Picturesque Perfekte.....PART TWO....

So, in "PART ONE", did my best to show you the REALITY OF SCENERY IN SWITZERLAND, that is : NATURAL SCENERY - Lakes, Fields, Forests, Hills, Mountains - and how they DO LOOK, in ALL THE SEASONS here !

( Virtually.....that is.....do, please, keep on remembering that, for I shall, errhm, keep on reminding you - Dear Reader ! )

Today, in : "PART TWO", I would like to share with you HOW SWISS HOUSES AND FLATS.....where...."The Majority"...of Swiss Folk, and Foreigners, LIVE AND DWELL, "As a Whole" in this Country of SWITZERLAND.

The Overall Theme of : "Picturesque Perfekte"....Does indeed, Continue...
From "The Traditional"

To "The Colourful"

To "The Ultra Modern"
These are Images of SWITZERLAND, 2010, taken, by : Yours, CFC :

Even to -  An Example of -  A Church Building, complete with a Growing Vineyard, and Sheep Grazing....err... A : "Picture-Post-Card...

....from The Bible"....Even...???  !!!

And, last, but not least - to coin a phrase - erhhm - we have an example of a SWISS STRIP CLUB-BAR...

Called, no less !? : "PARADIELSI...(Paradise ?..) CABARET BAR :

ALL, or : ALLES, as they say, in German here, in, This Germanic Part of Switzerland....Perfekto-Mundo.

Or, not ?

"STAY TUNED"....For the Next Part, of images of SWITZERLAND 2010...

"DERELICTE"....? !!   :)

Until Next Time.  Thanks For Reading.

Yours, CFC x

Picturesque Perfekte.....PART ONE....

What do YOU THINK of when you think of SWITZERLAND ?

As in - what kind of IMAGES pop up in your head ? 

Forget about the Cheese and Chocolates.

Forget about the Watches.

Forget about the Ski-ing. 

And,Forget about the Banking and Insurance.

What I mean is :......what kind of images come to your mind, when you picture...........what you believe, or think, the Country of Switzerland, looks like ????

Be, these images -  "Borrowed"  -  from a TV show, a Film, a Documentary, a Magazine, or Brochure.

Even someone you know, who has been to Switzerland, and, who has shown you their photos ! 

Of course, if you have visited Switzerland, yourself / selves, then, do, please, feel free, to either; Agree; Or; Disagree, with the point of this Post !   :) 

THIS COUNTRY OF SWITZERLAND REALLY DOES LOOK LIKE "The Postcards"....!

Virtually...

All of the Image-Sources, showing you, them, he, she, us, me, Dear Reader, Upon Living in the Country, for a while, myself....ARE TRUE !! 

( Virtually...keep that "In mind", for : "Until Next Time".......)    ;-) 

The Picture-Postcard of a "Kind of - Type of- Perfection - of -The Picturesque" are actually TRUE !!

Allow me to share with you, some examples, taken with, errhm, CFC`s Camera, thus far, on her-this "Journey"... :

  

  

Well, that just about, does it !!

Have tried to "Cover All The Seasons", especially because SWITZERLAND REALLY DOES HAVE ALL THE SEASONS.

Yes, the Winter`s are indeed, long, and COLD, with lots of Snow.

But, this Snow, and Ice, poses very little of a problem to THE SWISS, they are extremely efficient at dealing with Snow and Ice, on ALL LEVELS !!!  No more said :)

That... what you may have heard about ....?.... Is ALSO TRUE !

There is most definitely a Spring, with lots of wild flowers in the grass.

The Summer`s can get very HOT - regularly up into the 30-35 degrees centigrade.

So a nice jump, into Zurich Lake, and, or, Many of the other Big, and, Small Lakes, dotted about the Country, are a real pleasure. I don`t know, how many Lakes, there are in Total, in Switzerland, but there are : Lots, and Lots !

And, as in, the rest of, this part of the Planet, it also stays Light until 21.00 - 22.00 hrs, too, in Summer.

