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Le Creux du Van

2022-06-15T16:01:51+02:00

This spectacular valley is also called „the Grand Canyon of Switzerland“. Along the rim of a rock cauldron it goes hundreds of meters down to the bottom of the valley. The cauldron is about 1200m wide.

The valley is protected and virtually untouched. In the middle a cold spring (the water stays constantly at 4°C) flows out of the valley. Chamois, capricorns, lynx, fox, deer and many different birds have made their home there. A new nature movie lynxlefilm.ch explores the life of a lynx family in this area within a breathtaking scenery.

The valley is located between the the Cantons of Neuchâtel and Waadt in the French speaking part of Switzerland. It is easiest to go up from the village of Couvet (NE) and head for the Restaurant Soliat with parking lots. About 300m across a meadow you hit the amazing view from atop the rim. Follow the road back up and come down on the other side of the mountain (VD) with a stunning view of lake Neuchâtel and the alps in the background.

Le Creux du Van2022-06-15T16:01:51+02:00

The Wildegg Castle

2022-05-25T10:09:26+02:00

The powerful Habsburg family built the Wildegg castle (among many other castles) in the 13th century. It is located in the Canton Aargau. It burned out in 1552. After that it was continually enlarged. From 1680 it belonged to a noble family from the city of Berne. They turned it into a baroque castle that was very comfortable to live in with huge beautiful garden grounds.

Today the castle belongs to the canton and is open to the public. The rooms within the castle hold house precious furniture, paintings and other artifacts dating back generations. There are a number of screens set up in great locations throughout the castle. They look like old portraits. At that the press of a button the person starts to speak and share interesting scenes of their lives.

The Wildegg Castle2022-05-25T10:09:26+02:00

Good Friday and Easter Sunday

2022-04-16T10:00:00+02:00

At the center of the Christian faith are Good Friday and Easter Sunday (following a lunar calendar they are usually celebrated sometime in March or April).

Good Friday remembers that the Jew called Jesus Christ was nailed to a cross in Jerusalem around 2000 years ago. Christianity claims that Jesus, as the son of God, paid with his life for our sins. He took our place on the cross and thus redeems all those who put their trust in him.

Three days later, on Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead. The Christian perspective is that Jesus is the prototype of a risen person with a resurrection body that is perfect and can not decay any more. All those who have put their trust in him will be raised up with the same kind of body at the last day when Christ returns as the judge and savior.

So when Christians die in the Lord, their hope is clearly that one day they will be raised to eternal life in God’s new creation together with all those who are followers of Christ.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday2022-04-16T10:00:00+02:00

The Ukrainian War

2022-03-29T09:52:33+02:00

The picture shows the Ukrainian Embassy here in Bern.

February 24, 2022 a new chapter opened for Europe with a war launched by President Putin on European soil. Russia attacked the Ukraine with the idea of liberating it from an oppressive regime. The Russians expected to be greeted as liberators and that the whole operation would just take a few days only. A month later the war still rages on as Russia is meeting unexpected and strong resistance. The Ukrainians are fighting for their lives, their country and their freedom. The Russians just follow orders from above.

The toll of this war is terrible not only for the Ukraine but also for the Russian army. Masses of refugees (women and children) are fleeing the country. Many are traumatized. Europe is welcoming them and trying to help them settle into new lives.

The outcome of this war is very uncertain. Is it going to escalate and explode into a Third World War? Or is it hopefully ending soon with a chance of rebuilding and healing. We keep praying for the latter.

The Ukrainian War2022-03-29T09:52:33+02:00

End of Pandemic

2022-02-16T17:24:49+01:00

The Swiss government officially declared the end of the pandemic by February 17, 2022. Certificates are no longer needed for any activity (except for international travel). For the moment masks are only mandatory in health institutions and for using public transport. Home office is not necessary any more.

These are big and bold steps! Omicron caused the 5th pandemic wave with a huge number of new infections but on the whole a lot milder cases. The new wave is clearly receding now and hospitals are certainly not overwhelmed at all.

The next few months will hopefully be a return life as it used to be. Many rejoice while others are still a bit uncertain. The hope is that this was a unique event we can look back to as part of humanity’s shared history.

End of Pandemic2022-02-16T17:24:49+01:00

Winter Wonderland

2022-01-22T21:58:17+01:00

Even though omicron is raging through the country it seems hardly anyone is dying from it. And there are no restrictions on going outside.

In the lowland there is not much snow left. So recently we decided to go higher up back into the winter season and enjoy the snow and sun.

A safe bet is the Niederhorn (above lake Thun) that is open all year round. Going up from the bottom to the top (at 1950m) takes only about 30’ by cable car.

