Swiss Sojourn

chillibreeze writer — Ipsita Barua

Need an editable PowerPoint map of Switzerland

“Should I, should I not?” The dilemma whether I should pack my chiffon saree lasted not even for a second, a fraction at most. I am sure the Alps could surely do without another gyrating female making an absolute mockery of its bone-chilling cold quotient.

I had seen Switzerland before – in films, on calendars, as screensavers, in magazines – so many times that I thought I had exhausted all my sighs of admiration. I was wrong. The Swiss vistas could provoke a lifetime of sighs. Rolling plains, placid lakes, colorful flowers, overhead clouds, towering mountains all dominated the scene in almost every city. You never have to make an effort to relax.

Tastes

But this is not the usual read dedicated to the beauty of the Swiss landscape, but the life therein. Switzerland is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. So you can have the best German sausages and hotdogs, the most authentic Italian pizzas and pastas, all to be washed down with the finest French wines. And though miles away, the Indian contribution cannot be ignored either. Every nook and corner of the big cities hides a quaint ‘Kohinoor’ or a ‘Maharaja’ luring passers-by with spice infused aromas. Every gourmet street smells of cheese fondue, a gooey melt of the best cheese used as a dip for bread, grilled veggies or even meat. This Swiss communal dish is shared at the table in an earthenware pot over a small burner that keeps the melted cheese bubbling hot. Just fork out your favorite bite, dip it into the cheese and while away the evening.

Come evening and every street turns into a reverie of peppy club-goers, lazy pub-hoppers and weary travelers flocking to catch the flavor of the place. While the bigger cities like Zurich and Interlaken readily offer all at your hotel-front, it’s a little bit of an adventure to seek the variety in the smaller towns like Engelberg. But for the Rösti that is served at Chuchichäschtli (never mind the pronunciation), a cozy, log-cabin styled kitchen, you can brave the harshest of snowstorms. Rösti is a Swiss potato dish, made of fresh grated potatoes, shaped into rounded patties and baked with a generous topping of cheese. As a regional touch, ours had a layer of crisp bacon and an extra topping of sizzling sunny fried eggs. Simply divine! The Swiss believe in entertaining diners with food, so even in the trendiest of restaurants, you get the most delectable delicacies minus the ostentatious display of flashy tableware and imported china, completely justifying the Euros spent.

It’s a dog’s life

As much as the Swiss love their food, they love their dogs, or maybe even more. Switzerland is known to be the most dog-friendly country in the world. Cute poodles, meek Collies, restless Terriers, and brawny Rottweilers…peep from underneath heavy overcoats, brush past you in the train, admire museum antiques, or even sit next to you on the cruise-ship. And don’t be surprised if you see a waitress carrying a dog-bowl in her hand, it’s not for you! They are amazingly well-behaved and quietly follow their owners around, stopping where they stop and obeying the slightest of gesture commands. No wonder they populated the place more than unruly kids. Our tour-guide informed us that every dog-owner has to undergo a one-day training to be eligible to own a dog and then go in for regular evaluations to retain their pet. All too fine for a warm and furry cuddle.

The Indian connection

While it’s not uncommon to hear a few Hindi conversations at tourist spots, it’s rather surprising to see Hindi signboards in Switzerland. Popular attractions like Mt. Titlis guides ‘desi visitors’ in their own language. The ‘yeh peene ka paani hai’ sticker stuck next to the tap-basin in our hotel room kept us amused for quite some time as we took turns reading it with a German and French twang! Bollywood deserves the credit, especially Yash Chopra, who has been suitably rewarded with an Alpine lake named after him.

India still retains its mysticism in the little junk shops that lure exotic-seeking foreigners with agarbattis, meditation books and even some colorful Rajasthani handicrafts. Even though you might hesitate to buy the home-grown souvenirs, you’ll probably feel proud to see them sell like hot-cakes in Euros! If you forgot to carry your Navratna oil, just head to the Nepalese grocery store round the corner in Interlaken’s Marktstrasse. Or better still if you are the spice-craving sort, a hop, skip and jump across the street in any city will take you to an Indian kitchen. And they like to call it ‘Gourm India, Services Swiss’.

Impressed, we rounded off our Mt. Titlis trip with steaming masala chai and spicy vada pav, just like we would have in Khandala or Shimla!

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Ipsita writes for chillibreeze.

Swiss Sojourn

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