For an Australian, there are a number of differences that one notices when spending time here in Switzerland.
Some are obvious (different power sockets, driving on the other side of the road, different native language…). I expected those – and I’ve been here before (albeit some years ago now).
However, here are some differences that I didn’t expect:
- The sheer number and popularity of bikes, bike riding, and bike roads (and all very well signposted and road-marked)
- Dogs are seen as members of the family in public. It is routine to bring your dog with you when shopping, or to a restaurant, or on the cable car to a mountaintop [1]
- The roads and road signs look just like a Lego City construction set
- Bakeries use a big model croissant mounted outside of the shop as a visual indication that they are a bakery
- One unusual thing that crosses public roads in Switzerland is… turboprop aircraft
- Another unusual thing that crosses public roads in Switzerland is… bullets[2]
- The local fish caught in Lake Lucerne is named after a global router vendor
- The cows have bells. Always. It sounds like a percussion act at a world music concert (in a nice way)
- Swiss people sunbathe on mountaintops
- A surprisingly number of private homes use cable cars to deliver supplies
- There is a very strong skeleton motif in sculptures and religious paintings
- Some buildings are incredibly, surprisingly, old (and beautiful for it)
- Frei is not Free! When you see the word ‘Frei’ at the entrance to a parking area, it means there are spaces left, not that the parking is free of charge 🙂
- Quad bikes are road legal here (unlike Australia), and some of them are pretty tricked out 🙂
Its a wonderful country, and I have loved being here. I’ll be back.
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Footnote [1]: The ticket fare table for the cog-wheel train up to Mt Pilatus has prices separately listed for adults, children, and dogs.
Footnote [2]: There is a firing range near the factory. The range building is on one side, the range targets are on a hillside on the other side of the road. One had best hope the aiming point used by their customers is sufficiently high…! (I am not making this up, I have driven between the two of them and seen it).
Free free as in no charge would be “gratis”. Thats what Ive noticed in several of the European countries Ive been to so far anyway.
I wonder what the word is for ‘free as in beer’ ? 🙂
Have they followed Germany in a prevalence of owned Electric Cars or Electric cars available as street pick up rental service ?
Hope you are having fun Simon. Make sure the NodePonies get some time in Switzerland as well.
Well, they are here, but they’ve been a bit camera shy to date 🙂
Another special feature to look for in Switzerland – ATMs at the airport that let you *open* a numbered bank account with a cash deposit. Really. I saw that in Zurich.