Switzerland is a Perfect Picture Postcard

Switzerland has little chalets & cute farm sheds everywhere. Green fields and snow. The Matterhorn. Quilts on your bed. Alphorns. Fondue and cuckoo clocks. Brown Swiss cows with cowbells. Always a festival with traditional Swiss horses in pretty horse harnesses and red & white Swiss plumes. Hiking. Fabulous fresh chocolate. Dom Perignon. Better yet, the sun sets in the Summertime at 10:30pm (22:30) and the moon is huge at an altitude of 15,000 feet!

As a student abroad in 1981, my friends & I took a one hour charming little cogwheel railway up the mountain from the District of Visp to Zermatt and opened the windows. It was like living in a postcard. We were approached at the train station in Zermatt by a nice lady offering her lovely B&B Chalet complete with flower boxes on the balconies and down comforters on the twin beds. Nice! Continental breakfast was good too. The next day we went exploring and shopping. I had my first super sugary Swiss marzipan and delectable Swiss chocolate. YUM! 

The next day my friends went hiking in shorts and shirt sleeves, and I went skiing on the Matterhorn. 5 cable cars up. Swishing down the Matterhorn, I must have taken a wrong turn, and ended up at the Italian border speaking broken French to a German who also spoke French  (way better then I) trying to figure out how to get back up the mountain! Tired, I took off my skis, bought the biggest chocolate bar I have ever seen, and sat in the sun on a lawn chair soaking up the mid-day sun. Everyone was in ski boots and bathing suits! Bring sunscreen, because even in the snow of August, that sun is hot at 15,000 feet and you'll get a sunburn!

Here are some Swiss travel tips: 

• Do use your European manners (see the post "Old European Manners" on August 12, 2020).
• With the altitude, drink lots of water and with the sun & snow, layer.
• Switzerland is a Federal Republic, has a population of 8.6 million, and a GDP per Capita of $83,700(USD), the second highest in the world. 
• Bern is the Capital and has a population of 1 million. Zermatt's population is only 5,800! 
• Anyone remember "The Swiss Family Robinson?" (I might be showing my age!) 
• Switzerland's beautiful environment houses much timber, salt, dairy and hydropower.  
• Families are small (maybe only one child) but family life is #1 most important, and the elderly are well respected. 
• Languages spoken are many! German, French, Italian, English and Romansh. Most people in Switzerland speak 3-4 languages. Multi-cultural and multi languages! 
• The Swiss are known for their fierce independence, fine watches, cleanliness, punctuality, tolerance, proud heritage, hard work and thriftiness! It is said: "Unity - yes! Uniformity - no."
• Manners are formal and very old world (see the post "Old European Manners" August 12, 2020).
• No shorts in the evenings. Clothing is conservative and 'casual chic' in the evenings. Please cover your shoulders and knees if you visit or attend a Church. 
• Do not stretch or slouch in public. 
• Stay away from all hand gestures (for example, the "OK" hand gesture is obscene). Do not talk with your hands. Keep your hands at your sides and do not touch your face or head when in public or when talking to others. Considered rude. 
• Handshakes are firm with direct eye contact. 
• Gentlemen, please keep your hands out of your pockets. They are for giving or receiving change only. Do not walk, stand or take photographs with your hands in your pockets. Most Europeans wonder what your hands are up to in there! 
• Eat Continental style only. Goes back to Kings and their enemies hiding knives up their sleeves at the table. Culturally, it's still a trust issue. 
• Keep your wrists on the table at all times and do not put your hands in your lap. 
• Do not leave food on your plate, and when you are finished, place your fork and knife in the 10:20 position. 
• Do not salt and pepper your food before you taste it. This act would insult the chef. 
• Take a small second helping if at a dinner party. 
• If there are no bread knives, break your bread before buttering or eating your bread. If there is no bread plate, place your bread on your dinner plate or the table.
• Handshakes are firm. Shake hands with everyone present in greeting and departing. 
• Academic titles are very important. 
• Surprisingly, expect some pushing in lines, for example, at the bakery or ski slope. 
• When shopping, always greet the sales clerk by saying hello: "Hoy." Or, you can always say the chic Italian "Ciao" for hello and goodbye! Easy to remember. 
• Beware of pickpocketing, free stuff scams, fake donations and fake police.
• Breakfast is traditionally Continental style. Muesli, fresh fruit, especially apples. Coconut flakes & chocolate. Yum! 
• Lunch could be a complete meal, sandwich, or bircher muesli (Swiss oatmeal made with cream). 
• Foods are French and German! Soup & salad, meats and sauerkraut, potatoes, sausages, bread & cheese, cheese fondue, and those famous Swiss chocolates! 
• Dinner is light. Bread & cheese, cold cuts, and jams or honey. 
• Currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). Prices may be indicated in Euros so visitors may compare prices.
• When dining out, as in many big cities, strangers may sit at your table in a pub or inexpensive restaurant. You are not expected to chat with them. 
• When dining out, a 15% tip is automatically added to your bill.  Leave 5-10% cash (rounding up is simple) on the table when leaving if your service is good.
• When taking a taxi, a 15% tip is included for your ride.
• Tip the maid 1-2 CHF a day
• Tip the bellman 1-2 CHF per bag
• Restroom attendant 1-2 CHF
• Toast: "Prost", "Salute", "A Votre Sante" means 'To your health.' 
• Guests: Lastly, propose a toast to your host/hostess, and to the chef!
• Hard liquor is served after the meal: Grappa, Campari, Cassis, Sweet Vermouth, Sherry, Champagne, Kirsch, Pear Brandy and Schumli Pflumli is an apres-ski drink, which is plum Schnaps/brandy and coffee with whipped cream! The Swiss version of Irish Coffee. 
• The Host proposes the first toast - always.
• Gently clink glasses when invited to do so.
• DO send flowers to the hostess the day of an event, and remember to write a "Thank You" note within 24 hours.
• Give: good quality chocolates or marzipan, pastries, pralines, fine Whisky, wine or Cognac, or a nice coffee table book.
• DO NOT give "Logo" gifts, or extravagant gifts (thought to be tacky), red roses or red carnations  (love only) or white chrysanthemums or white calillies (funeral color and flowers)
• DO NOT give knives, scissors or sharp objects (bad luck).   

 During your time in bucolic Switzerland, enjoy every moment, day or night, outside!