Even, the smallest Flats, with the smallest Balconies, mostly have a Barbecue, which The SWISS PEOPLE, really like to use, and make the most of.

And, so to Autumn, our "Current Season", where the colours are, without a doubt; BreathTaking.

There are so many different types of Beauty, in Nature, in People; How to Compare ?  And How to Quantify ?

Well, for me, there is no Competition.

Each has one`s own taste, and opinion, preference, etc, etc.

And, this can always change !?....

Sooooo Many Picturesque Places, All Over This Planet.
How to get to See them All, and Experience them All, in one`s LifeTime...???

Well - Dear Reader - SWITZERLAND, is certainly ONE OF THEM !

Until Next Time.  Thanks For Reading.

Yours, CFC x 

P & P

Ah no, this is not, what you think !  What with Christmas being in @ 44 DAYS....

As much as P & P, in the sense ( if you were thinking..? )

Post & Packaging, is Most important, to get those Dates right, so that the People who are Special in your life, and / or "The Diplomatic" Cards, and Presents... do, errhm, Arrive on Time.

At which point, I should mention that the SWISS POSTAL SERVICE is Extremely Efficient, as a whole.
But, BEWARE....of receiving a P & P, and being asked by the Post-Man, or Lady...to Kindly..."Cough Up" and PAY IMPORT DUTY, on certain Packages, you may receive.  There are Rules and Regulations, of which, I do not currently know, All of Them.

But, I can give you an example, of having ordered something - a piece of Jewellery - and because it had been Insured by the Sender, for a Value of Over, a Certain Amount....then there I was Paying at my front door, or you can go down to your Local Post Office, and pay Import Duty there.

There are lots of POST OFFICES in SWITZERLAND, in Yellow.

This could very well be, because, Many people living here, Swiss and Foreigners, have BANK ACCOUNTS with POST FINANCE, as it is called here. 

And, paying General Household Bills, Remains, in this Country, done in much of an : "Old-Style Fashion"...

You pay these Bills, at The Post Office.

Very Few "Invoices", are paid On-line here.

Well, at least doing so, in this way - "on Paper" - you know where you stand...The Receipt, Stamped - Paid - Tick, leaves with you, in your hand, erhm !

There actually seem to be More Post-Women, around these parts, than men, and they drive small MOTORBIKES, with side pouches, filled with Mail, to get around.

And Thankfully, so, what with all the Hills surrounding the residences, of people living around ZURICH LAKE.  Or ZÜRICHSEE, as they call it here.

Yes, and the "Locals" are meaning, referring to The Lake as A : "Sea".

The Long, Main road right by, parallel, and around the Lake : Zürichsee, is actually called : SeeStrasse !  Here is a View of the "Lay of The Land", around Zurich Lake / Sea :

Time, for some more : "Well would you Believe it"....  FACTS.. about SWITZERLAND, and the one which This P & P is really, err, "Talking About" ...!    :)

A while back, spoke about SWISS OXYMORON'S, in Previous Posts in this Blog, about what we have "Discovered" whilst Travelling, Around, and Living in Switzerland.

Well....Here Comes Another One !...??..!!...   :)

At this particular location, we find, Two Chains of Shops, to be found, here in Switzerland.
Side - by - Side.

FRESSNAPF - A Pet Supplies Shop.

MAGIC X - A Porn Supplies Shop.

Seriously !  Hilarious....Supplies....for All of...Us...."Animals"....!!! ??? !!!

Now would you; to coin a phrase ; "Adam and Eve it" ??

Or, as this Flyer, for a Club, this Saturday Night, 13th November, in Zurich, says : "Adam und Eva"...IT ??!!

FRESSNAPF - has a good selection of products, and at competitive prices, for Cats, Dogs, Hamsters, Birds, Rabbits, Fish, etc.

As their Slogan says : "Alles Für lhr Tier".  "Everything For your Pets".

