The Switzerland Traveler

I know this isn’t Switzerland, but it really isn’t very far away.
I came across lefrancophoney recently and thought I’d share it with you (although obviously, you’ll only be going to France on a day-trip; we don’t really want you leaving Switzerland).
Annecy is a beautiful town less than an hour from Geneva, and has its own stunning lake. With the backdrop of mountains, it’s an ideal location for a bit of sightseeing.
Take the opportunity to stroll by the lake and then sample the shopping delights of the Rue Royale before a spot of lunch. Although you might care to look at …read more

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Fancy a new wallpaper for your PC?
How about this image, taken in Eastern Switzerland, near the skiing area of Flumserberg.
One day I really must find out what HDR means. Obviously it’s something to do with really bright colours!
Photo: Flickr – Tambako the Jaguar

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I do not buy CDs at concerts. In fact I don’t even buy CDs.
That all changed last Monday. Little Fish, a two-piece band from Oxford played at The Abart.
There are now two CDs in my flat and I bought them both on Monday night. One studio demo (“it’s rare mate”) and another with three tracks live. I didn’t care that the tracks were probably the same. If there was a possibility of a note, even a breath, being different, I wanted it. I needed it. I even checked iTunes when I got home to see if more is available; it’s not. …read more

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The abart music club is one of Zurich’s finest music institutions.
It doesn’t look much, and to be fair, I’ve described it in the past as sleazy, but in reality it’s not at all.
It works both as a club and as a concert venue; holding around 600 people.
My favourite feature is the stage, tucked into a corner with a stage door that leads out into the car park. Which means when the band goes off, you get a refresshing blast of fresh air.
Music style tends to be UK/US Indie, plus there’s always a fair variety of Pulp Fiction parties, or Masters …read more

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Confession time. I’ve never been to this glacier.
Because frankly, it looks like a bit of an effort.
But if you’re the sort of person that doesn’t mind slogging uphill to pay homage to a glacier, then this might be for you.
The Forno Glacier is 6km long and over 1km wide in places. It is located in the Bregaglia Range in Graubunden. Vicosoprano (which is apparently not a gangster’s name) and Soglio appear to be the nearest places to stay, and are pretty much on the border with Italy.
It’s not going to be easy to get there, but I figure that if …read more

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Well, nothing like coming back with a bang!
If you plan to be in Switzerland on December 3rd, how about a guided tour round an atomic power station?
I’ve done the tour and it’s fascinating. You get the whole deal, dressing up in white suits like the baddies in Dr No, and they wave Geiger counters at you all the time.
It’s really interesting and the best bit is the cooling water for the fuel rods. The water has to be totally pure and de-ionised and is the most amazing blue I’ve ever seen.
Looking round the control rooms is fascinating if you’re into switches and …read more

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After a period of inactivity, during which contractual stuff between the nice people at b5media and Switzerland have been sorted out, The Switzerland Traveler is back in business.
Rather than opt for a picture of snow falling last week, here’s a poster celebrating the graphic prowess of Switzerland’s designers. 
I dare say most of you will be pre-occupied by the elections over the next few days, but don’t forget to come back soon for a small dose of calm and natural beauty.
And if you have any requests for information, please let me know.
Picture: Flickr Network Osaka

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