Swiss Chocolate Train

One of the benefits of using your Swiss Pass are the extra's you get with it. Swiss trains are extremely easy to understand and that much easier and carefree to ride.

Have a Sweet Day Trip with the Swiss Chocolate Tour! Every year over 50,000 visitors take a tour where you too can enjoy stunning views of the vineyards surrounding Montreux and medieval Gruyères while you continue to Broc, where the chocolate factory is marvelously situated between Lake Gruyères and the Alps.

Swiss Pass: take the most spectacular rail trips in the World

If you choose to ride the Swiss Chocolate Train, you will Ride in a Pullman "Belle Epoque" carriage vintage 1915 or the ultramodern panorama car enjoying stunning views of the vineyards surrounding Montreux and medieval Gruyères and continue to Broc, where the chocolate factory is marvelously situated between Lake Gruyères and the Alps.

You get:

• 1st class train travel from Montreux to Gruyères and Broc Factory, then return to Montreux.
• Seat reservation in either a Pullman Belle Epoque or panoramic car
• Complimentary coffee and croissants on the train
• Bus from and to Gruyères train station
• Admission into cheese factory and into castle in Gruyères
• Film presentation, factory visit and chocolate sampling at the Cailler-Nestlé chocolate factory
  

Packing Light For Travel

One way or another someone close to you has told you to make sure you pack light for your trip. But it always seems you still always pack a little too much. Since traveling to Europe, I've totally changed my way of packing and feel I've finally accomplished "packing light".

First off, you need to choose luggage that fits your needs but isn't too small for your travels. I would recommend something like an expandable carry on.






Here are a few more tips to make sure your trip is enjoyable:

If you’re not going to wear it more than three times, don’t pack it! Every piece of clothing you bring should match or complement each item or have at least two uses (e.g., sandals double as slippers, a scarf as a shoulder wrap). Make sure your shoes are comfortable and practicle for touring around the country.

Don't be afraid to wash your clothes while you are there. Sinks come in handy and you can get detergent from the store if you are unable to find a laundry mat. If you find yourself needing something on your trip, you can always buy something while you are there.

Don't overload yourself because your vacation should be fun and relaxing and not overwhelming!

Happy Traveling!

Lötschberg Tunnel Sees Light

After 11 years after it's initial ground breaking, the Lötschberg Tunnel has finally made history. And they are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Workers broke through the new base tunnel, which links the cantons of Bern and Valais, on Thursday. However, the tunnel is set to finish in another year and finally open for travel in 2007.

The piercing of the Lötschberg tunnel through the Alps can be considered yet another engineering marvel of the Swiss transport network. It is the link between the Southern Alps of the Valais and the Bernese Oberland area of Bern.

It was only in December that the backbone of the future rail network - a high-speed connection between Rothrist and Mattstetten - was opened with much ceremony.

The Lötschberg Tunnel, which is 34.6 kilometres long, will shave the travel time between Bern and Brig in canton Valais by a third. It will also shorten the journey between Germany and Milan by an hour.

Quite an exciting breakthrough for travelers and those who rely on train travel to get to Italy!

Swiss Hotel Quality Put to the Test

Switzerland's Hotel guests are to have their say on the quality of bed and board in Switzerland thanks to a new online rating system launched by tourism chiefs.

It is hoped that feedback from customers will increase competitiveness in the hotel sector and lead to an improvement in the quality of services offered.

The service is available in English, German, French, with Italian in the pipeline. Over 2,000 hotels are participating in this review for the next 12 months.

I think this will be a great addition, but I also think the number of participating hotels will have a factor in the success of these surveys.

I'm anxious to see what happens when we visit Switzerland in August!

Blog Boom In Switzerland

Yesterday I came across a few really interesting web blogs from Switzerland. One of the most interesting Blogs I came across was from Gregor. Another blog was by Stephanie who has an eclitic mix of travels and towns in Switzerland. What amazes me is their ability to speak the English language so well.

My best estimate of when the blog craze started in Switzerland was last June, but of course some started much earlier. Well I guess a few people in the US started about a year earlier than that, even during the fall of Sadam. But I'm one of the late comers to it all, starting only in February of 2005.

According to Swissinfo the land of cows, banks and chocolates is about to discover the blog - at least a little bit:

"The blogging phenomenon has made few waves in Switzerland, even though the country boasts 48 regular internet users for every 100 inhabitants."

