The Switzerland Traveler

I discovered at the weekend that there is a camera museum at Vevey.
It contains exhibits like the first ever production Leica, see above.
The museum is set on Lake Geneva, not far from Chateau Chillon and covers photography from it’s beginnings just over a century ago, right up to today. It covers techniques as well as equipment, with features on the inventors of milestone equipment.
The permanent exhibition features magic lanterns, camera obscura etc,  in a 500 square metre setting.  And photographers past and present are featured in regularly changing special exhibitions.
For youngsters, there are many games and hands-on installations.
www.cameramuseum.ch
Closed Mondays
Photo: Flickr – …read more

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If you’ve not experienced the low droning sound of an alphorn, then Nendaz, near Verbier, is the place to be this weekend.
It’s remarkable how the sound travels through the mountains, which is, I guess, the reason why they became popular.
They might not be as practical as mobile phones, but do at least have the benefit of requiring neither batteries nor antennae.
Up at an altitude of 2,200m, Tracouet is the setting for the International Alphorn Festival.
To quote the official blurb “Over the course of the weekend, this alpine instrument will be the motivation for the meeting of players of many different …read more

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CERN is the big European research centre.
Lots of particles being accelerated within an inch of their lives, round a big circular tube. I understate the case massively here, because I simply don’t understand it.
But, even though most of the stuff that physicists get excited about is underground, this bit on top is still pretty impressive.
Don’t you agree?
Photo Flickr phitar

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I’ve always been a bit of a fan of The Prisioner, a cult 1960’s UK TV series.
One of the stars was “Rover” a blob of an automated policeman that wandered round “The Village” keeping an eye on the inmates.
And, er, well this picture, taken in Lausanne – in the French speaking part of Switzerland,  reminded me of that.
Thought you’d like to know!
Photo Flickr wasabi design

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Since 9/11 I guess we don’t really talk about World Trade Centers that much.
But there are still quite a few in Europe, so here’s a detail from the Zürich one.
Photo Flickr swisscan

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Sometimes I think that the Swiss flag should be green, white and blue.

Maybe with a bit of brown to represent the cows too.

Today I’m featuring a series of photos taken by StrahlemannBE that show Switzerland in its classic natural summer beauty.

I’m guessing that the BE at the end of the name mens that Herr Strahlemann comes from the Canton of Bern,

but some of these pictures were apparently taken in Obwalden,  one of the original cantons to form the Swiss (or Helvetic) Confederation in 1291.

Whatever, I hope you’ll agree with me that Herr S has done a great job, and that Switzerland …read more

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There’s an exhibition of the works of Fernand Léger at the Beyeler Foundation in Basel at the moment.
Léger was a famous French Artist of great significance to the American Pop Art movement. See also Europop for other European influences on the genre.
Many of the works feature recurring themes, such as groups of figures and the holding of flowers, see above.
In order to shed light on how American art was influenced by Léger, there are also a series of works by artists such as Lichtenstein and Warhol.
The exhibition starts with his Cubist period, and I must confess to not loving this as much as some …read more

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I know I’m supposed to be telling you guys stuff, but I came across this photo and would like to know where it was taken.
Any ideas?
I’m guessing it’s a thermal pool, so bathing must be great there.
All I have to do now is find it.
Photo Flickr AP

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Another Appenzell building today, hosting the works of Carl Liner and his son.
The museum was designed by Annette Gigon and Mike Guyer, Zürich.
Photo: Flickr numstead

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Another bit of crazy architecture – this time from Appenzell.
I’m trying to work out who the architect is, any ideas?
It’s above a hill in Herisau, and is visible from the train.
Photo Flickr: Kecko

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