For Anyone, who has lived-been, to the UK, it is a bit like a : "PETS AT HOME", chain of stores.

MAGIC X - For Anyone, who has lived-been, to the UK, it is a bit like an : "ANN SUMMERS", chain of stores.
Lingerie, for both Men and Women, Erotic Accessories, and so on, all laid out, in a "Fun" - "Soft", way.  Yeah, how to put it ?  Like an Adult "Games" Shop.

There you have it :)
P & P.
Pets & Porn.


No more said !

Until Next Time.  Thanks For Reading.

Yours, CFC x

Kung - Fu Blues

Somewhere, in the Basement of a Building in "DOWNTOWN" Zurich, Switzerland, as they like to call the city itself, here.
Living amongst the Pipes, and somewhat "Industrial" Vibrations....

There lives a "Hidden Surprise".
We are invited to sit on a Dusty, Red Sofa, by the Front Door of a Place, which can sometimes help, Kick, and Punch, The often, Difficult, and Heavy Weight, out of, what is most frequently referred to as : THE EXPAT, OR RELOCATION BLUES.

KUNG FU SCHOOL, or KUNG FU SCHULE, a method, or mad-ness to try to MASTER...

....what I would refer to as : A Serious Roller Coaster of Confusion, Disorientation, Mixed Emotions, and MAJOR TRANSITION, which changes Direction, and Angle, Constantly, as...you, me, him, her, them, US....
Work at Settling into living in our new Environment.

Some things coming easily, quickly, whilst others continue to challenge and create....
All of which is "Apparently" "100 % Normal" to go through, when RELOCATING....

And so, not unlike, This ORCARA, Animation Technology, Doll...
who goes from being, HAPPY, and then to, SAD.
"Bobbing" Up and Down.

As this is, an EXPAT BLOG, this, here, Blogger, Dear Reader, is Living, and Travelling, and Exploring - RELOCATION SWITZERLAND - in often this very same "Identity".....?!

Here is a little more about the ORIENTAL COMPANY ORCARA :

http://orcara.com/company_e.asp

What "Creatures of Habit", we are....?
"Travellers"....ADJUSTING TO THE DIFFERENT  :)  :(

"Seeking" to get, Under our Belts, or A Certain Level of Belt, as is the practise, in most MARTIAL ARTS, the "Qualifications", to Get By in our New Environments.

Well this particular SWISS KUNG FU SCHOOL has a Really, Positively, Helpful, and Wise... : "Creed to Live By", up on the Wall.
And, there is a Great One, for the Ole` Expat Blues...
wherever you came from, or are going to :

" Don`t undermine your worth,
by comparing yourself with others.
It is because we are different,
that each of us,
is Special. "

So whenever you, he, she, them, us, I get OVERWHELMED, it is time to :  Kick-in Kung-Fu Blues !

And, Smile, at The COURAGE it takes to Completely move Country, and "Roll-With-It" !

Until Next Time.  Thanks for Reading.

Yours, CFC x

Don`t Cha - Wish You Were Here....

Been a "Goner" for just over, 2 weeks, of this Planetary Time.

Now, I`m no "Goldi-Locks", short of getting some Serious Hair Extensions.. !!??

But, have been wonderfully, looked after, by 3 Swiss BROWN BEARS.

And, Eaten Winter-is-knocking-on-the-door-Fuel, in the form of, yes; Porridge.   :)

The "Mother-Bear" is a Professional Knitter.

During my magical stay with "The 3 Bears", seated around a Wooden Table, in front of the Fire-Place, she Very Kindly Knitted me a : "Made to Measure" Beanie-Hat.

To help, Weather The Cold, Conditions of Climate, Now that the CLOCKS have changed BACK one hour, here in SWITZERLAND.

She calls it : "The Polar-Bear Hat".  After, one of her Endangered... "Cousins".