“Only a few people here understand the term weblogs,” says Roger Fischer of Zurich-based Kaywa, which hosts around 350 blogs on its servers. Hitz points out that in the United States there are countless bloggers – estimates put the number at two to five per cent of the population.

“The Swiss probably feel they have less of a need to talk to other people than the Americans. It’s possible that our reserve stands in the way of a Swiss blog boom, because you have to expose yourself in a blog."

I find many of these sites Swiss much more interesting than a few of the other random blogs I have visited. Maybe its just luck or fascination with the country I've enjoyed living in.


What I do know is it's a great way to post history using the Internet.

Lake Geneva Region

Lake Geneva
Originally uploaded by Albatros22.

Swiss Mineral Water can be found in many springs practically in any area of Switzerland. While walking along any path you are likely to find springs in Switzerland of drinking quality.

You will find signs strictly detailing if the water is forbidden to drink. Feel free to fill up your water along your way.

Interestingly, Many of the springs have above-average mineral values, thanks to the rich native stone. Switzerland owes its large range of mineral waters to this natural fact.

In the Lake Geneva Region,
Henniez is the natural source. The beneficial effects of the waters of Henniez have been known since antiquity. During the journey through the Vaud and Fribourg foothills of the Alps to Broye valley in the vicinity of Lausanne, the water is enriched with valuable mineral salts and trace elements.

Aproz is located in the Valias, not far from canton Vaud. It springs from the vicinity of Nendaz and is known as the mineral water of Migros. Aproz along with being pure nature, contains a balanced composition of mineral salts.

Have a taste for yourself, as I think Switzerland's water is the best tasting in the world.

Scenic Views of Montreux

Fog of Montreux
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Just part of the beauty Montreux has to offer. This particular view is looking out towards Evian during the winter months. If you could see over those mountains, you would be able to see Chamonix.

Golden Pass View

Montreux Vineyards
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Once you begin your journey in Montreux, this is just a glimpse of the beginning of your journey. Once you start climbing higher up the mountain, you will be able to see more of the region and its beautiful views.

The Golden Pass Tour

The Swiss Travel System is incredibly comprehensive and includes rail, lake steamers and city transportation lines.

You'll want to take advantage of the Golden Pass Panoramic Tour which is one of the most scenic tours you can take in Switzerland.

The tour starts off in beautiful Montreux Switzerland and winds it way up the moutainside through the tiny Montreux villages and scenic view of the beautiful Lake Region of Lake Leman. At Col de Jaman, the train plunges through a tunnel into the mountains, changing valleys and heading for the world famous resorts of Châteaux d’Oex and Gstaad. You'll pass such famous picturesque towns as Gruyere, and Gstaad on your way to your train stop in Zweisimmen.

The line attains its culminating point (1,274m) before reaching Zweisimmen, from where the traveller can continue the trip with the GoldenPass Panoramic towards Interlaken and Lucerne.

It's worth your time to check out Switzerland by Rail

Rigi Mountain near Arth-Goldau

Rigi Mountain near Arth-Goldau
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

This is the beautiful Rigi Mountain in Switzerland. Dog walkers and naturists come out to walk all year long around this beautiful park. The view of the Rigi mountain range can be seen throughout the park.

Switzerland By Rail

One of the most cost effective ways to travel in Switzerland is by rail. Swiss trains are almost always on time, very clean and best of all you can catch any train you want to get to your destination. The Swiss Pass: take the most spectacular rail trips in the World is one of the best ways to get around.

Possibly you are interested in the Golden Pass Tour. Maybe I enjoy this tour because it goes through the beautiful area of Montreux. OR the fact that is covers the most beautiful areas in Switzerland within 6 days, hotel included.

Check out some of the scenic routes which save you $$$$. One of my favorites is the chocolate train which gives you a first class tour of the Gruyere cheese tasting and the Calier Chocolate factory of Nestle. At $22, how can you go wrong, and that includes tour admissions.


To check out the main page of rail europe below.

Business Hours in Switzerland

Generally, offices are open 8 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 5 pm on weekdays and closed on weekends. This might sound a bit unusual, but that is how things are run in Europe. Hours are different for each of the following.

Shops
Shops in smaller towns and villages are generally open from 8.30 am - 12 noon and again from 2 - 6.30 pm. Some stores even open by 7:30 am such as your local super market, but might vary from one town to the next. In larger cities stores do not close for lunch. In larger cities, shops generally extend their hours till 8 pm on one evening of the week, usually on Thursdays.

