If you've heard anything about Switzerland before, I'm sure you've heard it's a magical place...and magical is a severe understatement. From the lush green scenery on the train rides, to the scattered glistening blue lakes, to the snow draped mountaintops of the Alps, the views don't disappoint. There must be a "flower box fairy: that waters the colourful petunias on each log-cabin style homes' window sills because there doesn't seem to be a dull or dying flower in sight. Also a pretty sight are the decorated ice-cold water troughs placed every block or so for the cows to drink from. Every year, farmers decide based on the weather conditions, when to drive their cattle from the valley up to the Alpine pastures and back again in the region of Gstaad where I visited. The motto of the town is "Come up, Slow down" which perfectly describes the vibe of the mountain village. I'm not usually a "nature person," but one of my favourite things to do here was to go for an evening stroll in the chilled air and just admire the streams, mountaintops, and adorable homes. I felt a bit like Gretel from the storybook "Hansel and Gretel" wondering when the candy house might appear in the woods.
The other thing you may have heard about Switzerland is that it is expensive (expensive also is an understatement). Never in my life have I paid more for public transport than in this country. Switzerland is one of the few European countries that are not a part of the European Union and their currency, the Swiss Franc, is strong. This also means that any SIM card purchased in another European country won't work in Switzerland without added credit. A meal under $30US is hard to come by. I basically survived off of the prepackaged sandwiches at the local supermarket "Coop." Cheese and bread are the main food groups for the locals and they don't disappoint...this is not the place to be on a low-carb or low-fat diet. When you do choose to splurge and eat out, traditional fondue is a must-share meal when in Switzerland.
While I was in Gstaad, I had the opportunity to enjoy watching some of my favourite American beach volleyball professionals compete at the Swatch World Tour event that stops in Gstaad once every summer. The backdrop for this event is stunning and the energy in the stadium is electric.
