Absolutely stunning.

Going from Italy to Switzerland was like stepping out of the noisy hot street into a soundproof room. 

With mountains and streams. 

If Iceland is what Canada looks like without trees, then Switzerland is what Canada would look like with mountains everywhere! 

The geography changed gradually - it was really cool to watch from the train window - but the culture shift was immediate. 

Switzerland, at least the part we visited, is a lot slower paced, community oriented, an SO much quieter. No crazy accordions or people yelling. Just cow bells chiming on the mountain air.  It is utterly peaceful. The scenery is spacious and grand, and people have time to see it and enjoy it even when they live right in the middle of it. 

Since we were living with a Swiss family we got to experience Swiss life. The family knew everyone who drove by, who they were related to, and what they did for a living. Sounded like Emo! They had visitors everyday, relatives or friends, who would drop off a gift and then come in for coffee. They got two bricks of cheese in one day! 

And I thought the cheese, mountains, cows and chocolate were mere stereotypes. 

Nope. 

There is so much cheese, and they have a delicious Swiss cheese meal called raclette. You melt a slice of cheese in a special pan and wait for it to bubble. Then you pour it over potatoes and add bacon and spices. It is absolutely amazing! So cheese is really an important part of Swiss life. 

Next the mountains. You can't even describe them. You just have to look at them in silence and say if God made these, how much more awesome is He. 

Cows. Are. Everywhere. And they are actually cute! They also have horns and cow bells that jingle across the the valley like windchimes on the porch. I mentioned that fact that Canadian cows don't usually have horns to which the family responded, then they are not real cows! 

Also, they have Cow fairs and contests, Cows are groomed and cleaned using hairspray and gel, there is a prize for the one with the nicest udder, and you can also win money by betting on which area the cow is going to do its business in. Strange but true Swiss stories. 

CHOCOLATE. The family ate it constantly, there was always some on the table. And of course, the stores are loaded. Lindt, Milka, Toblerone..... SO GOOD! 

But my favorite part was hiking in the mountains. 

Especially when the weather decides to be dramatic. 

We started walking, and everything was veiled in fog. Of course, we were disappointed, because we had no idea where we were and where we were going. So we just trusted our guides and our guides trusted the hiking signs! 

Eventually the fog started to ebb, and suddenly houses and rivers would appear out of "nowhere." It was really entertaining. Oh look, the trail actually goes somewhere! 

And then the mountains were revealed. 

We had been walking on a plateau the whole time, surrounded on three sides by grand stone giants. It was wonderful. God pulled away the curtains of fog just for us.

Amazing. 

So, Switzerland was wonderful. I felt very at home there. 

And our hosts said I could come back...

Only once I can speak French!