I would say most towns open until 8pm on Thursdays. As well, note most stores close by 4pm on Saturdays and are extremely crowded. The exception will be during Christmas holidays when stores have extended hours. Train stations will usually have shops open until 8pm daily.

Banks
Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Once a week they extend their hours (this most of the time I see happens on Saturdays until 1pm). But you will have to check locally. They are closed Saturdays, Sundays and on public holidays. However, money can also be changed at major train stations. Look for the "Change/Cambio" signs.

Many banks have automated teller machines (ATMs) that accept overseas bank cards. Check with your local bank before leaving if your bank card is valid in Switzerland.

Post Offices
Post offices are usually open from 8 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 5 pm on weekdays, whereas some branches that are located in shopping centers are usually open the same hours as the shopping centers, including the extended business times that are often offered once a week. On Saturdays, post offices in large cities are opern from 8.30 am till 12 noon, in villages they may be closed. But make sure you take a ticket to stand in line and allow yourself plenty of time to get what you need done.

Swiss Pop Music

Swiss Pop Music in Europe and around Switzerland produces some of the coolest music around. Most bands play in local pubs and are absolutely appreciated on a level unseen in the US. It's not about the money, it's about enjoying and appreciating what music really is.

If you get a chance to travel throughout Europe or Switzerland, make sure you check out some of the music in the area.

Check out some of the Swiss Music unique to Switzerland here:

Swiss Pop Music

Einstein Museum in Bern Re-opens

Einstein's home was window on the universe and it all started in Switzerland.

One of the places I never really even realized existed is the Albert Einstein Museum in Bern. After undergoing a renovation, The Albert Einstein museum has reopened in Bern. The museum provids a glimpse of the scientist’s quiet but productive life in the Swiss capital.

It was exactly 100 years ago in this modest apartment in the city’s old town that Einstein churned out some of his most significant physics papers.

Here are a few more interesting facts about Einstein.

Facts:

- Albert Einstein was born in Ulm, Germany, on March 14, 1879.

- His family moved shortly afterwards to Munich, then to Italy and finally to Switzerland.

- He continued his education in Aarau and in 1896 he entered Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology to train as a maths and physics teacher.

- In 1901 he became a Swiss citizen and a year later began working at Bern’s Patent Office.

- In 1909 he took up a teaching position in Zurich and moved on to Prague in 1911.


- Einstein died on April 18, 1955 in Princeton, New Jersey..

For a chance to go check out the Museum for yourself, you can find out more information about Bern's Kramgasse at the Bern Historical Museum.

Traveling on a Budget

If you are like most of us, you are probably on some sort of budget when you are traveling. This great magazine outlines some great budget savy ideas for the traveler in all of us. And it's priced within our budget. I always think if I can get one good tip that will save me money, it's worth getting the magazine.





Don't forget to follow your dreams. ;-)

The Swiss Way

The Swiss Way is a funny true book, written to understand the Swiss mentality and differnces between cultures in one small country. (What is a Luftschutzkeller?) As a Swiss you will realize how others see the Swiss... and that much of it is quite true!

Rather Bilton, an Englishman, comments on the culture he learned after marrying a Swiss woman and living in her country for the last 10 years or so. His insights into the Swiss people, particularly their attitudes, behaviors, and societal structure are insightful and often hilarious.

Switzerland is surprisingly diverse and too often overlooked by those studying European history and culture. It's easy to not look beyond the image of banks, watches, and chocolates to get to know the people behind the stereotypes. This witty book cuts to the chase and is at times quite irreverant, though certainly not offensive. It's one thing to eat rösti. It's another to understand the röstigraben.


This book explains both.

The Swiss Way

Backpacking in Switzerland

Backpacking your way throughout the mountains of Switzerland is a common past time for most Swiss. Whether it is a small stroll to one of the glaciers or a more advanced planned out hike, Switzerland has much to offer.

Whether you are on a short vacation or living in Europe, trekking throughout Switzerland is a must experience.

All of Switzerland is marked by yellow signs which nicely point you towards your destination. There is a great yahoo group made up of people who live in Switzerland who go on hiking trips on the weekends or holidays.

Most can agree, your journey will be filled with lush forest, beautiful scenary and most definitely a great view at some point in your mountain adventures.

One hike I have enjoyed is quite simple but scenic.

