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.