Meher Baba's Life & Travels
Meher
Baba 1st visited Geneva was on 17th July 1934, travelling
from Zurich, Switzerland to
Marseilles, France. This would have been a brief stop before resuming
his journey.
The 2nd time Meher Baba visited Geneva was on 18th August 1952, staying for 3 days.
MAPS OF GENEVA
UNITED ( LEAGUE ) NATIONS - GENEVA HEADQUARTERS
1934 VISIT
Meher Baba 1st visited to Geneva was on 17th July 1934, travelling from Zurich, Switzerland to Marseilles, France. This would have been a brief stop at the Geneva-Cornavin Railway Station, before resuming his journey.
Geneva-Cornavin Railway Station
1952 VISIT
18th August
Meher Baba & his women Mandali & followers left Locarno on the 18th August at 8 am, travelling in 2 cars to Geneva, one of which was driven by Irene. They drove over the Alps.
( see the following maps ).
Baba's driver throughout this visit was a large man ( he was named "The Bear" ) who had a charming wife & had 3 kids. Because of his heavy built and size he would lift Baba at all his destinations with a careful graceful ease.
They all had lunch along the road amoungst the pine trees, Charmian recalled.
18th August...continued
The road to Geneva was via the town of Domodosola, Italy, the Simplon Pass, Martigny & Montreux in Switzerland. The final stretch was along the full length of Lake Geneva, which Mehera recalled as "a wonderful drive".
They arrived in Geneva later that day.
Baba chose the Hotel Cornavin to stay the night.
1st Car : 1947 Chyrsler New Yorker 4-door
sedan
- see below
This car carried Meher Baba, Mehera Irani, Mani Irani ( Baba's sister ), Meheru & Dr. Goher Irani.
2nd Car : 1946-8 Packard Super Clipper Touring Sedan
- see below
This car carried the rest of the women - Rano Gayley, Delia De Leon, Charmian Duce & Dr. Donkin.
The following images are of other vehicles of the same type. See more images of these vehicles click on the following web extension. Road Trips - 1952 : Switzerland
On 14 August, Baba sent Gustadji, Meherjee, Sarosh, Adi and Nilu back to India. Of the men mandali, only Don remained with him. Baba went on sightseeing trips with the women, and on the 18th, proceeded with them to Geneva by car.
Baba and the group were supposed to fly from Geneva the next morning, so they spent that night at the Cornavin Hotel. The next day was spent frantically trying to reserve seats on a plane bound for India, because Air India had called to say their flight had been canceled due to a labor strike in Bombay. Baba and the women finally flew to Paris on Thursday afternoon, 21 August at 5:40 P.M. via Air France 437, and then at 11:00 P.M. on Air France 180 to Karachi. Don flew back a few days later via England. Delia had been sent back to London the day before, and Charmian was staying on in Switzerland for a week.
Lord Meher Online Edition Page 3129
HOTEL CORNAVIN - GENEVA
The Hotel Cornavin appeared in a Tin Tin book
19th August
Baba and the group were supposed to fly from Geneva the next morning, so they spent that night at the Cornavin Hotel. The next day was spent frantically trying to reserve seats on a plane bound for India, because Air India had called to say their flight had been cancelled due to a labour strike in Bombay. ( Charmian had driven Baba and the women to the airport.)
Baba and the women finally flew to Paris on Thursday afternoon, 21 August at 5:40 P.M. via Air France 437, and then at 11:00 P.M. on Air France 180 to Karachi.
Dr.
Donkin flew back a few days later via England. Delia
De Leon had been sent back to London ( 20th ) the day before Baba departed, and Charmian was staying on in Switzerland for a week ( 26th ) with friends.
Lord Meher Online Edition Page 3129
** When Charmian arrived to London she stayed with Delia for a week before travelling up to Scotland.
Webmaster
... additional
Air India had indicated that the labour strike might last a week, so alternative arrangements were urgently pursued by both Rano Gayley & Dr. Donkin. There was a lot of angst in trying to achieve getting 6 tickets together on one flight, eventually, it came about with Air France.
Instead of flying direct to Bombay, which was their original intentions, the flight took them as far as Karachi, Pakistan via Beirut, Lebanon. The remaining leg of their journey would be arranged in Karachi once they arrived.
A cable was sent to Minoo Kharas in Karachi, requesting him to meet Baba and the women Mandali at Karachi Airport the following day ( 22nd August )when their plane arrives.
Webmaster
Geneva to Paris ( Orly Airport ) - Flight 437
Departed Geneva at 5:40 pm and arrived Paris' Orly Airport at 7 pm. Change over to new plane 4 hours later.
They could have taken a later flight to Paris, but Baba insisted they leave on an earlier flight.
The long 4 hours wait were done at the airport.
** see the following web-page for more details on this visit. "Events-1952-Europe"
& "Events-1952-Overseas visits"
Webmaster
To read about this visit to the West in 1952 by Meher Baba visit the following web-page -
This visit consists of 7 web-pages.
* USA visit - * New York visit - * Myrtle Beach visit - * Prague, Oklahoma visit
GENEVA LANDMARKS
US - RUSSIAN SUMMIT TALKS 16th June 2021