Along the way you will pass through Glion, Caux, Les Avants then to Roches de Naye. It's close enough that you won't feel overwhelmed and far up the mountain that you will see everything. The train is super slow, passes through villages and is great for taking scenic pictures.

In one hour, you climb by rack railway train from the palm trees on the lake shore to the edelweiss flowering above. Modern or steam, the cog railways meander between lake, forests and high mountain pastures taking less than an hour to reach the summit of more than 2,000 m.

You will have a very scenic ride.

There are certainly many other hikes, in fact starting only by foot in Montreux. And to help you out with all of your hikes, check out a must use book : Backpacking Switzerland

I found it really useful for all of my hikes....

Jen

Swiss Flag Atop Rigi

DSCF0261_3
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Just one of the beautiful sights to take up on a boat ride along the Lucern

Brushing up on a foreign language

Before traveling to a foreign country, it is always nice to be able to speak a bit of the language or at least understand what someone is saying.

Emerging yourself in the language is of course the best way to learn a language. However, when your partner or most of your friends speak your native language it is even more difficult to break from the habit of speaking your native language.

Even if you take 15 minutes a day to learn or brush up on a foreign language, the payoffs in the long run will be notable. For me, Learning French is something I have been working on for 10 years or more. I took classes when I was young but then took a 9 year break from any type of learning. It has hurt me a lot as a result.

If you learn anything like me, the best way to Learning French is to immerse yourself completely in the language and not speak any English whatsoever.

Since I am going to Switzerland over the summer, I will be brushing up on both languages, Learning French as well as Learning German


To find out more on what I use go to :Learning French OR
Learning German

As the French say, the best way to learn the language is through the pillow.

To success in learning any language.

Jen

Mighty mouse gearing up for more growth

There is nothing timid about the mouse at computer peripherals company Logitech. It’s been roaring to success for years and this looks set to continue. Who could have guessed this great little company started out of Switzerland by 2 co-founders.

I can certainly vouch for the quality.

This is what the founder had to say about the future:

G.D.L.: We expect to continue the road of double-digit growth that the company has been on for seven consecutive years. You don’t see many in technology who do it that way... We have made investments this year that make us think that we can continue at this pace in the foreseeable future. We have a $3 billion Logitech target which is not just a sales target. It’s more an indication of size – twice the size of Logitech today.


See the rest of the interview here:
Swiss Info

Travel 50 and Beyond

Traveling can be one of the most thrilling adventures you take in your lifetime. Once the kids have left the house and you are now back on your own, is the perfect time to travel. Take for instance the couple on this seasons' "The Amazing Race". They have survived to travel around the world with younger people. What does it show? When you are older, you can still travel and have the time of your life.

That's why I recommend Travel 50 and Beyond Magazine which is written and designed specifically for readers 50 and older.

Travel 50 and Beyond offers tips on getting terrific senior discounts on airfares, hotels, rental cars and attractions. The magazine features top weekend getaways, beautiful driving vacations and irresistible undiscovered places.

Traveling is the best gift I have given myself and highly recommend experiencing the world.

To your future travels.

Jen

Guide to Switzerland 2

I actually buckled down and bought a new book last week. Now it might sound funny coming from someone who actually lived in Switzerland for 2 years, but I figured if I could get just one tips out of the book it would pay for itself.

First off, the book has this silky soft cover which draws you in. The photography in the book is actually rather up to date, compared to a few others that I saw. I liked the book because it was so detailed with explanations of all of the main areas of Switzerland.

It has paid for itself already in tips. I've gathered some great information on renting a car and also just some of the history of Switzerland. I've only been skimming the book so far, but I know I've gathered up more than one great tip.

To check out the book yourself find: Rough The Guide to Switzerland 2

Visiting Switzerland DVD

I'm a pretty big fan of Rick Steves. He really does go to all of the places he recommends and finds a few off the beaten paths of places to visit. What I have noticed is that he does his homework.

Why not go for trusting from someone who knows best.

Forget the book - watch the stunning DVD of Rick Steves- Best of Travels in Europe. This DVD set includes (British Isles/France/Spain & Portugal/Germany, Austria & Switzerland/Italy/Greece, Turkey, Israel & Egypt).

I'm sure you'll be ready for your trip to Europe once you watch this. It certainly got me ready!

go to Rick Steves

Rick Steve's Switzerland

Who but Rick Steves can tell you the best way to visit Zürich, Gimmelwald, the Berner Oberlander, Interlaken, Bern, Murten, Lake Geneva, and French Switzerland?

