04/10/2002:
The pretty Swiss landscape
Time
had come to leave Italy. After eight days, I said goodbye to the country of pizzerias,
where people talk at an amusing pace and gesticulate a lot. As the train left
Milan towards the north, the landscape began to change. I could see pine trees,
green pastures, snow-capped mountains, lovely little houses and farms. Some
clues about my next destination: it is worldwide known for chocolate, watches,
banks… It must be Switzerland! I arrived in Geneva in the evening, which made
this first contact even more special. Then, I took a short walk to see the main
attractions in the city centre and enjoy the nightlife of Geneva. In
Geneva, I could feel again the atmosphere of the traditional pubs: the clink of
glasses, the humming in the dark and small place, the tables outside at the
streets. And, of course, the beer, which itself brings about the scent of
Germany. Geneva is not a place for clubbing, but it may be a good choice if you
want a good chat at one of its pubs or a delicious dinner at one its several
restaurants. The best and most famous places are located near the cathedral, on
a charming hill. Even if you're not looking for restaurants, the walk is worth
because of the view of the buildings at night. What stands out is the water
fountain in Lake Léman, a symbol of the city. The 140-metre-high fountain
gushes out water at 200 km/h and has a special colour during the night. During
the day, I rode a bike around Geneva – you can rent one for free. I went
cycling about several parts of the city: Lake Léman, Saint Pierre Cathedral,
Place du Bourg de Four. Of course, I could not forget about visiting the UN
headquarters. In Geneva, languages mix up. You can hear Italian, French and
German. Although German is the first language, French is the most spoken one
near the border with France. With
the headquarters of many international organisations, Geneva is also a city for
people who like to and is able to spend. Shops like Prada, Armani and Vitorino,
among many others, show the best in terms of haute couture. In addition, there
are several watch shops, which confirms the country's tradition in precision
watches. The currency is the Swiss franc, worth a little less than the euro,
which does not make prices more affordable. Known as a tax haven, Switzerland is
also famous because of its banking system. Despite
having spent only a night and a morning in Geneva, and having had only a short
stop in Zurich, I could grasp much of Switzerland during the train journey.
Swiss houses are charming ones, in a style that is much similar to the houses on
the hills of Rio Grande do Sul. By the way, the whole scenery is similar, but
what impressed me the most was the clear water of the rivers that run down the
mountains and the light green pastures on the farms, contrasting with the dark
green of the pine trees. Throughout
the journey, a beautiful landscape showed up. The Alps (although I didn't see
the snow), lakes, bridges, churches, small towns… A charming country!
Switzerland is a country of high standards of living, with the highest wages in
Europe. Besides, it is a safe country and, albeit small, has a good economy. You
can notice it on the comfortable trains. The people are very polite and classy.
Before leaving, I couldn't help trying the traditional Swiss chocolate, sweeter
and creamier than the plain one. This is how I said goodbye to this lovely small
rich country, with so many options and comfort to offer. Pictures of the Alps: Pictures of Geneva:
- Fountain at Lake Léman: 1 - View of the side, beyond Lake Léman: 1,
2 - Boats on Lake Léman: 1 - Saint Pierre Cathedral: 1 - UN's headquarters: 1 Translated by Traduzca |
