Autumn Traveler: Swiss Style

Traveling in Europe has made me realize that each country we have gone to has its own style. One would think that the looks of restaurants, houses, barns and use of flowers would be the same in Switzerland as in Germany, but there are ever so slight differences.

Germans seems to use more flowers on the outside of their houses than the Swiss. We saw some beautiful flower boxes on our road trip around Switzerland, but the Swiss style seems to be a bit more simple.

Restaurants in Germany are cozy with lots of decorations on the walls. Swiss restaurants tend to have a less is more look. One restaurant in Saas Fee we ate at was done in beautiful wood that seemed modern and ski oriented. Many restaurants in towns in the Alps have ski stands outside their establishments.

All of Europe loves to eat outside so there are decks hooked to restaurants if they can fit them in. We were outside eating at a restaurant in Austria one September and as the day cooled off, large propane heaters were lit and blankets were available at every table. Up a mountain in Saas Fee we ate outside with the clear mountain air and sunshine giving us doses of vitamin D. It was glorious

The Swiss tend to believe that quality is more important than quantity. It is an expensive country to live in, but their roads are well maintained and they live in much smaller spaces than Americans. One thing I found interesting is that waste must be very difficult to get rid of. In most hotel rooms we either had two very small waste baskets or just one in the bathroom. It wasn’t that we had a lot to throw away, but it seemed they were discouraging massive amounts being left in hotel rooms.

Cars are smaller and more fuel efficient. We were driving a Citroen diesel and every time we stopped, the car shut off and then started again when Hack pushed on the gas pedal. In the 10 days we were there we only filled it up twice. Once in the middle of the trip, and then close to the airport so the tank would be full when we turned it back in.

The pictures I am including in this blog are just shots I took to show what I thought was beautiful. For the most part, the pleasure in going to Switzerland is to drink in the scenery. If one can do that, the images will follow a person back home. I thought it might be our last trip to this beautiful country, but my husband said he will never say it is his last trip to Switzerland. Who knows? There is a hotel in Beatenberg where I could spend a few more nights and soak up the scenery once again.

Flowers

The shabby chic shutters, wooden building and geraniums make a noteworthy scene.

A beautiful combination of flowers in a window box on the main street of Saas Fee.

Flowers in Saas Fee.

Buildings

House and barn hooked together in Signau. (Photo by Hack)

Old wood and flower boxes....a wonderful combination.

Colorful tile roof on a church steeple in Schlatt, a small farming community.

This barn looks like it was just built. It has a very interesting design. (Photo by Hack)

Fountains

These water features can be found all over in all kinds of designs. I want one.

They used a huge stone for this water fountain and it was in a cemetery.

A large log was hollowed out to make this water fountain. Simple and beautiful.

Food

Apricot brandy made in the fall and on sale in a store in Saas Fee.

Lots of candy for sale in a shop in Interlaken. Priced unbelievably high I might add.

Fruit at a small farmer's market in Lucerne.

Delicious cakes in Conditerei Heini in Lucerne.

The candy side of the conditerei in Lucerne. I bought one piece of candy in Interlaken and it cost me close to $2.00. Was it worth it? I really can't explain how worth it it was. Swiss candy can't be beat.