Saying I Do in Switzerland

Switzerland is set to attract more people to the Bernese Oberland but maybe a bit differently than you might think. Most people would think to take a vacation atop the famous Mountain tops of Interlaken, but it isn't the case any more.

How about having your wedding atop a mountain? Well now you can...

Authorities and tourism officials in canton Bern have come together to say "I do" by permitting couples to wed in scenic locations in the Bernese Oberland which is a well known area for foreigners spending their vacations while in Switzerland.

Starting on July 1, couples can marry atop mountains, aboard trains and inside medieval castles. Switzerland is trying to attract more foreigners to the region and they plan to do so by offering a scenic alternative in saying "I do".

The ten new locations throughout Switzerland are:

-The historic restaurant at the Blue Lake near Kandersteg.
-Grand hotel Giessbach on the shores of Lake Brienz.
-Heritage train, Eiger Ambassador Express, on top of the Kleine Scheidegg pass.
-Harder Kulm restaurant above Interlaken.
-The revolving restaurant on the Schilthorn mountain.
-Spiez castle on the shores of Lake Thun.
-The panorama restaurant, Alpen Tower, at the top of the Meiringen-Hasliberg ski resort.
-The mountain hotel, Leiterli, in the alpine resort of Lenk-Betelberg.
-The mountain restaurant, Rellerli, near Gstaad.
-The heritage steamboat, MS Spiez, anchored offshore from the Schadau villa outside Thun.

If at anything, all of the areas present great touring ideas on your next trip into Switzerland.

Summer Concerts in Switzerland

There are numerous summer festivals and concerts all around Switzerland this summer. Some of the festivals I have been to and others I have not. Here are a list of some of the great shows out there this Summer.

Zurich Festival: June 17-July 10.

Frauenfeld Open Air: June 17-19.
(I've been here - it's all in the line up. The outdoor vendors were great but the lack of shade does take a toll on you. Bring a hat!)

Montreux Jazz Festival: July 1-16.

Open Air St Gallen: July 1-3.

Lugano Estival Jazz: July 1-9.

Moon and Stars '05: July 9-16 .

Live at Sunset Zurich: July 14-24.

Gurten festival in Bern: July 14-17.

Menuhin Festival Gstaad: July 16-September 3.

Paléo Festival, Nyon: July 19-24. (George Clinton will be there.)

Open Air Gampel: August 18-21.

Rock tops the list of the summer Festivals. The Montreux Jazz Festival is one of these highlights with far more than just jazz to offer, including many artisans and ethnic foods. Some of the line up includes : Ex-Fugees singer Lauryn Hill, former Beach Boys vocalist Brian Wilson and singer-songwriter Elvis Costello are just some of the mainstream names scheduled to appear at the two-week event, which starts on July 1.

Smoking Ban To Take Place in Switzerland

Smoking is more the norm in Switzerland or at least it is far more accepted than our neighbors of North America. Yet, another movement to banning smokers is about to go into effect at the end of this year in Switzerland.

Smoking will be banned in Switzerland’s trains, buses, and boat services as well as inside transport company buildings from December 11, 2005.

"The Public Transport Union (PTU) said protecting passengers against passive smoking was more important than individual freedoms."

I for one am very happy for this change since it is quite a burden when you have to walk through the smoke just to get into a non-smoking cabin. Other advantages will include not having to pass up every car you go by. I just hope the unwelcome odor will also go with the smoking ban. Unfortunately, this will not take place until the end of the year.

At least there is a healthier advance around the world now towards living in a smoke free world. Here are two great resources to find smoke free areas while you are going out in Switzerland.

http://www.smokefreeworld.com/switz.shtml
http://www.eat-smokefree.ch/

Cruising On Lake Geneva

Cruises along the Lake of Geneva are very popular. There are a variety of cruises which can be enjoyed from any part of the lake.

Some popular cruises include Going from Nyon to Yvoire. Yvoire is a medival town in France. The easiest way to get there is to go via boat. There is a lot of charm and certainly a place to check out. We will be visiting Yvoire on our August tour. Trip time is about 20 minutes each way.

