I
ISSUE
2
1996
1
i
IPMIlBIP
'
Photos
Switzerland,
home
to
Toblerone,
Heidi
(who
apparently
really
existed),
and
St.
Moritz
(the
single
most
expensive
ski
village
in
the
world)
is
one
of
the
most
striking
countries
in
all
of
Europe.
Being
one
of
the
only
countries
not
destroyed
in
the
Second
World
War,
Swit
zerland
is
almost
literally
a
country
rolling
in
dough.
Someone
once
determined
the
wealth
of
a
country
by
the
cost
of
a
Big
Mac.
In
Switzerland,
a
Big
Mac
would
cost
an
average
of
$7.50
Canadian.
Yikes!
So,
when
travelling
around
in
Switzerland,
it
is
best
to
go
with
a
little
extra
cash.
In
the
summer,
one
can
still
enjoy
the
full
beauty
of
both
winter
and
summer.
Ski
resorts
are
open
year
round,
like
in
Whistler,
but
on
a
much
grander
scale.
It
is
of
course,
very
expensive:
a
half-day
pre-season
pass
at
an
average
resort
is
approximately
$60-$70
Canadian.
The
chalets
are
warm
and
cosy
and
offer
a
wide
variety
of
SwissGermanAustrian
food
and
drinks
such
as
wieners,
blitznuedeln
(hot
and
sweet
dumplings)
and
gluewein
(hot,
spiced
wine
with
a
shot
of
rum
added
to
it).
If
one
is
there
on
a
busier
day,
the
locals
can
be
seen
and
heard
drinking
schnapps
and
gluewein
and
singing
various
folk
songs.
It
may
sound
"cheesy,"
but
it
is
a
very
warm
and
friendly
atmosphere
which
simply
isn't
found
in
North
America.
The
Swiss
Alps
are
not
like
our
Canadian
Rockies.
There
are
not
many
valleys
which
are
rugged
and
in-the-middle-of-nowhere
places
like
in
the
Rockies.
Farms,
tiny
villages
and
small
towns
are
almost
everywhere.
Along
many
of
the
most
popular
summer
routes,
are
tiny
chalets
which
serve
wonderful
food
and
of
course
various
schnapps',
gluewein
and
beer.
These
warm
and
comfortable
chalets
are
open
all
summer
for
all
tourists
and
locals
to
enjoy.
In
the
winter,
the
country's
seams,
seem
to
burst
with
a
plethora
of
international
winter
enthusiasts.
Snowboarders
and
skiers
(downhill
and
X-coun-
and
article
contributed
by
Birgit
Allgaier
try)
can
be
seen
almost
everywhere
and
ski
resorts
are
once
again
busy.
The
snow
is,
admittedly,
nothing
like
good
ol
Northern
BC,
but
the
terrain
is
insane.
Some
resorts
are
so
big,
that
all
the
runs
can't
be
covered
in
an
entire
week!
Hiking
in
Switzerland
is
very
rewarding
and
grand
panoramic
views,
such
as
the
one
pictured
here,
are
moderately
accessible
for
amateurs
to
appreciate.
All
the
main
peaks
have
had
crosses
erected
on
them;
not
in
memorial
of
any
particular
person
having
died
there,
but
as
a
religious
shrine
to
stand
on
the
peaks
of
nature's
magnificence.
After
an
exhilarating
hike,
a
warming
drink
is
to
be
had
in
a
nearby
chalet
or
gasthaus
(pubrestaurant).
So
go
to
Switzerland
and
make
sure
to
bring
along
hiking
boots,
your
board(s)
and
a
lot
of
extra
cash.