Looking for the Swiss equivalent of Leperachauns
by Ekaterinburg
Unfortunately, most travellers are tourists at heart and just as people from abroad come to Ireland seeking leperachauns, other people go to Switzerland looking for cows with bells. In Gimmelwald I smelt cows very pungently and could hear their bells ringing in the distance but I didn't see them. Faced with the prospect of going home without a photo of cow with bell ( equivalent to leaving Copenhagen without a pic of the Little Mermaid), I was seriously depressed. Plus, I really love cows and enjoy photographing them. However, just outside Interlaken the day was saved and a splendid herd of cows, all with bells jingling, looked up from their grazing beside the river. I'm not sure how comfortable those large bells are for the poor cows and perhaps the constant noise drives them crazy but it does make a lovely picture. Mooooooo !
Swiss Efficiency
by Ekaterinburg
Forget about stereotypes and cliches, Swiss systems and people actually are as efficient as you have heard. Over and over again I was blown away by the wonders of the transport system. Trains and buses which arrive ON TIME. Connecting buses always waiting when you get off the train. Especially helpful to the English speaking traveller are the announcements before trains arrive, telling you which part of the platform to stand on, depending on which type of ticket you hold. My favourite example of this streamlining of schedules is the return trip from Gimmelwald to Interlaken.
7.00: Cable car to Stechelberg
7.10: Bus from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen
7.30: Train from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken
7.55: Arrive at Interlaken Ost
To somebody fresh from the vagaries of the Irish transport system, this efficency was all the more amazing and it makes travelling a pleasure. Well done Switzerland !
The photo below shows a tiny exception but as we all know exceptions prove the rule
Cows here, there and everywhere
by Manara
This is actually more a curiosity than a tradition or cultural thing.
Cows are certainly important in the economic life of Switzerland and they are very much present in the local landscape. By the way, here cows are not only seen but also heard, because of the cow-bells which, I assure you, are noisy enough. Anyway the noise has its advantages, because face-to-face meetings with cows are never unexpected, as you can hear them approaching.
Cows are one of the symbols of Switzerland so it is rather common to find them represented in embroidered towels, carved in wood, on mugs, on table-mats and on t-shirts. However I was taken by surprise when I saw the house decoration I am showing you in my picture.
What you Cannot Forget
by besbel
If you are going to practice adventure sports, it'd be better that you bring all your equipment with you. Switzerland is expensive, so it would be a great saving! Always a couple of water-ressistant shoes, and an extra pair of tennis shoes. Needless to mention the raincoat and an umbrella, You do not know when the rain is going to get you. Also an extra camera. While touring the Trümmelbachfälle, the flash of my Kodak had problems to turn on because of the coldness inside. At the end, the flash went out of order, and I could just take a couple of pics from inside. I do not know if that happens with all cameras, but be ready for an inconvenience like that.
Watch Crazy Birds playing around!!!
by Tripack
Interlaken International Airport is invaded once a year by an acrobatic Air Race...
I am not particulary fan of this kind of event as in the Swiss army my job is the anti-aircraft defence... no just kidding. We had a polemic about the opportunity to held this show in the heart of Alps due to additional noise and pollution about this air race. As I win to a competition a get free ticket not miss this amazing aerial ballet.
So on July the 15th 2007, I was welcome in Interlaken Ost by a wonderful sunny day with warm temperature (30°C) for the show. The attendance was also in the rendez-vous not as much as the organizers waited for about 140'000 - we were (hopefully) the half around 70'000... Yep I was worried about the access to the show as our local Swiss train company forcasted until 3hours of waiting time... at the end no waiting time, you just need to anticipate... I manage to left Interlaken by boat (see my to do tip).
The principle of the air race is to slalom between cones not higher than 20m by executing acrobatic figures and other looping and the all as fast as possible. Between the qualyfing and final session, I will reward by the Bretling Jet Team, the RB acrobatic team, base jump from helpicopter and other free fall kamikaze ;-)
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Interlaken
Interlaken
Oberhofen castle gardens
Lake Thun