Another great tour is from Lausanne to Evian. I've made this trip many times and absolutely recommend it. Evian Les Bains is known for its casino, thermal bath and spa, as well as the famous mountain spring water. Many small little restaurants line the shores. Stroll into old town and visit the shops or go swimming along the shores of the lake at the world class swimming facility. Evian les bains is a picturesque quite town to enjoy an afternoon enjoying the calm and comfort of the other side of the lake.

The Last journey I can recommend is either starting at Vevey or Montreux and going over to St.Gingolph or Le Bourveret. They both have quaint little restaurants but Le Bouveret has a bit more to offer for the kids with a steam train and a nice water park. St. Gingolph is a bit interesting because you can go into France and back and still be in the same city.

One Quick Tip - You can use any Swiss Pass along with any of the boats at no extra cost. However, if you don't choose the Swiss Pass and go with the Eurorail pass, you will have to pay an extra fee to get on any boat. Whichever of the journey's on the Lake of Geneva you choose, I am sure you will enjoy quite a memerable journey.

Nyon's quiet scenic beauty

Nyon has been a popular lakefront resort since the Victorian era, yet it is very quiet and often missed by many tourists. Masses of flowers decorate its waterfront quays. In Roman times Julius Caesar used the settlement here as a military outpost for his soldiers.

As major stopover on the lake steamer route to places such as Yvoire and Evian Les Bains, Nyon is ideal for walks and relaxing. This is perfectly fine with me since it will be part of our stop in August.

You can, in fact, take a walk around the town walls known as Promenade des Vieilles Murailles. The walk goes along the 19th-century town walls until the promenade broadens into the Esplanade des Marronniers from which the most stunning panorama unfolds. You can also wander around at leisure, enjoying the flower-filled park and quays bordering the yachting harbor.

Further into the Jura, you can enjoy a train ride to St-Cergue. The views here are stunning and definitely worth visiting this hidden gem. Take advantage of this small town. I'll be back to give you an update once we have visited this summer.

Montreux Palace & Jazz Festival

Montreux Palace
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

The Montreux Jazz Festival will begin on July 1st of this year on the shores of the Swiss Rivera in Montreux. The main location which takes place just steps away from the Montreux Palace fills up every year during this time.

The Montreux Jazz Festival will celebrate its 39th year with it's founder Claude Nobs, who was born in Territet, is still at the helm.

Claude founded the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1967. Other types of music have since supplemented the jazz concerts, including: pop, rock, blues, Brazilian, reggae, rap and techno.

The 39th Montreux Jazz Festival runs from July 1-16, with a number of festival venues, including the Congress Centre and the Casino Barrière.

In addition to concerts, there will be competitions for various instruments and workshops, all which take place closer to the Montreux main shopping center.

When I was living in Montreux, we could hear the music from the house and would walk down the hill to participate in the festivities.

montreux train

montreux train
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

The SBB rail line travels rather close to people at times. In Villeneuve, which is just next to montreux, it's rather a nice scene to see for picture taking. I was pretty surprised my small little camera actually got a great shot of this train passing by. As you can see this is a typical train in Switzerland.

Rail Chaos Yesterday for Commuters

Believe it or not, I guess you had to be in the right place at the right time to have such luck with the Swiss Rail system yesterday. This just happened to be the case for one of my Swiss friends who decided to make his trek home via bike instead of rail yesterday afternoon.

If it were not for his ability to bike home yesterday, he too would have been one of the many unlucky ones who was stuck without rail transportation home during the evening commute.

The Rail outtage started from The Ritom power plant near the Gotthard tunnel. Read the entire story from
Swiss info.

Sunset Lausanne, Ouchy

Sunset Lausanne
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Ouchy is a lakeside region located on the shores of Lac Leman in Lausanne. Ouchy boasts a wonderful quai on which to stroll, chill out, and enjoy the mountain views and fresh breezes.

As you can see, Ouchy is also a great place to enjoy incredible sunsets at any time of the year. In particular, I took this sunset photo of Ouchy in March, 2002.

Ouchy is a separate commune from Lausanne. Ouchy has survived as a fishing port, but these days it is more known to be a chic Swiss lakeside resort, with an abundance of waterfront cafés. Take the metro to get down to this area near the train station.

Some 500m west of Ouchy’s Gothic château turned hotel, and just beyond you will find the majestic Hôtel Beau-Rivage set in its own grounds.

