A Trip Up the Alps...

A few of my coworkers and I got together this past weekend and decided to check out these silly mountains everyone has been raving about. The closest mountain near us being Rigi, we headed on over.

We happened to be lucky enough to show up just in time for the once-a-week steam-engine cog-wheel train; a train built way back in 1899.

When we reached the top, we came across some people having a pretty good time indeed. This is a sport I'd love to try:



And of course, there are plenty of pictures for your perusal...

Rigi, Switzerland

A new drink in Switzerland...

As I'm walking to the train this morning, I notice something a bit odd in the vending machine:




Okay, if I read that right, it's a cannabis-infused Iced Tea. This I have to try, and at SFr. 2.50, who could pass it up?








It tasted pretty good, just very much like any standard Green Tea would. Only in Switzerland (or Amsterdam)...

Ron Paul Interview

Here's a fantastic interview with Ron Paul, recorded at Google back in July 2007. It's a bit long at 65 minutes, but it's one of the best recorded examples of Ron Paul's ideals and intents.

Only in (Europe, Switzerland, Zurich)...

Well, yesterday was quite a fun day for me in Zürich... but it spawned some comparisons, which I deign to share with you now.

Only in (Europe, Switzerland, Zürich)...

• Can you take a tram to save walking 200m (the trams come every ~3min in busy areas)
• Can you buy milk (1.5 SFr.) and a pastry (1.2 SFr.) for less money than a 20oz. bottle of soda (3 SFr.)
• Do cinemas advertise for other cinemas (of different companies)
• Does a cinema ticket cost 19 SFr. (more expensive than buying a DVD in most cases)
• Do they interrupt the movie half-way through for ice cream
  
• Are there beautiful lush parks seemingly every 0.5km (and sparsely populated too)
• Is it illegal to hang your linens on a Sunday
• Is public consumption of alcohol (tram, train, park, anywhere) considered normal
• Can you be in the rural country-side in 20 minutes on public transportation
  
• Can you buy a single 7.80 SFr. (~5USD) ticket and have unfettered access to all public transport for a day: tram, train, bus, boat. (or just a 500 SFr. yearly pass for the same)
• Can you stop to admire a statue/water-fountain on every street corner, and then drink clean fresh water from it
• Do locals begin to be upset when a tram is 2 minutes late
• Can you find a street vendor selling flowers: but they aren't there, just a sign saying "Flowers cost 3 SFr." next to a jar

In short: Zürich is a fantastic place to live. I am thoroughly glad for my decision to move here.