

La Saga des Geants

As the end of September approaches, don't be surprised it you hear murmurings in the street about the arrival of two enormous giants in Geneva!

Incredible as it sounds, from 29 September to 1 October 2017, Geneva will host two over-sized female giants, traveling with the Royal de Luxe extra large street theater company! Keen to find out more, knowitall.ch went in search of the facts...

Grandma Giant and Little Giant

Of the two giants, Grandma Giant is the tallest, measuring around 7.3m high and weighing 1,787kg. She is thought to be about 85 years old and her strong, clever and malicious personality, combined with a certain gentleness, is believed to come from her part-Breton, part-Irish ancestry. She is said to speak a strange language, a mixture of Romanian, Anglo-Saxon, Arabic and Asian!

On the other hand, the Little Giant is an experienced traveler and has visited all the main cities in the world, spending time on her hobbies : gymnastics or tasting sweets. Measuring 5.5m tall and weighing 800kg, the Little Giant likes to hold children on her forearms, swinging and dancing them around in the air. She is said to be very stylish and likes to change clothes often during her travels!

: Published: 21 September 2017

bodyworlds cyclist

BODY WORLDS - The Cycle of Life, Palexpo, 21 September 2017 - 7 January 2018

A major exhibition has opened in Geneva this week revealing the secrets of our anatomy.

Called BODY WORLDS – The Cycle of Life, the new exhibition is one in a series of exhibitions, first launched in 1995 with aim of informing the public about anatomy, physiology, and health, through the use of real human bodies. Created using an advanced procedure for preserving the human body, each of the exhibits on display has been carefully selected to reveal the inner workings of the human body and its organs, and to help us understand their evolution through time.

Over 200 human specimens, entire bodies, isolated organs and transparent sections are now on show at Palexpo until 7 January 2018. Displays include anatomical studies of the human body, in different stages from birth to death, which have been preserved using a technique called Plastination. Originally invented by the anatomist, Dr. Gunther von Hagens, in 1977, this process prevents the decay of biological tissues by replacing bodily fluids with silicone.

Healthy living

Whilst the preservation of real human bodies for use at a public exhibition certainly raises a number of ethical questions, there can be no doubt about the huge impact of the exhibition on its visitors. Whilst some are fascinated by the minute detail of the anatomical structures on display, others are struck more by the overriding message that is conveyed throughout the exhibition...the importance of looking after your body and living a healthy lifestyle; by viewing healthy and diseased organs side by side, visitors learn not only about the aesthetic functioning of their own bodies, but also the effects of known diseases or addictions such as tobacco or alcohol.