Parc Olympique, home of Lausanne’s much-touted flagship Musée Olympique (May–Sept daily 9am–6pm; Oct–April Tues–Sun 9am–6pm; Fr.14, audioguide Fr.3; SMP; www.olympic.org closed on 25th december and 1st january).

Enjoying the Summer Skies

With the longest day of the year just passing, it's time to get out and enjoy summer. Whether you are up in Fairbanks, Alaska enjoying nearly 21 full hours of sunlight, somewhere in Canada or across the Atlantic Ocean in Europe, there is so much to enjoy in the outdoors.

It reminds me so much of my time in Europe while enjoying the 14th of July for Bastille Day in Paris. Along with any area of Europe and definitely Switzerland. In fact, the beautiful day of August 1st which is the Swiss National Day.

The Swiss National day is full of many festivals and traditions. Many people go near lakes to shoot off fireworks. Fireworks are quite different than in the US because there is much less of a fire danger. Much of what goes on is full of tradition and very pleasant to see. There is so much that goes on during this time.

If you are around, be sure to check out what will be happening in the city you are visiting in Switzerland...

montreux col de jaman

montreux col de jaman
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Dent de Jaman and Rochers de Naye are located in the prealps of Vaud, which is straight above Montreux and Villeneuve as seen in this picture.

The Dent de Jaman is visible from Villeneuve (just before exit to Montreux) as a big, tooth-like rock. Its side towards the lake is almost vertical. The opposite side, although steep, can be climbed without any special rock climbing techniques. There is a path, leading to the top, where, as often happens, big wooden (oak?) cross is installed.

Rochers de Naye is a top point (2041 m a.s.l.) of a ~1 km tilted ridge, on the South from Dent de Jaman. There is a cog wheel train going during summer time from Villeneuve to Glion, Caux up to Rochers de Naye.

The Train upper station is built at the back side of Rochers de Naye, almost at the top. It has a couple of restaurants, one of which is reached via a long tube through the rock - to the side facing the lake, and offers a beautiful panorama and has a restaurant.

As well, when going to Interlaken, you go through les avants and shortly after that you find yourself in a big tunnel which is actually the inside of the col de jaman.

Microbrews Making a Hit in Switzerland

With a tougher alcolhol limit now in effect since January 1, beer sales in Switzerland have been plumitting. But that is not stopping the steady growth of microbreweries. There are almost 100 microwbreweries taking off and competing with the larger Lager Beers in Switzerland.

Some of these micro beer products range from wheat beers and stouts to dark lagers and seasonal ales, all bursting with flavour and some packing a hefty alcoholic punch.

It's funny how trends seem to pop up. In fact, microbrews 10 years ago would not even been successful in Switzerland. Possibly the trend from North America has had some effect on this. But it is mostly due to the fact that you cannot find anything else like this on the market....

One place you can visit a Brewery is in Solothurn with, Microbrewer Alex Künzle in his Oeufi Bier (oeufi-bier.ch).

montreux

montreux
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

One of the most impressive walks from Vevey to Villeneuve (via Montreux), is the walk along the waterfront. This area is known as a quai in French.

This picture was taken next to the train way past Chateau Chillon and near Villeneuve. This is the next little city along the Montreux corridor.

Many people bike along this walkway. It's a great area to jog, walk, roller blade or bike. Personally this was my most favorite way to transport myself and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Switzerland.

Le Tour De France

Le Tour De France
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

It's just about that time of the year again where the world will be tuning into the ever popular le tour de france.

The Tour this year stops in Mulhouse, France. The Alsace region is known to be rich in Wines and small villages. It was also the region where I lived in 2003 to 2004.

I've missed the last couple of tours narrowly. As seen in this photo which I took in July 2003, much of the streets along the Champs Elysees advertise and adorn the wears leading up to the famous bicycle around Le Champs Elysees.

We visited Paris just about a week before the race came into town. But instead got to celebrate the french Bastille Day on July 14, 2003.

If you are anywhere near the race, either in France, Germany or Switzerland, it is well worth getting a quick peak of the racers as they zoom past.

Most don't know this but the airport of Mulhouse is actually just off the border of Basel and is called the Euroairport. The Euroairport is closest to the Swiss border, just outside of Basel but still in France.

Welcome to the Montreux Jazz Fest

Welcome to the Montreux Jazz Fest
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

The ever popular Jazz Festival of Montreux has started the set up and will be in full spring from July 1-16, 2005.