She asked me to please "Blog-Broadcast" on her behalf, in this Post.
About POLAR BEARS, and Other Animals, for that matter, now that, err, "Humans"; not all; but a lot; of Our Species...
Will be, possibly...Thinking about Christmas...
So, would you, like to.
Kindly, could you, at Least, have a Think, about a GIFT OF : "Adopting", or "Sponsoring", or "Donating", Anything Toward Charities, such as :

World Wildlife Foundation ( WWF )

National Wildlife Federation ( NWF )

There is also SWITZERLAND`S WORLD WILDLIFE FOUNDATION ( WWF ).
The Website, can be read in either German, French, or Italian.
The "3 Languages of this Land"...


WWF Switzerland

Thank you, very much, for your time; "Over and Out; from Mama-Bear".

And - Over To - The Man who Built our Wooden Shack, here he is, "In Action"...   :)

Ah, NOW WE WERE LUCKY.  This is ANDRé REITHEBUCH, errhm, yes, "Reit - The - Butch".  He is MR. SWITZERLAND 2009.
The Swiss have AN ANNUAL COMPETITION TO FIND THEIR MISTER OF THE YEAR.

Here is a link, to the Web-site, Translated from German, into English, thanks to : Google Translate :

Mr. Switzerland

( By the way, the Deadline for next year`s Entries are : 30th November 2010, just giving you a "Heads-Up", but he`s gotta be a SWISS CITIZEN, to be able to enter ! )

Yes, "Mama Bear" and me, have been very lucky, as we were given a "Preview-VIP-Ticket", to spending some time with the above, Andrè Reithebuch.

Before the Winners of another Competition, get to have LUNCH, and spend a SPA DAY, with him.
Courtesy of a SWISS NEWSPAPER, called : BLICK.

Sorry Folks !
As the competition is now closed.  On Tuesday of this week, the Winners, get their, erhm... "Happenings".... Time with him. 
So, unfortunately, can`t give you the Web-link, but have "Copied and Pasted, a Translation of the Contents" from the NEWSPAPER BLICK.

Zu gewinnen !! (To Win !!)

Wellness-Tag mit André Reithebuch

ZURICH - Want to experience the Mister Switzerland 2009 up close? Hier kommt Ihre Gelegenheit: Wir verlosen 3 x 2 Wellness-Happenings mit André Reithebuch in Bad Zurzach AG. Here's your opportunity: We are giving away 3 x 2 wellness happenings with André Reithebuch Bad Zurzach AG.

Aktualisiert um 14:04 | 20.10.2010 Updated at 14:04 | 10.20.2010

Cliff Diving, Jungfrau-Marathon and more: André Reithebuch had a turbulent year.  Unfortunately, the Mr Switzerland 2009 has broken his wrist.  But now comes off the plaster - and treat yourself André on Tuesday 2 November - a full spa and wellness day in Bad Zurzach AG.

You can accompany the crisp man at the said date.  Because we are giving away 3 x 2 exclusive seats at his side, including lunch and part of massage.

Value of the pampering day: 98 Swiss francs per person. 

Just answer the competition question correctly and with some luck you wellness on 2 November «schweizermisterlich». November «Swiss mist Erlich." 

Geht mit den Gewinnern des Blick.ch-Wettbewerbs am 2. Go with the winners of the contest on 2 Blick.ch November wellnessen: André Reithebuch (wird am 27. Oktober 24 Jahre alt). November wellness: André Reithebuch (will be on October 27, 24 years old). (ZVG) (BMA)

Geht mit den Gewinnern des Blick.ch-Wettbewerbs am 2. Go with the winners of the contest on 2 Blick.ch November wellnessen: André Reithebuch (wird am 27. Oktober 24 Jahre alt). November wellness: André Reithebuch (will be on October 27, 24 years old). (ZVG) (BMA)

Well, `tis the beginning of the Season of Colds and Flu`s, so : "Bring on The Steam Room", she says !


Until Next Time.  Thanks For Reading.
Yours, CFC x