Goodbye neon, hello greenery! By Jane Xie, TODAY | Posted: 24 July 2008 0949 hrs
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SWITZERLAND: I had barely started on my career and already I was thinking of retiring. The Swiss landscape does that to you.
The scenery before me was of emerald-green meadows laced with ferns and pine trees. On these sat pointed, wooden houses whose gardens blended into the towering mountainous backdrop. Cheery dots of wildflowers coloured the slopes.
It was a picture of quiet, simple beauty that could not be duplicated in the city, a place for reflection after the noises and congestion, the shopping and the neon-lit nights. A place of rest from urban living.
I was gliding on the 1902 vintage paddlewheel Unterwalden along Lake Lucerne, known locally as Vierwaldstätter See.
The boat trip provided a comprehensive bottom-up view of the Swiss hills and what looked to be the pastoral life, starting with the lake itself.
Arguably the most beautiful body of water in Switzerland, Lake Lucerne is the fourth largest lake in the country covering a total area of 114 square kilometres, about a seventh the size of Singapore.
The lake threads through central Switzerland and borders the cantons of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. The views of these regions can be admired while having a meal in the boat’s restaurant.
While the cruise throws up postcard-perfect views of an idyllic countryside, the city of Lucerne bubbles with activity. Known for its fine watches and musical boxes, Lucerne has streets that brim with shops that sell these crafts.
The most prominent boutique is Bucherer on Schwanenplatz street, which deals in renowned watch brands such as Carl F Bucherer, Rolex, A. Lange & Söhne and Patek Philippe.
If such timepieces are too unfriendly on the pocket, visit the monthly crafts market that takes place every first Saturday from April to December at Weinmarkt Square.
There are two sides to this plaza. On one side, stores are set up in a haphazard manner selling old records, vintage accessories, out of print books, dusty musical boxes. Prices are negotiable.
On the other side are neatly aligned, temporary stalls that sell hand-madeaccessories such as crystal jewellery, rare items such as titanium earrings, and bags made from recycled canvas.
As one of the two hosts of the recent Euro 2008 football tournament last month, Switzerland was swamped with not only visitors set on gazing at the breathtaking landscape but also boisterous football fans. On the day of the opening match between Switzerland and the Czech Republic, the city of Basel was dotted with people dressed in red, some draped in the Swiss flag and wearing scarlet, furry hats stringed with dangling mentos-sized balls.
The hyped up atmosphere in the normally peaceful city was contagious, even for a neutral observer like me.
With fans of opposing teams teasing each other, it was hard not to be entertained by the friendly exchange.
Despite the sporting revelry, what stood out about Switzerland was the landscape. I got a bird’s eye view of this standing near the summit of the 1,900m high Mount Pilatus.
The peak is accessible via the world’s steepest cogwheel railway, the slope is at a steep 48 degrees angle.
It was cold, to be sure, but the discomfort was alleviated by the cosy blare of alp horns at the end of the ride.
A group of five men were blowing the 4.5m long pipes and when the sound filled the area, I felt like I was listening to trumpets in heaven.
A blanket of cloud enveloped the area — we were that high up.
The air was so fresh it tingled. Below me were bright green meadows bursting with pockets of colourful alpine flowers — purple gentians, butter-yellow dandelions and violet asters.
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