The best place to check out is the underground concerts near the montreux palace. Friday and Saturday nights however are no longer free.

The best time to go see these shows are any time before Friday and Saturday as those days are way too crowded. Parking is crazy too.

But all in all, it's a fun event to attend, even if the line up is not as good as past years.

Ferrari's in Montreux

Ferrari's in Montreux
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

One of the coolest experiences I got to see while living in Montreux was the Ferrari show with some old time racing along the main road.

I'm not sure if Ferrari would ever schedule another show but this one was definitely worth seeing.

Breaking the Bank with a Nikon D70

We all know the expression when we decide to make that big purchase, whether it be for a vacation you take, the splurging you do on your trip or the splurging you do preparing for the trip.

In my case, I definitely broke the bank before my trip. I still can't believe I actually did it. You see, I've been wanting to get a high quality camera for quite some time. My problem is that I am quite frugal and don't tend to make big purchases. Especially since I'm on my way back to Switzerland in August.

With that being said, my new Nikon D70 is what I'll be taking with me to Switzerland. Yes I am a bit hesitant, but I think it's going to be well worth it. I guess what really got me were all of the reviews on CNET for the Nikon D70. I guess the offer for the extra rebate also did me in. Sure I could have gotten the new D70S, but I think I'll be happy with what I am getting. :)




I'll be sure to post more pics with the camera in the future..

Thunersee - Home of Swiss Bunkers

Thunersee
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

When you overlook the beautiful Lake of Thun, you probably would never guess this was home to some of the most popular defense areas for the Swiss Army. After the 1990's and the cold war, the Swiss Army has made many cuts to their program, just like most other countries.

The result was much of the bunkers and hidden chalets being handed over to civic foundations. These civic foundations have found a way to capitalize on what may seem naked to the avearage eye.

Here around the Lake of Thun, you can discover the Swiss Army's past. Walk through museums with more than 100,000 different pieces of the Swiss Army's past. Some of the 2 hour tour includes viewing farmhouses which were in fact concrete artillery bunkers, hidden by wooden façades and connected by a series of underground tunnels.

Geourl - Who Blogs Near You?

I'm testing a cool new feature I found from Geourl, thanks to Tom's Blog..

It's really a super cool tool, but how do you actually use it?

This nifty script can be found here. Once you enter that webpage, just add your website by following the instructions found at GeoURL here.

Just follow the instructions for your location of longitude and latitude by putting the meta tags in your <"heading"> part of your content. After that, submit your site, let them ping you and put up the script they provide...

The coolest part is that you can zoom out to a further location, say for me all the way to Lausanne and I have a few more people who are there.

Cool stuff...

Mountains of Canton Uri

Mountains of Canton Uri
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

This picture I took back in June 2003. During this month, there was a lot of rain. I remember the year before always getting stuck in the rain while I took my bike out for a 30 km jaunt. Trees become your best friend.

At this specific time, I was taking a boat ride with my cousin. I remember a few hours after, we were hit with a large thunder and lightening down pour.

Canton Uri has a bull as it's flag and is seen in this picture on the right hand side.

View overlooking Lake Lucern

View overlooking Lake Lucern
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

This pic was taken high above in the mountains of Brunnen on Lake Luzern. In June the weather starts getting hotter and the water starts changing. Quite a wonderful picturesque area to see.

Swiss Mountain Scenery

Swiss Mountain Scenery
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Switzerland has some of the most amazing mountain scenery around. This photo taken on September 22, 2002 is taken in Montreux overlooking the other side of the lake near Bouveret and France.

It's definitely one of the most incredible sites to be able to see.

Celebrities in Switzerland

There are more than 162 celebrities of some type who have lived or are still living in Switzerland. Here is a quick run down of some of the most well known celebs around in the singing world.

The American singer Tina Turner has lived in Zurich since 1986, on the Goldküste, the most fashionable district of the Swiss economic capital. I've personally been past her beautiful house on the water. The area is simply magnificant.

The Quebecois singer Celine Dion often comes to Crans-Montana in the Valais of Switzerland. Céline Dion, spends most of her time performing in Las Vegas.