And the reason why I like him is because his tips are up to date and he has gone and actually visited these places, unlike most tourist books, which tend to think they know what they are talking about but are far from that!

With Rick Steves' Switzerland 2005,, you can experience everything Switzerland has to offer-economically and hassle-free. Rick Steves' Switzerland 2005 includes color maps and photos, opinionated coverage of both famous and lesser-known sights; friendly places to eat and sleep; suggested day plans; walking tours and trip itineraries; clear instructions for smooth travel anywhere by car, train, or foot; and Rick's newest "back door" discoveries.

America's number one authority on travel to Europe, Rick's time-tested recommendations for safe and enjoyable travel in Switzerland have been used by millions of Americans in search of their own unique travel experience.

For more information on Rick Steve's travels click on the link... or go search for his website!

I'll be seeing you in Switzerland!

Jen

Montreux Quai and Marketplace

DSCF0108_1
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

This famous fountain is great for cooling off on those hot summer days. The marketplace boasts a wonderful view along with the famous Freddy Mercury Statue just meters away.

The Swiss Rivera is a must see on anyone itenerary in Switzerland. Don't be surprised at the casual thunder storm in the summer time however short they may be.

Swiss Flag

DSCF0260_3
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

The famous Swiss flag blowing in the wind on our boat ride on the Lake of Lucerne.

Rigi Kulm

DSCF0258_3
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

This is the station going up to the top of the Rigi mountain range. This area boasts a great view and is a must see!

Vitznau Switzerland

DSCF0257_3
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Beautiful town of Vitznau along the Rigi

The Swiss Museum Pass

Better known as a Swiss Museum Passport, should be one of the must gets if you are planning a trip to Switzerland. In just 3 visits within 1 single month, your pass will pay for itself. I'm guessing most museum costs are about the same, so by paying 30CHF for the pass, it is well worth it's weight in gold.

You can get a Swiss Museum pass, (Schweizer Museumspass, Passeport mussees suisses, Passaporto musei svizzeri), adn the little booklet giving addresses and opening times from larger tourist offices, branches of ticket corner and the ticket desk of any museum in the scheme. They all display a sticker too! This will give you entry to over 300 museums!

Check it out at www.museums.ch/pass

Basic Swiss Facts

Switzerland is roughly the same size as Wales or West Virginia. The total population of Switzerland is about 7.3 million people, 5.8 million who are Swiss citizens.

Each of the 26 Cantons (based on regions) in Switzerland have its own constitution, parliment, government and courts along with the 2942 communes. Essentially each canton is its own tiny little governing republic, giving each one its own unique flavor.

Although the Swiss value their identity, they also value their own unique home-town differences from their neighbors.

Local pride is fueled by traditional folklore customs and canival/fasnatch festivals. The most exuberant festivals are located in Luzern, Basel, and Bern featuring bands, masked parades and spontaneous partying for a week at a time.

Watch making, textiles and tourism are the major strengths for the Swiss economy, along with the up and growing medical industry of Basel. IT hasn't been until recently that the Swiss are now entering a multi-ethical existence.

For this small, little guarded country, Switzerland has plenty more to offer than most visitors expect.

Lake Geneva

Lake Geneva (known to the locals as Lac Leman), is the largest freshwater lake in Western Europe. The Rhone river dumps into the lake at one end just between the mountains of the Valais entering at Villeneuve. So much debris from the river is flushed into the lake daily that you will see many unusal shaped ships transporting rocks out of the river entrance.

The section of Vevey and Montreux on the Lake of Geneva is by far my favorite area. Maybe I am biased because I happened to live there for a period of two years. From one side, you have the view as far as the Dents Du Midi and over towards Bouveret which is famous for the swiss vapeur parc along with the Aquaparc. Both can get quite crowded in the summer. I'd recommend the area of the Aquaparc where swimming is near by and goes out onto the lake.

St. Gingolph is close by as well. This area lacks crowds and is a beautiful change quite unlike the areas of Montreux and Vevey. On the Swiss side you will find a few pleasant cafe and restaurants while on the French side, a great little beach. This area however, is not connected by the train. Use the boat to get to this area...

The Cheese of Gruyere

This is one tour that I have heard nothing but rants about.

Gruyere is actually a perfectly preserved old castle-village, all of one street long, and within reach from Lake Geneva. Gruyere is known as one of Switzerland's most photogenic sights, while attracting many visitors in the peak touring season.

