Switzerland

Chris and I were amazed by the cleanliness of the Swiss countryside. And we don't just mean clean streets or clean air or clean public bathrooms and restaurants (thought that certainly was the case. There is something so clean about Switzerland that even the dirt of the earth seems okay to eat.

Fritz took us sightseeing around the Bodensee. The first town we went to was Stein am Rhein, a perfect example of a Swiss Medieval village.



I love walking down streets in Europe and marvelling at the smooth, well weathered cobblestones. How many others have trod down this path? What were their thoughts? What were their plans? As for Stein am Rhein, I imagine that the locals are a bit tourist-weary but nonetheless incredibly proud of their serene little city.

We also visited the only waterfall along the River Rhine, the Rheinfall in Schaffhausen. Standing close to the waterfall was an exhilarating experience.



The other small village that stood out was Appenzell. People in Appenzell still grow their own produce, and yes, cows are roaming the countryside. Speaking of cows, the day we were in Appenzell was the day of their annual cow market.



Villagers were dressed in traditional garb and celebrated with the selling of the cows, petting zoos for the children, and selling of very large cowbells.





As the villagers walked down the lane, they yodelled by chanting and also making noises that I could only best describe as short yelps.

With a bratwurst in hand and a beautiful Swiss village before our eyes, Chris and I sat down and enjoyed the views with our Swiss friends. With the glorious mountains looming over the land, the changing colors of the leaves, it is easy to see why Switzerland is so precious to many visitors and why they are so proud of their national history.