Reflections on Switzerland
Ah, Switzerland, the land of mountains of and cheese. (and apparently, well-deserved stereotypes as you will read below).
But oh so much more than that. In Switzerland, we found incredible dynamic and range for such a small country: friendly people, interesting culture, many spoken languages, and with a healthy (and intriguing) dose of the peculiar. I’d also describe it as being incredibly crisp and efficient- much like a well wound Swiss watch- with pristine streets, parks, and trains that ran on time all the time. For me and my minds eye, Switzerland had always been on a pedestal. It was the emerald city to the rest of Oz, but now having been there, I see it in it’s role of being a melting pot for some of the best that Europe has to offer.
Looking back, here are my takeaways:
1. Expensive but worth it
This is usually one of the first things that comes up in a conversation about Switzerland and we can certainly confirm that your hard-earned US dollar does not go as far here as in the Mediterranean. BUT, being anchored by the prices in Iceland and the rest of Scandinavia, we actually found Switzerland to be pretty reasonably priced! We made a few adjustments in our dining options and opted to use points/rewards for lodging and that combination made things quite reasonable (though there’s not much you can do for the 50K+ CHF Swiss watches on every corner. If sightseeing is your thing, don’t be scared off by the pricy reputation- you can see some breathtaking scenery and culture without breaking the bank. However, if SHOPPING is your thing, set your expectations accordingly. 🙂
2. Maybe (definitely) a little bit weird
One of the most charming aspects of Switzerland is the influence from multiple cultures but this does lead to some pretty interesting combinations. Take the chestnut vermicelli noodle dessert, for instance. It had a clear Italian influence but with a strange French and Swiss twist. Also, the children singing in the Christmas tree- on one hand adorable, on the other hand, what an interesting tradition! Don’t even get me started on the whole idea of fondue. Love it, but so weird!
3. A truly world-class rail system
If we recommend anything, it’s that you will be very well served by Swizterland’s rail system. As one of the most comprehensive, safe, and affordable options, we could ride the rail for days and be happy. Impeccably clean and with arguably the world’s best scenery, we preferred traveling by train here over everywhere else. We recommend purchasing a Swiss rail pass which can be used for unlimited travel on various methods of transportation during the days you specify. You can even use it for the main portion of the fare for marquee itineraries such as the famed Glacier Express panorama train in the Swiss Alps.
4. Come for the cheese, stay for the chocolate
OPTIONS GALORE, I tell you. From our fondue dinner outside on a very chilly evening in Lucerne, to street raclette (melted cheese on potatoes with pickled veggies), the dairy presence here is real. With variety, flavor, and paired with the right wine or beer, we were pretty much in heaven the whole time. And don’t even get me started on the chocolate. This too was incredibly memorable- I remember us stopping in every Lindt store just to marvel at the flavors you can’t find in the US (and to get free samples like you would at a Ghirardelli store). We even found our favorites at Sprungli to send back to the states as Christmas presents! These simple pleasures helped us feel like we got the whole Switzerland experience!
5. Be prepared for lots of cigarette smoke
Perhaps one of the most surprising things we observed, given Switzerland’s affinity for being vibrant, healthy, and outdoors, was a return to the smoky stations, streets, and sidewalks that we experienced in the Mediterranean. Tobacco was seemingly everywhere- sometimes appearing as a status symbol in pipes and cigars and sometimes just as a social event. For having the world’s best cheese and chocolate, I’d hate to taste everything through a layer of ash!