Gruyere is known for its cheeses. Le Gruyère AOC is a cheese with a long tradition and its making has been handed down over many generations of cheesemakers both in the alpine and village cheese dairies. Tasting such a great cheese is within your reach at the end of the tour.

Along with the cheese of Gruyere, you should not miss out the famous chocolate train to Nestle chocolate factory near Bulle. The village Broc will lead you to the tiny resort of Charmey . You'll soon detect the luscious scents from the Nestle chocolate factory.

Nestle's most famous brand is Cailler. Be sure to take this tour as you will be able to taste the bite sized chunks to your hearts content.

Both of these tours can be done together. There are trains which leave either from Lausanne or the areas of Vevey and Montreux. Then a bus or train can be taken from the area of Palezieux to the top. Parking is also available...

To check out more information on both, go to http://www.lamaisondugruyere.ch/

Switzerland in August

Well,

It's final. We have made our reservations going back to my favorite place in the world to live, Switzerland. I can't wait to be there for our short stay, but I think it will be a lot of fun visiting all of my friends. It's been a year since I've been there already...

Can't wait, but the planning now begins. I'll be sure to gather up some great facts. I was looking at Chateau Chillion, which I had a view of from the house. I never went on a tour there, but they have some wine that I am tempted to try this time. The reviews say the tour is great. LoL - I've had friends who have gone. Maybe its the views on a wonderful day that make people say it is terrific..

Did you know that St. Gingolph is partly in Switzerland and partly in France. Half or some of the city is part of Switzerland while part of it is in France. St. Gingolph is a great little city to get to by bike or boat, while viewing the lake. It is small so don't get your hopes up... The beauty makes up for all of it though...

Swiss Expo 2005 a Hit!

Expo 2005 opened last month just outside the Japanese city of Nagoya. An estimated 15 million people are expected to visit the exhibition during its six-month run.

The Swiss pavilion at the 2005 World Exhibition in Japan is proving to be a hit with visitors, attracting a steady flow of 5,000 people per day. I guess it's much better than the flop of the 2002 expo in Switzerland. Although, I did enjoy the expo very much. However at times, the lines were way too long!

Switzerland dealing with Nigerian funds scandal

Germany has extradited to Switzerland the son of late Nigerian dictator Sani Abacha, in connection with the embezzlement of billions of dollars of Nigerian funds.

Abba Abacha was charged on Friday morning with money laundering, fraud, breach of trust and membership of a criminal organisation, according to Geneva prosecutor Daniel Zappelli.

To read more about this interesting story
go here: Nigerian Funds

Swiss Coffee Tea and Water

I would say most Swiss drink a combination of tea, coffee and water on a regular basis.

In the Swiss German area, coffee is known as kaffee creme for coffee with cream and sugar, and Milchkaffee with fresh milk. Kaffee fertig is coffee with Schnapps.

In Romandie, cafe au lait is the common known coffee with milk.

Tea (Tee, the, te) have a variety of styles much like most of Europe where you have creme or milk in your tea. However, you will find your ice tea (eistee, the froid, te freddo) are all sugary drinks of ice tea.

Water is safe to drink all over Switzerland, whether from taps or from the public street fountains that you see dotted throughout many villages and towns. These fountains almost always gush out pure spring water.

Now if that is hard to believe this mineral water (mineralwasser, eau minerale, acqua minerale), come up to a popular trough to watch all of the locals with many refillable bottles getting their months supply of the stuff for free.

Of course there are just a few exceptions which will always be marked "kein trinkwasser", "eau non potable" or "acqua non potable". Also it is not so recommended that you get water from open streams as they may have been used by the cows in the area.

Hotel Aulac Switzerland

Hotel Aulac Switzerland
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

I've been quite excited all week. Was finally able to comfirm my ability to take a 2 wk vacation. What does that mean? We are going to Switzerland, back to my life I had to leave behind....

Sunset Lausanne

Sunset Lausanne
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Just after Sunset, so beautiful...

Lausanne Switzerland

Lausanne Switzerland
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Wonderful view of Lake Geneva and the French Alps in the background.

Lausanne Harbor

Lausanne Harbor
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

March 2003 Beautiful sunset

Logitech mouse Started in Switzerland

Did you know that popular mouse you probably use for your computer first started up in Switzerland. I'm sure you are familiar with the brand Logitech. I mean who doesn't?? I know personally the first time I bought their product, I was so impressed and it was high in quality...

