I like this part of the trip: zipping from Spain to Switzerland in just 2-3 days makes me feel like I am traveling with the speed of light and my senses are attacked by the contrasts. Central Spain, Pyrenees, Central France and now Switzerland – bang-bang-bang. Temperatures, landscapes, people – no day is like the previous one, the roller coaster is picking up the speed.

For the sake of staying in touch with reality, let’s write down some things which i did not know (if you want to judge my ignorance, do so quietly, please)

Switzerland has not two official languages, but four: besides German and French there is Italian and Romansch, which is, apparently, the language closest to Latin of the ones still spoken. It’s spoken by around 60.000 people and is taught in the schools of the respective cantons. Less unexpected: language issue produces quite a bit of tension between regions and our Servas host Heinz (from the German part) explains to us the complicated language politics one has to face if one wants to make business with somebody in the French part. By the way, Swiss German does not sound like German at all to me, those who speak High German, don’t understand it.

Abbreviation CH stands for Confoederatio Helvetica which is Latin for Switzerland, basically.

Some places that we saw today in the area of Thunsee look strikingly like Norway, if Norway were packed to the brim by tight streets with elegant, dark, geranium-clad houses. Swiss who have been to Norway (interestingly, so far everyone whom we spoke with, has) agree with that.

The land in popular areas is insanely expensive, even to someone from Norway. Nobody can get a 100% mortgage – not these days at least. But at the same time, having one income per family is a more or less usual setup, according to our hosts. Unemployment rate is sitting at the quite happy 5% mark.

Education system is rather unusual, featuring a wide use of professional apprenticeships when after school a person starts working in the field of his or her interest while studying at a quite slow pace to get professional certification. The only reason to go to a university is if you want to advance in science and it is more difficult to get a job with a university degree than with a completed apprenticeship.

Typical breakfast is a hearty one, with harsh browns (fried potato mash) and such.

Looking forward to my next breakfast, I am falling asleep, with the Alps in my window. Good night!