Switzerland for Dummies
Summer
Summer. What a wonderful word. If you’ve ever taken a psychology class, you most definitely learned about classical conditioning, or the association of a feeling to an action or person. For example, you like your boyfriend and he makes you happy. Your boyfriend smells good. Therefore, you smell his scent and you become happy (and in turn become sad when you break up). Summer is a world I feel we are all classically conditioned to. We think of those glorious three months without responsibility, anxiety, or really anything to do except having the time of your life. For some, summer is associated with sticky, cold, popsicle sticks or the smell of chlorine at the local pool. For others, summer is a time to work. But for me, summer was the time to travel, to explore the world, to live freely. There were a lot of things I was looking forward to this summer which, unfortunately, cannot happen. Instead I will reflect back on the highlight of last summer: SWITZERLAND.
Let’s go back to December 2018. December 2018, you could find me at 1:25 sitting in history class, counting down the minutes until that particular form of torture would end, gazing at photos of beautiful Switzerland on my computer screen. That was the moment I decided that, without fail, I would somehow get my sorry self to Switzerland that upcoming summer, and I did. After months of begging the ‘rents, mapping out a plan of which relatives to stay with and where to go, I found myself standing utterly alone in the Beirut airport alone in July, a one-way ticket to Geneva in hand.
It was terrifying, to be traveling alone to a new country and then from there, home to the states all by myself. But, at the same time it was absolutely thrilling. Sitting alone staring out the window on that flight really sparked a new sense of independence in me, and for that I absolutely recommend travelling alone if you can (even though I wasn’t entirely alone and was staying with relatives, but tomato tomahto).
Geneva
Geneva truly is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever been to. If you’ve ever read “Happy City” by Charles Montgomery, you would understand what I mean when I say Geneva is clinically...happy. In fact, I’d say all of Switzerland can be categorized as just a happy, happy country. There are so many little things that I noticed in my first hour of being in the city: water fountains strategically placed, the quaint cobblestone roads, the excellent transportation system of trains and busses that are always, and I mean always, on time, the lovely architecture that is both modern yet historic at the same time. Geneva is beautiful, and I was SO jealous of my cousin for getting to live just ten minutes from the heart of the city. My cousin was an excellent tour guide: only fourteen, she had this thirst for life that only living in the heart of one of the most outstanding cities could quench. Bubbly and unbothered by the age gap between us, she took me on many stops around the city; from fashion to food, we did not miss a single beat that first day.
*Places visited*
L’ancien arsenal, Mur des Reformateurs, Universite de Geneve, Place du Molard, Jardin Anglais
DUMMY TIP 1: BRING MONEY! Switzerland, while beautiful, is pricy. There is indeed a small price to pay for beauty. (However, I’d say my “Great European Adventure” was definitely worth all the Swiss Franks I spent, especially on the crepe at Globus.)
The rest of my time in Geneva was spent gallivanting throughout the city, trying to squeeze in a summer’s worth of fun into about four whole days. We went to the Cern (10/10 recommend, also France is about five minutes away), the UN headquarters, (amazing!), the Jet d’Eau + a day out on the lake, and spent our time acting as one would do in the same situation, being two carefree teenagers in one of the most accessible cities I’ve ever been to. For a quick moment, I lived as most Europeans do, eating pizza on a stone wall next to the lake, trying the best burger I’ve ever had (real cheese, guys), traveling across the city as easily as breathing thanks to excellent public transportation, and admiring the history right in the heart of the city. It was astounding, and in those moments, I wished I could have stayed forever.
DUMMY TIP 2: Learn about the customs beforehand! I studied a lot about Swiss fashion and customs and learned a lot. For example, people in Switzerland dress very nicely (no sweatpants ladies and gents), and it’s quite fun to fit in and look cute at the same time. (IMO, it adds to the whole experience). Also, Switzerland as a whole is very environmentally friendly!
R E C Y C L E please.
