Blogs from Switzerland, Europe

Gruezi from Switzerland! Hope everyone is doing fine and getting ready for summer – we’re not quite there yet weather wise in Wengen but today is sunny as opposed to raining so it’s looking pretty good! And more importantly we haven’t had any more snow! I’ve had quite a bit going on since I last wrote but it’s been fun and very enjoyable and seems to have involved mainly food… Firstly, I’ve eaten way too many cakes in Café Schuh down in Interlaken – I think I need to throw a cake at some old lady or something just to get banned, but the cakes and desserts are just too nice – I also treated myself to a Hot Berry Ice Crea... read more

Hello again and hello summer! Actually scrap that…. WINTER has returned…!! I started writing this blog a few days ago – I was sat on my beautiful balcony, the sun was shining and the snow had virtually disappeared, it really did seem as if spring has been completely by-passed here in Wengen… and that summer had arrived. Temperatures went from about 4c one day to 24c the next… but yesterday we got snow… and not just a little bit – this morning we have over 14inches of the chilly white stuff – so the flip flops have gone back in the wardrobe and t... read more

Lugano, 31. März (Ostersonntag) Wir haben auf dem Campingplatz einen ehemaligen Arbeitskollegen getroffen, welcher aber noch im Berufsleben steht. Er verbringt wie wir die Ostertage mit seiner Frau in Lugano. Am Morgen werden wir von herrlichem Sonnenschein geweckt. Das Thermometer zeigt zwar erst 5° C, aber heute sollte es warm werden. Wir benutzen den schönen Tag und machen mit unseren Bekannten eine Wanderung von Agno aus um den Monte Caslano. Die Wanderung über ca. 17 km war wunderschön, wenn auch zeitweise ein lästiger Nordwind blies. Die Bergspitzen strahlten noch immer im weissen Kleid des Winters während im Flachland die Forsythien, Kamelien und Magnolien blühen.... read more

Switzerland has got to be the most beautiful country that I've come across thus far. With a soft spot for breathtaking scenery and incredible landscapes, I have been in awe by what I've seen: the snow-capped alps, crystal clear lakes and lush greenery. Riding on the high speed train and admiring what nature brings to us has got to be my next favourite hobby! And on top of that, Swiss adds the human touch to the whole experience, with friendly locals, people and an ingrained tourism culture. This post shall summarise the interesting encounters and the most memorable experiences in the week spent in this amazing country. Zurich: Most memorable experience - catching the sunset with the view of the city from the square outside the university. Schaffhausen: Most memorable experience - closed-up observation of watching ... read more

A labrador outruns its master on the other side of the river, getting in and out of the morning shadows sweeping the meadow. Treetops and the gabled roofs of ancient houses reflect in the blue-green waters. An idyllic European scene plays out on the shores of the Rhine. I follow its course. I boarded a train to this old Swiss town just across the German border because of its proximity to Rhine fall. The river leaps 23 metres near Schaffhausen to form Europe’s largest waterfall. At the fall, the river is about 150 metres wide. And there I was, on a silly search for the superlative in Switzerland. At the railway station, I looked up a map and found I could trace the river a few streets away and then follow it until the fall. No ... read more

The weary barefoot traveller sat on the bridge’s parapet, gazing at the river. Her robe thrown off in discomfort, the suitcase dusty from her travels across the country, the spear and shield devoid of any desire for action, the plump woman contemplates her destiny. I did not recognise her at first. Then I saw the laurel wreath in her hand, and the robe, and the spear. She has gained weight and lost some of the majesty since I last saw her on a postal stamp. It is Helvetia, the female personification of Switzerland. Bettina Eichin released Helvetia from the stamp, and the coin, so that she could tour the country she represents. The sculptor saw the emblematic woman hunched over the bridge on the Rhine in Basel. Since 1980 the bronze figure has been an icon ... read more