When in Switzerland….

A legit winter wonderland is how one would describe Switzerland. An Adventureland for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers is another way to describe it. With the grand Mount Titlis towering over this beautiful state and holding the gorgeous alpine towns and cities of Lucerne, Zurich, etc, in its icy embrace, Switzerland is a must-visit.

Cable carSky walk/cliff walkChurch

If you are a skier or snowboarder or simply wanna enjoy the scenic beauty from a vantage point and go swish-swish and make some snow angels, then head on over to the snow -capped mountains to catch a view of the frozen lakes, the meadows, gushing rivers, et al as you rise high above via cable cars or via ski lift. Many-a-times, you might even find yourself engaging in a long chat with a charming local who’ll keep you engrossed till the end of the cable car ride with stories about the history of Switzerland or tales from his/her respective village and even get you interested in the exhilarating sport of skiing. A lot of locals in and around Switzerland are massive fans of adventure sports and even offer skiing lessons, so you might come away learning a thing or two after just one trip! (also, a grand way to cure ya of your fear of heights, dontcha think?)

Glacier cavesSki lift

The summit of Mount Titlis boasts of breath-taking views and despite the nip in the air, you’ll wish you could spend all eternity just playing around in the snow, engaging in snowball fights, climbing up a giant snowy slope and sliding down it and making the most of this winter wonderland. And if the B’wood hit of the 90’s DDLJ (Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge) is what inspired you to come down to Switzerland, then take out your cameras/smartphones and pose for selfies next to the cute cut-out of the lead actors SRK-Kajol and get carried away with the fangirling!

Mount Titlis also affords you the pleasure of getting yourself clicked in traditional Swiss garb. Just visit the gift shop, pick an outfit of your choice, grab a prop and let the lovely ladies working there work their magic in helping you capture your memories in family portrait form. If you’re feeling extra adventurous and even a bit like a daredevil, I’d highly recommend the swaying sky-walk (just don’t look down and you’ll be fine) and the icy glacier caves which are tinted in a turquoise-blue light that only enhances the beauty and experience of walking through them.

DDLJ cut-outSherlock Holmes museum

Not too far are the Reichenbach falls immortalised by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and are a must-see for Sherlock Holmes fans, among the various other gushing waterfalls that dot Switzerland. There’s also a Sherlock Holmes museum and ya don’t have to be a top sleuth to detect that a lot of fun awaits you once you go through the doors of a museum like that!

Reichenbach fallsLindt chocolate shopLion monumentCuckoo clocksLucerne's national symbol

For high-end shopping, look no further than Lucerne which is the shopping capital and you’ll go crazy even at the thought of simply window shopping here. Chocolate shops selling authentic Swiss chocolates, shops where you can pick up original swiss watches, hand-carved cuckoo clocks and other goodies are just some of the treats with which Lucerne will spoil you. Apart from the shopping experience, Lucerne is also home to the Kapellbrucke- a roofed wooden footbridge containing several ancient, exotic interior paintings which have been well-preserved for your viewing pleasure and this bridge is now like a national symbol of this beautiful town. Another monument is the Lion of Lucerne, a giant rock sculpture of a lion carved into a mountainside. It was created to commemorate the Swiss soldiers who were massacred during the French Revolution. It is also surrounded by a fountain where people often toss coins in as a sign of respect or simply to offer prayers or to make wishes.

All in all, Switzerland is one of those places where you can find tranquillity and peace of mind and at the same time, indulge the inner adventure junkie in you. And at the end of the day, you can always snuggle up in a warm and cosy corner and warm yourself from the biting cold, since et voila, most of the hotels here come with their own roaring fireplace. So, enjoy your stay in true Swiss fashion!

dcostavidal

Currently majoring in English an' lovin every second o' it! My fav writers are Roald Dahl, Neil Gaiman, RL Stine, Russell T. Davies, Twinkle Khanna and Ruskin Bond. Avid reader, telly watcher, self published author on Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble and Apple Books, amateur comic artist ,aspiring screenwriter, Whovian, David Tennant fan-girl, cosplayer, movie, theatre and history buff. Love travelling and trying out various accents in my free time and can put on a killer Scottish accent. Have big dreams o' turning my written works into a telly show or movie someday. Also love and live to write on wattpad, booksie, pressbooks, quotev in fanfic, sci-fi, humor and romance genres.