Feeling Bern

[DFW]

No, I didn't leave anything out.

Today, after not having been there for a couple of years, I had some work in Switzerland's beautiful little capital city. I always love going down there. Here is a small tour. It is narrated in high German, though with a distinct Swiss accent, and there are subtitles in English all the way through.

[TwilightZone]

1. Apparently, about half of my family tree goes through Bern.

Never been there but always wanted to go. Relatives on my mom's side came to the Midwest US from Bern after WWI. I apparently still have relatives there, but they're very old and speak German almost exclusively, and I speak very little of it.

[DFW]

3. Even if you DO speak German, it might not help you

Swiss German (Schwyzerdüütsch) is so different from standard German that when Swiss German programs are shown on German TV, they are either have subtitles in German or are dubbed completely. Unless you have some familiarity with the dialects (there are several, and to a German, they sound like total gibberish), you are lost even if your German in fluent.

If you get the chance take the train from Bern to Interlaken, then up to Lauterbrunnen (and Mürren if you have the time, AND it's a clear day!) and back to Interlaken, and the spectacular route from Interlaken to Luzern. Absolutely breathtaking.

Oh, and bring LOTS of money. My colleague from our Geneva office and I had lunch in Bern today before I left back for Germany and he returned home to Geneva. A modest lunch for two, running around $90.

[empedocles]

2. Now I know where New Bern, NC, got its name inspiration from

[DFW]

4. I don't know of another city with that name

Although I suppose there could be one somewhere in Germany, Austria, or Eastern Europe. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Switzerland wasn't the rich enclave it is now, and people from all parts of Central Europe emigrated to North America just like they did from just about everywhere else.

[smirkymonkey]

5. Very charming.

Switzerland is so clean, and orderly. Much like Germany. I have not been to a Swiss city, I have only been to Zermatt to ski, but it was lovely. And very expensive. I loved the fact that at the end of a day of skiing, we could ski right back into the town. There were no cars, just little battery-powered electric vehicles to transport people around. It was very peaceful. And the cheese fondue was wonderful!

I would love to visit the lake district one of these days. It's so beautiful from the photos I have seen.

Thanks for posting, DFW!

[DFW]

6. If you ever get the chance

The lake area around Luzern is like stepping into a post card.