Who knew a popular product of the silicon valley was first started in Switzerland!

Daniel Borel was actually the co-founder of computer mouse maker Logitech.
He is known as one of Switzerland's best-known businessmen – and a role model for entrepreneurs.

Here are a few interesting questions from a recent article by Swiss info:

swissinfo: Would you start your company here in Switzerland?
 
D.B.: I don’t think the issue of location is so important per se. For instance, even for Logitech today, we often still find the best engineers in Switzerland. The [best Americans] might go directly to Microsoft or Intel or wherever. So where you want to be is largely based on what size and type of business you are, and whom you can attract.

On the financial side, Switzerland is also pretty good. It is obviously not Silicon Valley in terms of venture capital, but there is plenty of money. So Switzerland can be a good place to start – then you grow and conquer the world.

swissinfo: What in particular do you think the Swiss do well?
 
D.B.: They tend to be good at developing products at the intersection of different technologies. By education, we are trained to look at many different fields. If I take the example of engineers, when you graduate you know software, hardware, mechanics, optics – very broad knowledge. [US engineers] might be better in more specific fields, for instance semi-conductors or software.

 

To get the full interview go here:

The Swiss Travel Industry

Here are a few key facts about Switzerland and the visitors that flock to see it...

1. The Swiss tourism industry generates revenues of more than SFr22 billion annually.

2. Swiss tourism is the third-largest export sector behind the engineering and chemical industries.

3. More than 165,000 people work in tourism – 5.2% of all employed people in the country.

Being able to live in Switzerland for more than 2.5 years, I can vouch that Switzerland is
definitely a must see destination...

The Pope In Switzerland

Did you know Pope John Paul II made 3 trips to Switzerland during his 26 years as head of the Catholic Church.

His first official trip was on June 16, 1984 where he touched down in the Sion, canton of Valais. Sion has a well known air strip housing many of the trips for the Swiss Army's training. The mountains in this region are very known for their hair pin turns and maneuvors. No wonder it is used by many nations as a training ground.

Pope John Paul II spent six days in total touring Switzerland, during which he visited 14 towns and cities. Talk about a large travel schedule.

In 1982, on an unofficial trip to Geneva, he visited some of the international organisations based in the city.

Last June, 2004 he spent two days in the "Protestant" capital, Bern, where he attended a youth gathering of 13,000, and was present at a Mass which drew an estimated 70,000 of the faithful. Unfortunately I had already left onward back to North America at that time. What a scene that must have been.

Traveling by Car in Switzerland

Car Travel in Switzerland

Travelling by car in Switzerland is very convient, as villages and towns are very well marked and accessable. The road conditions are excellent in the summers and in the winters. All green road signs indicate an autobahn, better known as the highway to English speakers, blue signs are secondary roads and white signs back roads.

Car travel in Switzerland is far different than by traveling via train. My first four months in Switzerland, I only saw Switzerland by train. Once I had gone for a Car ride, I was shocked at the differences I saw. Both are quite impressive.

One useful tidbit of information if you decide to travel by car is that the highways are subject to a toll, but not really in the same way one might think. There is a vignette (better known as a sticker) which you must put somewhere on your car. These little stickers can be bought in gas stations or at the customs office.

The cost is about sFr. 40- and valid for one year. Don't even think about trying to steal one of these stickers. They stick like glue and are far too hard to remove without anything but rasor blade.

You must obtain a separate vignette for a trailer or caravan. If your vehicle doesn't bear a properly affixed vignette and the Swiss police catch you driving on an expressway, you'll be subject to a 100 sFr fine-on top of the vignette's cost. They are usually very slacked in the first month of the new year.

Speed

The speedlimit is 120 km/h (74 mph) on the autobahn, 100km in tunnels, 80 km/h (50 mph) on secondary roads outside of towns and 50 km/h (30 mph) in towns if not indicated differently. Roadside automatic radar-triggered cameras help enforce these limits. Police are empowered to collect fines on the spot. Some areas are much more harsh on speeding. The canton of Aarau dones not have a single radar camera. My Swiss friend explained the reason to me, but basically it was because they voted against it.

Now this might sound scary but basically the most popular areas will have a radar camera. If you are driving on the autobahn, most Swiss will slow down in these areas, kinda giving you a sign that a radar is near.

