Switzerland Travel

Friday, April 27, 2007

Honoring the Vogel Gryff Festivity in Switzerland

Back in the 13th century, Swiss people used to incorporate festivities with Pagan folkways; an example of these festivals is what the Swiss called Vogel Gryff. Ordinarily celebrated on the 13th, 20th, or 27th of January, the Vogel Gryff is celebrated specifically in Kleinbasel.

Once the festivity takes off, usually at 11 in the morning, the so-called Wild Maa, which is a figure that symbolizes fertility, carries a raft from Rhine to Mittlere Brücke where he dances while holding a pine sapling. Aside from the regular Wild Maa, the Vogel Gryff or griffon and the Leu or lion are also participants of the festivity that meet the event's Wild Maa on the river bank once they hear the cannon. The three stand in the Mittlere Brücke at noon to dance a folk dance, which includes steps sprang from the Medieval Ages, with the drums.

After the ceremony, the three and the audience gather in Kleinbasel to continue the festivity with a Gryffemähli, which is a lunch party for the three players. While those three are eating, there is a procession that includes jesters who raise money for the poverty-stricken people in town. The festivity ends at night when the people celebrate by partying and drinking, while the three players continue dancing the traditional dance in old Kleinbasel restaurants.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

What I Hold Dear About the Placid Town of Lucerne

Whenever I am oddly tired of work and have a luxurious time to spend for a splendid vacation, I would always phone a fellow in Switzerland to help me find a place to stay for quite a short visit. But he would instantly invite me to his haven in Lucerne and I would gladly take the invitation because for one, living in his home would deduct a significant portion from a long list of expenditure and second, I would have a travel guide for free.

But more than my undisclosed cost-cutting purposes, there are many reasons that entice me to come back to Lucerne that I am almost thinking of settling in this town in my old age. But unfortunately, I can only cite a few here.

First, I am a self-absorbed man so, I would always want to feel loved by the locals of each country I visit not because I am a source of profit but because I am a lover of the sweetness and quietude of their beloved place. This I successfully noted from the amicable Swiss of Lucerne.

Second, I just can't help but hold dear the gorgeous River Reuss. Its azure water flows right in the middle of the town hence, dividing Lucerne into two units.

Third, I am startled by the ancient make-up of the buildings, shelters, and other structures that are scattered all over the town. With this view, I would always feel I am in the epoch of Queen Victoria.

But for now, the most I can do is enumerate all the things I hold dear about Lucerne for I cannot hurriedly run the time to bring me to my old age.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

A Mouthwatering Treat at the Road

When I finally had a long-week getaway from work, I asked some of my good fellows to go with me to Switzerland. Our stay there was really god because there were no hurly-burly related to work that could disturb us that time. We shopped, went to some museums, took countless pictures of the villages in that country, and more. Before we went back to the U.S., we decided to just stroll around the small village near the flat where we stayed. As we walk along the narrow road of the community, we saw a man cooking and selling a good-smelling bites

My fellows and I learned that the man was cooking Magenbrot, a very sweet and mouthwatering bread pieces. When I had the bite of it, I plight I could delight in the sugar, the honey, the milk, and the cinnamon powder all at the same time! Aside from this, the candied orange peel and ginger bread spices made the toothsome Magenbrot very zestful. I asked the vendor to teach me how to make the Magenbrot because I wanted my family and my other fellows in the U.S. to delight in this exceptional bread of the Swiss. Having a bite of the Magenbrot was probably my greatest Switzerland incident.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Swiss Swatch Continues To Invade The World Of Popular And Lavish Watches

For some, wristwatches can be simple, time-telling gadgets that have no connection with the amazing fashion world whatsoever. But in the great country of Switzerland, watch making is a gigantic industry, as it is one of the world's biggest manufacturers of watches. When I visited the Swiss shops during a recent escapade with a companion, the brand name that stands out from the Swiss watch making industry is the Swatch Company. Although expensive, Swiss Swatch watches are of the highest quality, and are noted worldwide as a very precise time-telling gadget. Watches with designs available in assorted colors and styles are prevalent among the young crowd, making it a must-have fashion accessory. Luxury editions of Swatch watches have been popularized by several celebrities such as Michael Schumacher, the striking model and actress Cindy Crawford, and the British actor Pierce Brosnan. These spectacular luxury masterpieces have always been associated with beauty and refinement because of its unique and clean design.

After a couple of hours inside a mall, I was able to buy a valid Swatch watch on my expedition to Switzerland. It did cost me some crucial amount of Euros, but because of its high quality and first-rate craftsmanship, it's definitely worth it.

Monday, April 23, 2007

The Many Inviting Features and Facilities of Tresa Bay Hotel

Tresa Bay Hotel in Ponte Tresa, Lugano in Switzerland has the enviable location of being quite near the renowned Lugano Lake which many Swiss sightseers find simply fascinating. This is admittedly one of the strong characteristics of the hotel, and that is why it has reconstructed some of its rooms, resulting to what management calls Superior Rooms. These newly-renovated Tresa Bay Hotel rooms introduce to tourists the opportunity to see the illustrious lake in all its sparkle and majesty, with the added advantage of seeing the lake even when one happens to be inside the bathroom.

The hotel also provides a terraced restaurant that likewise faces Lugano Lake, extending to visitors the opportunity not only to view the lake but to also get to choose from a wide range of dishes that include Italian, European, and other international cuisines. A good pick, though, is the pizza district of the hotel with its crispy-brown pans as well as the grilled specialties that involve either meat or fish.

After a wholesome meal, the next best thing to do is to ostensibly start a tour of Lugano city. This should be quite inviting since right within the hotel premises, there are a lot of engaging activities like horseback riding, sailing and boating, sunbathing, mountain biking, swimming, scuba diving, and other nature-based recreations. Alternatively, you could decide on a simpler form of relaxation that should typically include museum tours and film watching, especially since the Herman Hesse Museum and the Film Festival Locarno can be accessed quite conveniently when coming from the hotel.