The English singer Phil Collins has lived in Switzerland since 1994. Born in London in 1951, he performed as an actor-singer in a London production at the age of 13. He and his wife initially lived in Hermance in the chic suburb of Geneva, before moving to Bugnins in the canton of Vaud, where they still live with their two children.

The famous country singer Shania Twain lives in a manor near Montreux in French-speaking Switzerland with her husband and producer, Mutt Lange. The castle they live in is simply marvelous.

The most famous opera singer in the world, Barbara Hendricks, lives in Clarens, on the outskirts of Montreux. Barbara Hendricks was born in 1948 in Stephens, Arkansas, but made her debute in San Francisco.

In 1982, the English pop star David Bowe moved to upper Lausanne in Switzerland to find a haven of stability and fade into anonymity. He purchased an early twentieth-century residence called the Château du Signal, which was built by a Russian prince and is decorated with woodwork and ornate faience.

The singer of the legendary Swedish band ABBA settled in Switzerland after the group split up. She immediately appreciated what Switzerland had to offer. Frida lives in the canton of Fribourg in a castle that belonged to her late husband, Prince Russo.

Crazy Frog

I'm not sure if you heard but the biggest crazy right now is that "crazy frog" which you can download from Jamster - get the latest ringtones for your phone!.

In fact, it's grown so popular just about everywhere in the World, especially in the UK, that it's downloaded more than the top playing song by "cold play"...

Be part of the craze too!
Download the Crazy Frog at
Jamster..

Gotta laugh...

Teaching English Abroad

While I was living Abroad, I chose to go get my Teach English abroad course certification. It was a great time to do it since finding a job in Europe for a non EU citizen is quite the challenge if you do not have a field of need.

I was browsing online one day in early 2002 and decided Teaching English Abroad was exactly what I wanted to take a stab at. There were two locations, either Spain or Prague.

The curiousity and lower cost of Prague got the best of me. And soon I found myself off on a month long journey to a country I had yet to visit. And WOW, was it all worth it.

My experiences, some being completely too funny to imagine, changed the way I looked at countries in Europe. Not being able to speak the language and not knowing what was in store for me were my most concerns. However, I was ready to take a journey of a lifetime.

When I arrived, I was greeted by all of the people trying to convince you of where to stay and where not to go. Well that at least was from every tip book I've ever read. It's not like I needed any of their services anyhow since I was being picked up by a school.

Although I learned a lot about myself and a lot of about communicating with others through different forms of communication other than languages, I believe my TEFL experience will always stick with me...

I really don't talk about it all that much, and I'm not sure why. Prague is definitely a great place to visit with all of it's historic buildings, great cheap beer and wonderful cuisine at a very affordable price...

Do the Swiss Really Experience Island Life?

According to a report done by Swiss Info, the Swiss live as if they are experiencing Island life. Well or at least they have put a twist on what life really is like in Switzerland.

What does that really mean?

Well products in Switzerland tend to be a fair amount more expensive than their EU counterparts. Many Swiss are getting to retire and are definitely watching their pockets a bit more. If you haven't visited Switzerland just yet, I think you will find it to be a pinch in the pocket. Although it doesn't have to be...

Maybe Switzerland will become more in line with the rest of it's neighbors in the EU, but only time will tell.

Do You Have The Travel Bug

DSCF0108_1
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

Well you might not be alone. Although it seems that more and more Swiss aren't traveling, that hasn't stopped the rest of the world from vacationing in Switzerland...

According to the Federal Statistics Office, foreign tourists have begun to return to Switzerland. I'm counted in that data :)

Between January and February, the number of overnight stays by foreigners rose by 5.6 per cent, whereas those by Swiss tourists fell by 1.3 per cent.

For the first time, tourists from eastern Europe have begun to make the trip to Switzerland. This photo was taken in Montreux

Rigi Trains

DSCF0258_3
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

All of the mountain trains are run by separate companies. As a result, you will have to pay additional fees if you go up on these mountains.

(This is why you only get a 25% discount when you buy your Swiss pass.)

One helpful note. Trains on the Vitznau side are red in color. The trains on the Arth-Goldau side are blue in color. Both are independent from the SBB.

Once I learned they were of different companies, I then began to understand why we were charged outside the normal railway system...

Weggen and Mt Rigi

DSCF0260_3
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

One of the best ways to see the Rigi mountain range is by boat. There are actually 3 ways to get up the mountain.