You will find the speed limits are quite fast. But make sure you obey the rules of the road. Nobody is to drive on the left lane unless you are passing. The right hand lane is reserved for slower vehicles. If you find yourself driving in the left lane more often than not, watch out because you will probably find a faster car behind you wanting to get by. The Swiss are quite good drivers.

Some helpful need to know hints

For travellers with motorhomes it's to say, that even large motorhomes can travel through the alp passes. the roads are well maintained and large enough even for trucks. Many Dutch seem to prefer this method of traveling.

Remember, Switzerland is a very small Country (ca. 250x400 km) and you can easely drive from one end to another in 3 - 5 Hours if you stick to the highways. If you plan to travel Switzerland by car, take your time, you can plan to see lots of places in a short amount of time. But make sure you compensate for those mountains or you will find your trip taking longer than you thought. No destination is just a straight drive from destination A to B.

The minimum age of a driver is 18 years. Seat belts are compulsory for front and rear-seat passengers. The legal blood alcohol limit is 0.08 .

The mountain resort towns of Braunwald, Murren, Wengen and Zermatt cannot be reached directly by private motor vehicle. Park at the railway or sky tram station and complete the journey via public transport.

Trams always have priority. Buses have priority when leaving a bus stop. Traffic going up a mountain has priority. Some mountain roads require one-way traffic during certain hours only; these hours will be posted at either end of such roads. Remember there are also many round abouts. You must signal when you exit out, with priority to your right.

Parking

Many towns have Blue Zones that restrict parking during the period 8am to 7pm on weekdays. Obtain discs free of charge from ACS or TCS motoring club offices or at fuel stations, kiosks, police stations, and garages. Wheel clamps are in use and can be a rude awakening if you don't follow the parking procedures. Ask others if you are not sure!


Fuel stations along expressways are usually open from 6:00 a.m. to 10pm or midnight. Outside of open hours fuel is commonly available from automatic pumps that accept 10 and 20 sFR bills or credit cards from the pay machines (same as in a normal self service pump). Many stations accept major charge cards like Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

Only unleaded fuel is available in 95 or 98 octan. Unleaded petrol is called bleifrei, essence sans plomb, or benzina sensa piomba. Diesel is called diesel and LPG is called autogas.

Prizes for bleifrei range from SFr. 1.35.- to 1.50.- depending on the oil price. Disel is usually a bit more expensive, but well worth it.

Traveling Switzerland

While traveling to Switzerland, the Language is one of the most fascinating around.

There are actually 4 official languages in Switzerland.

German is spoken by about 64 percent of the population.

French only is spoken in about 19 percent, mostly the regions of Canton Vaud, Valais, Geneve and Biel, Fribourg, Jura, and Neuchâtel.

Italien is spoken mostly in the south in Tincino at about 7 percent.

The fourth national language is Romansh and is only spoken by less than 1 percent of the population in the area of the Grisons, canton of Graubünden, which is mostly extending from the areas past Chur moving towards Davos and over towards St. Moritz. Romanish is the language the Swiss are trying to preserve since it is a dying dialect and quite hard to come across if you are just a tourist.

In a majority of the cantons the most commonly spoken language is Schwyzertütsch, known to most as Swiss German. Swiss German is an Allemanic dialect of German differing vastly from both written German and other German dialects. It's so different that it basically is known by the Swiss as an additional language.

Interestingly enough all newspapers and magazines are written in standard German, so travelers don't have to worry about not being able to understand Swiss German. I tend to think of Swiss German as a dialect with a lot of French words in it. However, Swiss German is so complex that the dialect differs from one Canton to the next. It differs enough that a local can probably tell you which region of Switzerland you are from!

German is the language of many theater, motion picture, and television productions. In all, Swiss German is by far the most popular. You will find most Swiss able to speak High German because this is the language studied in schools. You will find the areas of Basel and Canton Bern/Biel and Fribourg to be the most popular area to find French, English and Swiss German spoken....

Clouds

Clarens CH
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

The beauty of the Swiss Riviera. This is a quai near where I lived.

Vineyards Montreux

Spring Vineyards Montreux
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Montreux's Majestic beauty is just something you cannot pass up. This photo was something I took a look at daily.

The Japanese and their Swiss mountains

One of the most popular regions for tourists is in the area of Grindelwald or the area of Interlaken. The area is known for it's vast mountains, including the Eiger mountain range which is the tallest in Europe.

Of course the area is full of many hiking trails along with many winter and summer activities. The region is definitely a source of majestic beauty. To read more about Grindelwald go here: