The Switzerland Traveler

We all know that Freud, Jung and Adler are the founders of modern psychiatry.
But if you want to find out more about treatment of mental illness over the years, how about a trip to the museum of psychiatry in Bern?
Learn how patients were put in straightjackets, and spun round in contraptions like this…
OK, maybe it is a bit of a specialist theme, but if you are interested it’s there.
Psychatrie MuseumBolligenstrasse 111, CH-3000 Bern 60Tel. +41 (0)31 930 97 56
http://www.puk.unibe.ch/cu/museum/museumra.html
Photo: Curious Expeditions

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I’ve been doing quite a bit of skiing recently, and I like the challenge of attacking longer runs than usual.
At Mürren, near Interlaken, you’ll find the Schilthorn, and from there you have the opportunity to ski the route of the Inferno race.
The height difference is 1970 meters, that’s nearly one and a quarter miles.
Run as a race open to the public it must be very tiring to complete it without stopping, but why not take the opportunity to stop and admire the views of the Bernese Oberland’s most impressive trio: The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau?
And there’s always the possibility …read more

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I don’t know why, but I was surprised to find out that many Americans in Switzerland struggle to find Swiss cheese in the shops here.
Apparently it’s because Swiss cheeses sold in the states are less likely to be known as Gruyère or Emmental, or any one of hundreds of other types of cheese that we are used to. And you will not see any cheese labelled simply “Swiss Cheese”.
Of the two main exports, Gruyère is the one without holes (Emmental being closer to the “Swiss cheese” generic variety you may be used to) and has a slightly salty taste, and …read more

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How can anyone resist this?
From February 23 to March 23, 2008, it’s possible to play golf on the snow at Wispile near Gstaad.
And it’s open to anyone; beginners, golf nuts and pros. I’m in the golf nut category, since you’re asking.
It’s a 9 hole course, which is probably enough as you have to assume it’ll be chilly.
But the cold might not be the only thing that takes your breath away. The 360-degree panorama is apparently something to be experienced.
The white-fee (I guess they’ll still think it’s a green fee…) is 50CHF, but includes three balls. Coloured balls cost extra (I …read more

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I was lucky enough to see the inside of a nuclear power station once.
That’s not something that many people will ever see, which is a shame because the colour of the pure water used to cool the radioactive rods is quite simply the most amazing blue I’ve ever seen.
But! The engineers amongst you need not fret.
Untill April 16, 2008, the nice people at the Grimsel HEP (Hydro-Electric Powerstation) are offering guided tours of their plant.
The power station is located not too far from Interlaken, so is about 2 hours from Zurich, closer if you are in Berne.
It’s open to …read more

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Feb 1 sees the start of an exhibition of Adolf Wölfli’s works. Or as the official view goes, hs personal and obsessive view of the universe.
Wölfli was born in 1864, and died in 1930 and I think it’s safe to say he was not happy with his life. Not his real life anyway.
His imaginary life, which he put down in 45 volumes totalling 25,000 pages (which seems like a lot to me) enabled him to get round his problems which included (but not limited to):

childhood abuse
molestation
unhappy career in the army
working as a farm labourer
being orphaned
mental illness
violent tantrums

He evolved …read more

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I’d just like to wish you all a happy Christmas, or whatever festival you choose to celebrate, or even not celebrate. Enjoy the holidays, here’s the Swiss Parliament in Bern, courtesy of: Desirée

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While Zürich and Geneva are the most populated and business-based cities in Switzerland, Bern is still the capital of the country and seat of national government.
It’s also a really attractive city to visit and wander round, and the covered pavements/sidewalks mean that it’s a great destination even on a rainy day.

There always seem to be loads of clocks to marvel at, and some unusual shops, so rather than give you a list of must-sees, I think it’s a city to visit and just work out for yourself what you like.
 
One of the symbols of Bern is the …read more

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