I haven't been up to the Rigi mountain yet but I actually plan to do that this August. Hopefully I'll have a few more pictures to share once I take that trip.

Parking in Switzerland

For those living in the country, parking might be straight forward. But for someone who hasn't really had the chance to get to know Switzerland's parking options, here are a few quick tips.

On street parking and car parks are color coded.

White lines and White Zones are most common. These areas usually take only coins and cost about .50CHF per hour in small towns and up to 4CHF per hour in cities. Most are time limited spaces too. There are usually a machine which has you press a corresponding button for your parking space number. If there isn't a number, then you will have to put the ticket on your dash.

Where there isn't a machine, these white spaces are free, unless saved for customers - "nur fur kunden".

Blue Zone spaces have a special parking disc (available for free at tourist offices, car rental agencies, police stations and banks). Spin the wheel to show your time of arrival. This gives you 90 minutes of free parking during most business hours. Exception for lunch arrive between 11:30am and 1:30pm, your safe until 2:30pm If you arrive after 6pm, you are safe until 9am the next day.

Red Zones are free spaces for up to 15 hours, as long as you display the disc.

Yellow spaces are private park for staff or guests of hotels. The only way to know is to ask.

But don't park illegally because parking is fairly well monitored and you will slap yourself with a good CHF - 50 to 100 fine...

Here's to getting around Switzerland a bit better...

The Majestic Beauty on Lake Lucern

Brunnen Switzerland June 2003
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

I had hiked up to this area in June of 2003 to take this picture above the Lake of Lucern. Taken at the city of Morschach where it's best known for the Swiss Park with it's thermal baths and stunning views overlooking the Stoos.

Lake Lucern in the summer puts off some of the most beautiful colors in the water.

Area near Weggis

DSCF0261_3
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

The Swiss Flag is painted high above near the Rigi-kulm. This view is nearest to Weggis and Vitznau.

Rigi Mountain near Arth-Goldau

Rigi Mountain near Arth-Goldau
Originally uploaded by thnkfst.

There are hiking routes throughout the Rigi mountain range. Most of the routes start at Rigi-Kaltbad or Rigi-Klosterli. One of the stops is accessible from the part you see in this picture.

Once at the summit you have a birds eye view of Luzern and the Vierwaldstattersee and Zug and the Zugersee on the other.

It's most known for the sunrise over the alps.

Admiring the Views from Mt Rigi

One of the must visit stops on your trip in Switzerland should be The Rigi Mountain range which rises up to 1798m between the lakes of Luzern and Zug. The Rigi has long been a majestic viewing point with several summits along the mountain range, dividing the two lakes of Zug and Luzern.

Some of the highlights include the wonderful views south to the Alps. You can choose to wake up and watch a picturesque sun rise or on a perfectly blue day basque in the incredible views the Rigi has to offer.

There are several transport options up to the mountain. Vitznau and Arth-Goldau are the train routes which ascending to the summit. Both trains converge at the Staffel near the summit for the final pull up to Rigi-kulm. A third route by cable car from picturesque Weggis, also on the Lake Luzern, connects at an intermediate stop at Rigi-Kaltbad.

The most popular method is to go up one route and down by another. The Swiss Pass, Eurailpass and InterRail all bring a 25 percent discount. If you are set on hiking to the Summit, it can take up to 4 hours from Weggis.

Setting Your Travels in Motion

I was doing a bit of reading on one of my favorite travel sites. It always gets me so motivated and wanting to do even more traveling. So I started thinking about people who have never traveled abroad just yet. I was one of those people at one time.

Here are a few tips to help you check off one of your lifetime travel goals.

First off, getting your passport is quite easy. It can usually arrive within 6 weeks and all you really have to do is provide a new copy of your birth certificate and 2 professional passport size photos.

Next, start checking out some of the popular travel forums. One I participate and post in frequently is tripadvisor. There are many people who read posts and get ideas for their own trips from other people's advise. I'm happy to report a few people have found my tips very helpful. It always make you feel good inside when you can be of help, especially since I lived in Switzerland and travelled a lot...

Lastly, Switzerland in my opinion is one of the easiest countries to travel to. English is very widely spoken. Travel is quite easy to understand was much easier for me in Switzerland compared to France and Germany.