When I attended the Cumulus Zurich Conference one of the lecturerers asked the pertinent question: Is Switzerland a hole or an island in the EU? Yes what is this multiple country on the top of the giant wrinkles caused by a giant boot trying to dress all Europe?
An island or a hole, little by little no. from each border you prolong the language and the euro is accepted everywhere. Switzerland is Schengen Space so we Europeans don’t have to show our passports.
Unfortunately the EU didn’t copied the Swiss democratic values and is getting more and more centralized. If Switzerland had an Ocean it would be as Europe would like to be.
For our children (three teens and a 9 year old) the top was Grindelwald and the Alps. For the first time in many years we stayed all in the same room in a youth hostel higher than the village, very demanding on climbing to get there. Yet they did the way joyfully whereas here they complain about walking for 100 meters.
Eating lunch bought in the Supermarket was also a highlight, apart from ridding the First Flyer and the largest summer toboggan (which I also did).
For us Switzerland was a open experience marked by the marvelous idea of having the trains running on time.
Somehow it looks sometimes like Japan. The same reverence for traditions mixed with the highest-tech constructions and stuff, and a very polite people (thank God speaking French, Italian or English).
Challenging for the drawing traveller. Giant scenery, delicate intricate buildings and unfortunately our rushing from place to place program.
Finally, we had the cheese fondue. Nice touch if you put some ground pepper in the plate. But that was in Grindelwald. Here in Basel we had a wonderful fusion (oriental)meal in a terrace without rain.
The smooth blog to travel drawing 