Ollon and Friends
Saying goodbye to Geneva was bittersweet, but I was more than ready to begin the next part of my journey across Switzerland and the Alps, and to see my other cousin and aunt. Transportation from Geneva to Ollon was easy, almost too easy to be honest. It blows my mind that countries have that advanced modes of transportation, and that if I really wanted to, I could buy a train ticket to another country and be there in a mere matter of hours. God, isn't Europe amazing?
The morning after I arrived, my cousin set out bright and early for the day I was (impatiently) waiting for, the day I would FINALLY climb the Alps (and take a killer photo for Instagram too). We took a couple of quick trains, stopping at the Kambly Biscuit factory on the way and eating about forty free samples before arriving at Brienz, the actual start of our journey. A quick bus and gondola ride later, we arrived at the top of the mountain, and walking out of the building at first, I didn’t quite see the view until my cousin gently told me to turn around. I did. And it was beautiful. I have never been as speechless as I was in that initial moment. If I could describe a perfect moment, that would be it: yellow scraggly flowers, the most lush, green grass, water the color of a buffed turquoise gemstone, fluffy white clouds scattered across a blue sky. If Heaven was on earth, it would be in Switzerland.
Afterwards, my cousin and I decided to travel down the mountain via a quaint little red train and then hop on another to see both Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen before heading home. Lauterbrunnen was magical, the definition of a true Alps town, and the Staubbachfall Waterfall wasn't too bad either. Interlaken (two lakes) was busy as expected, but it was still surreal to be in between such beautiful lakes. Overall, an 11/10 day.
DUMMY TIP 3: Pack your own lunch! There’s a real nice internal feeling you get while making your own sandwich with fresh deli and lettuce on a baguette, like you’re a true adventurer. (Plus, you save money).
The rest of my time in Switzerland, I traveled mostly by myself except for Gruyere and Bern. Gruyere was definitely a must see, if not only for the cows and the cheese. It’s small, but there was still a lot to see (such as how they make REAL cheese), the Gruyere castle, and the surrounding countryside. Bern, the capital of Switzerland, was very small but packed full of history. The artwork throughout the city was beautiful, from old clock towers to statues and adorable houses along the river. Simply put, it was lovely.
DUMMY TIP 4: If you don’t know anyone, go to the tourist office and ask for a map! It is especially exciting to just wander by yourself and get “lost.” We all need to get lost at one point in our lives, why not do it (safely) in a different country and have a story to tell?
My final days were spent taking a day trip to Vevey and Montreux by myself. Fortunately for me, I so happened to be in Switzerland during the Fete des Vignerons, which happens every twenty years. Needless to say, it was outstanding to see such magic happen right before my eyes. If you’re not familiar with the festival, it is a celebration of wine that happens with the planting of a grape vine. Once the grape vine dies (every twenty to twenty-five years), they plant a new one and the festival repeats. There were storefronts selling wine, a large stadium with performers, people in costume, and citizens milling around in beautiful Vevey, enjoying the sun and the water. Fun fact: all the performers and costumed people are local citizens of Vevey and surrounding towns, which I thought was really interesting. Overall, it was amazing to go to such a wonderful celebration of heritage and custom. Hopefully I’ll see you again in 2039, Vevey!
DUMMY TIP 5: Always be prepared to go swimming if you are visiting cities next to the lake. I was not. Do not be like me.
Unlike Vevey, I went to Montreux for one reason and one reason only: Freddie Mercury. I may have gotten lost trying to find his statue and then later, the Queen museum, (which by the way is free and hidden inside a casino) but it was worth it. As an avid Queen fan, I was floored standing in the same place Freddie did, and paying homage to his statue. It was definitely worth the stop, even if you’re not as big a fan.
Montreux, as well the rest of Switzerland, was beautiful and like Freddie, I was happy and unprepared to leave. But alas, all good things must come to an end. Yet, not all ends have to be permanent.
Chère Suisse, jusqu'à demain.
DUMMY TIP 6: Don’t fall in love with the country as fast as teenage girls fall in love with a pretty boy. It only results in a lot of heartbreak.
