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Moving On


We're leaving Switzerland tomorrow, more's the pity. I could easily live here; it's a very beautiful country and the pace and way of life are very sensibly human.

Yesterday we caught the train to Interlaken, which is a city set in a basin between two lakes (hence the name) at the foot of the alps. From the town you can catch an alpine railway which takes you up 4,000 metres to the summit of the Jungfrau. Failing that, you can sit around looking at the Eiger, or stroll around town and buy a souvenir. Souvenir shops, like souvenir shops everywhere sell tat, but Swiss tat is of the very highest quality: Swiss army knives, diamond encrusted Rolexes and carved cuckoo clocks. We were tempted by the Jungfrau railway but didn't have the necessary 8 hours for the return trip, so took a stroll up a hillside instead, through pastures rich with wildflowers and with cows driving themselves nuts with the incessant ringing of cowbells. Heidi country. Then it was a quick ride on a double decker train to Bern.

The capital of Switzerland is a bustling commercial centre like any other capital but it has two things to recommend it: a scarcity of tourists and an enchanting old town centre. Around the ancient gothic Munster is a labyrinth of the most intriguing shops, selling truly wonderful stuff: artworks, puppets, glassware, beads, antique watches, perfume, original clothing, great coffee. One second hand shop had a 1951 Norton 500 single with a sidecar, sitting there among the old dolls houses and boxes of 1950s china. It was in great nick. My hand twitched and moved on its own accord for the Visa card, and goodness knows what might have happened had Clemency not slapped my face and brought me back to my senses.

Incidentally, there are lots of motorcycles here. I am told that Switzerland has the highest number of Harley Davidsons per head of population in the world. And if you can't have a motorcycle, a Harley Davidson is the next best thing.

Today we walked down to the next village and back, a round trip of perhaps 6km. Then this afternoon drove to Romon, a walled village about 30 km away with a beautifully perserved chateau. The countryside here is densely populated by New Zealand standards, which gives a very wonderful lifestyle. Houses are set in small villages which look and feel rural, but the communities are close enough together to network and in cooperation they provide most of the facilities of a large city: good schools, hospitals and clinics, decent shops and services. It really is the best of both worlds. I can't speak French and can't think of a way to make a living, otherwise I might just quietly slip beneath the radar and stay on here. But, at 9:02 tomorrow (and this being Switzerland, it WILL be 9:02) the TGV leaves for Paris and we will be aboard.
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Alden Smith said…
Mate, for all your brain cells sometimes you really don't know how to Carpe Diem do you! - 1951 is the year I was born, you could have bought this 58 year old Norton 500 single (with sidecar!!!! ) for me as a birthday present, I could have feigned being insulted at such a load of old trash and promptly given it back to you - and it would have been sorted! And instead of slapping your face Clemency would have kissed you and told you what an enormous symbol of Christian charity you were undertaking. - think 'Strategy' next time ok!

I love your reference: "If you can't have a motorbike a Harley Davidson is the next best thing." - My brother-in-law Darcy has a business in Warkworth importing and selling Harley Davidson motorbikes. I shall slip this quote into the conversation next time he insults my motorcycle preferences.

(Spelling checked by MSWord SpellChecker)
2 May 2009 at 12:08
Kathryn said…
Oh the memories....
Interlaken is one of my favourite places, but I arrived there by boat - from Thun? I think. Do they still have horse-drawn carriages taking tourists up & down the main stret?
What a pity you didn't have time to go up Jungfrau; it is amazing. Although I think I went up it from a different starting place. But of course, it doesn't matter. All the things I missed on my first trip to Switzerland, I managed to do on my 2nd & 3rd trips! So you can too!
I had no idea there were so many motorbikes in Switzerland. I understand they can only be used for part of each year in many places because of the snow, so the motor-cyclists must be REAL enthusiasts.

Happy travelling!
3 May 2009 at 11:09
Unknown said…
Oh wah wah wah, my names Dad, I have to leave beautiful Switzerland for boring old Paris! Poor me!


Grumble grumble grumble stupid parents grumble going on their OE without me grumble grumble...
3 May 2009 at 16:09
Margaret said…
I'm with you Catherine -it's hard to read and not feel twinges of jealousy
4 May 2009 at 08:20
Kelvin Wright said…
Catherine you would hate Paris. I know you love shopping, but shopping here is very confusing. Firstly, they don't have any of the proper shops like Hallensteins or Farmers of=r Glassons. They all have wierd names like Bulgari, Yves St. Laurent, Givinchy, Cartier and stuff like that. Secondly, the shops are all extremely large and hard to find your way around in. Thirdly thay only sell clothes and accessories and shoes and makeup and all that stuff, and it can't be of very good quality because a month or two after it appears in the main shops it is all taken to outlet malls on the outskirts of Paris where is flogged off dirt cheap. Admittedly there are lots of smaller shops and street markets, but believe me dear, you're far better off in Dunedin as far as shopping goes.
6 May 2009 at 23:29
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