What's the difference between the two images?
The first one is the Swiss flag sign....the second, the Red Cross sign.
The use of the red cross on a white background, which is actually the Swiss flag reversed, was granted to the International Red Cross to commemorate the organization founded by Henri Dunant, citizen of Geneva (http://www.eda.admin.ch/washington_e...ninf/flag.html)
Switzerland, here we come!
From the chaotic and un-landscaped Italian expressway, the scenery gradually changes into that of green rolling meadows, pine trees, farms that are spotlessly clean with their logs perfectly stacked up and of course, all those mountains that Switzerland is known for, .
We always saw Switzerland in her all-snow glory (and that I strongly advise that you visit it when the mountains are covered in snow...It's magical! It's like stepping into a postcard!)
Switzerland in the winter
This time - in October, which is still mild - the mountains are green with vegetation but dotted with the orange, yellow and red colours of trees that will soon shed their leaves in the winter.
You know that you are in Switzerland when you hear the tinkling of bells coming from cows. These bells which are hanging from cows' necks have become a Swiss icon, similar to the cuckoo clock which originated from there. And you bet, we had seen so much cows in just one day, not only in the meadows but also within residential areas, halos dumudungaw pa sa mga bahay ng ilan! So if you think sa India lang nagkalat ang mga baka, nagkakamali kayo!
Lucerne in October
Because of the 3 countries bordering Switzerland (
Liechtenstein is the 4th but too small to influence it - only 33,000 inhabitants in a 160sqkm of land) - France, Italy and Germany - the architecture, language,food, culture, etc change accdg to which region you are. We have been to French-influenced Montreaux, the German-influenced Zurich, the Italian-influenced Lugano and what a big variation of everything - as if Switzerland itself is really a part of France, a part of Germany, or a part of Italy but since it is not, the common denominator is ORDER - CLEANLINESS - PERFECTION - PRECISION! For example, those unmaintained-looking Renaissance architecture in Italy (which i find charming anyway) will be perfectly painted, no speck of stain whatsoever in Lugano, Switzerland. Maganda pa rin pero nawalan na ng Italian charm!
They have 4 official languages - German, French, Italian and Rumantsch, hence road/store/food/etc signs and labels are translated into 4, even 5 to include English!
We stopped in Lucerne and the first thing we noticed is the artistic nature of the people who have inhabited the place centuries ago. Most buildings in the old town are painted with frescoes!
frescoes
an old square
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Originally Posted by mariadams
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