Switzerland

Swiss cheese, Swiss chocolate, Swiss chard, Swiss Army knife, Swiss chalet…

After our long eternal day of travel everyone went right to sleep, except for me. 

When I did get to bed I was up again about every 90 minutes. I was constantly thinking about where we were, what we did and where we were going. And I started thinking of Switzerland. 

The word Swiss is incorporated in so many things that we use at home but so far the only thing we’ve seen was a train station and our Air BnB, which was only 400 feet from the station.

The Air BnB was underwhelming and about as plain as could be. There was minimal furniture and no decorations, essentially just white walls. The bedrooms consisted of a mattress on a frame low to the floor and each had one duvet which didn’t even cover the whole bed and no other sheets or blankets. 

We got up early and went right back to the train station. For breakfast we all tried different pastries such as Schinkengipfeli and Chäschüechli and other things that we didn’t get the names of.

We easily found our train and began our day’s journey through the Switzerland countryside and THIS was why we chose the train. Snow capped peaks and rocky spires formed the backdrop for lush hillsides dotted with traditional chalets and sheep. The views were certainly rewarding.

Switzerland is far more than just chocolates and watches. It's a fascinating blend of multiple cultures, with four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Despite its small size, Switzerland has a diverse geography, from the snowy Alps to the scenic lakes and rolling hills.

One intriguing fact about Switzerland is its direct democracy. Swiss citizens regularly vote on a wide range of issues, from local concerns to national policies, giving them a significant role in shaping their government.

Also, Switzerland is known for its neutrality. It hasn’t been involved in a war since 1815 and hosts many international organizations, including the Red Cross and numerous United Nations agencies. This makes it a hub for diplomacy and global cooperation.

We were not disappointed by the views from the train and it certainly made the effort worth it. It also may have helped that we were in first class for this part of the trip.