We strolled along a safe path and looked down into the valley below. Then taking the sledge it is fun to glide down to the middle station in the village of Beatenberg.

Winter Wonderland2022-01-22T21:58:17+01:00

Christmas Advertisements

2021-12-21T09:27:42+01:00

A quarter of the people living in the Switzerland are foreigners. And quite many come from very diverse cultural and religious backgrounds too. Switzerland tries to be accommodate to these developments.

A good example is Christmas. In the past Switzerland used to have Christmas holidays. These days this holiday season is now just called winter holiday.

In the past Christmas decorations often reflected the original story of Christmas according to the story in the Bible with shepherds going to look for the baby Jesus, the wise men from the East following a star to meet the new born and the baby Jesus lying in a manger.

In order to tone down Christmas suddenly the old Christmas symbols get replaced by new images or motifs such as this Yeti figure of Coop supermarket on the picture, or penguins, reindeers etc that are free of any Christmas story content.

Switzerland is in the process of losing some of its identity in order to become more inclusive.

Christmas Advertisements2021-12-21T09:27:42+01:00

November Days

2021-11-23T16:41:44+01:00

In Switzerland during November often there is a banket of fog covering the country. Going higher up it is easy to break through fog. But the majority of the population lives through a series of grey and dark days.

In the forest the leaves have mostly fallen. Winter is not far. Often the first snow falls during in the second part of November.

That is also when the first Christmas decorations are getting put up. It is a nice and cozy reminder of the coming Christmas festivities.

November Days2021-11-23T16:41:44+01:00

Fall Memories

2021-10-27T18:39:48+02:00

The intense colors in fall are breathtaking! It takes a few cold nights (around 0°C) and then many leaves turn into a rich canvas of bright colors. Sometimes these fall days are rather short and the leaves fall to the ground within a few days. This year fall has served us many beautiful days with clear skies and its particular warm kind of sunlight with long shades.

Fall announces the next season: winter. It will not be long before nature braces itself for long and freezing nights. Older people are often aware that fall is a reminder of our limited time on earth. One day all of us will shed our leaves and return to the ground from which we were taken.

Fall Memories2021-10-27T18:39:48+02:00

The Engadin

2021-09-27T15:33:16+02:00

The Engadin is a 80km long valley on an altitude of 1800m. The locals speak the fourth national language of our country: Romantsch. The area is famous for its beauty with the typical houses of this area and many high class restaurants.

The most famous location is tiny city of St. Moritz. Here many wealthy and famous people from all over the world own a houses, which is empty most of the time. Within a small parameter you will find very exclusive shops and hotels.

The view (picture) is taken from a mountain called Muotas Muragl (at 2456m) with a cable train leading up. St. Moritz is just below at the shore of the last of four lakes streching on through the valley.

The second picture is from Piz Corvatsch nearby at 3303m. This site is easily accessible by cable car. In winter this area is famous for ski sports. During summer there are trails for hundreds of km for hiking and biking.

The Engadin2021-09-27T15:33:16+02:00

Flooding

2021-08-26T09:58:49+02:00

At the beginning of July it started raining heavily. Here in Switzerland there was not too much damage that happened but the water levels in some of our lakes were rising to record levels. Many rivers rivers stepped over the river banks and some small creeks turned into raging torrents. In mid July catastrophic flooding took place in Germany and Belgium too.

A month later the situation is back to normal.

This summer Central Europe has been hit by flooding and the South by huge forest fires. The changes in climate seem to take an increasing toll.

Flooding2021-08-26T09:58:49+02:00

Euro Soccer Cup 2021

2021-07-05T17:17:12+02:00

This summer Europe was glued to the screen due to exciting euro soccer matches. This year the Swiss team, which has been rather unspectacular turned out to be a big surprise.

On June 28 in Bucharest the Swiss had to play against France, the winner of the previous euro cup! The game almost ended with 3 goals for France and only 2 for Switzerland. But then in the very last minute of the game the Swiss scored another goal. Suddenly there was a tie: 3:3. What a cliffhanger game! In the ensuing 11m shoot out the Swiss scored a 5:4 victory  over France. The Swiss rose to incredible quarter-finals.

On July 2 in Petersburg (Russia) the Swiss team then had to face famous Spanish team. After the virtually impossible victory against the French the Swiss had high hopes that we might even be able defeat Spain as well. With a 1:1 the Swiss indeed were able to achieve another tie with Spain! In the 11m shootout the Swiss team lost 3-1. But the Swiss team had achieved the almost impossible and has been proudly celebrated upon their return home.

Euro Soccer Cup 20212021-07-05T17:17:12+02:00
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