Vacation 2010 - christmas in Switzerland!

Thiago and Stefannie spend this year's Christmas vacation in Switzerland.

 Switzerland appeals to visitors who travel to surround themselves with spectacular scenery -

the world-famous peaks at an altitudes above 3,000 feet, with the perennial snow cover.

Some Facts about Switzerland

Area: 41,285 sq. km. (15,941 sq. mi.)
Capital: Bern (population about 123,000)
Other cities: Zurich (341,000), Geneva (176,000) Basel (165,000), Lausanne (116,000)
Terrain: 60% mountains, the remainder hills and plateau. Switzerland straddles the central ranges of the Alps.
Climate: Temperate, varying with altitude and season.
Population: (2002): 7.3 million
Annual growth rate: 0.8%
Ethnic groups: Mixed European
Religions: Roman Catholic 42%, Protestant 33%, Muslim 4.3%, others 5.4%, no religion 11%
Languages: German 63.7%, French 20.4%, Italian 6.5%, Romansch 0.5%, other 9.4%.
Switzerland is surrounded by the European Union (EU). Over 900,000 EU citizens live and work in Switzerland, and many more cross the borders or transit the country on a regular basis.

Lower levels are greener!

At the highest altitudes!

The highest point!

Lying in the center of Europe, Switzerland is the roof of Europe with the exotic environmental beauty. It is well known as a summer and winter sports paradise with the glistening white 4000m-plus Alpine peaks and glittering lakes forms the perfect setting and above all the romance and glamorous drama of the mountain high life makes Switzerland the perfect Holiday destination of the world. Thiago was there this winter with his sweet heart Stephanie.Here is what a they have done in their 15 days holiday in Switzerland`. 


 Skiing is one of the ultimate travel spots in Switzerland.

The Jura is a favourite travel spot in Switzerland because of its cross-country skiing. 

Swiss watchmaking first began in the Jura Mountains.
Although Switzerland is a small country, traveling times are often longer than expected. Taking the shortest way is not always an option in mountainous regions. Particularly in the south, where the highest mountains are situated, you will often be dependent on tunnels and passes. In winter time some passes are closed. 

You can also travel across Switzerland by car.

Driving in the mountains requires an adjusted driving style. Mountain roads are sometimes narrow, have a lot of sharp curves and may pass along deep ravines. A crash barrier or fence, if present, is not always designed to actually stop a vehicle. You have to share the road with cyclists, sometimes with pedestrians and even with cows that graze on the meadows in summer. 

Zurich is the largest city of the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland) by land area and population. As a lifestyle capital on the water, Zürich offers the unique mix of discovery, pleasure, nature and culture. It is the financial center of Switzerland and houses the stock exchange and the headquarters of a large number of national and international companies. National and international media agencies as well as most of the national TV channel companies are also located here. Because Zurich is the central node of the Swiss-wide train network and also runs the biggest and busiest international airport in the country.

A mountain road!

There are a lot of mountain bikers in Switzerland, and many of the hiking trails are amenable to mountain biking.

You can use train service to travel within Europe. France, Italy, Austria, Germany, The Netherlands and Belgium offer through trains to Switzerland. These trains have very good restaurant on board.

Swiss public transport is of high quality. This applies to both the public service vehicles and the punctuality of the time table. Lots of places can be reached through a network of trains, buses, ships and gondolas. 

The gondola train

 

In the railway station

There is no other form of transportation that brings you closer to the charm of Switzerland, both affordable and easy. Trains are synonymous with the spirit of going places, and nowhere is this more true than in Switzerland. Travel in style!

Enjoying the Swiss winter - a night out in Switzerland!

 The main international airport is Zürich. There is a train station so that you can easily reach your final destination. Zürich airport offers through trains to many Swiss town and some towns abroad. 

enjoying the trip with sister, girl friend and aunt!

Train enthusiasts will definitely love Switzerland.

Trying for a nap on board - Sao Paulo to Frankfurt!

With Thiago's Aunt's family in Switzerland!

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As free as a wild duck - on the banks of the lake!

In Switzerland

In black and white!

With Stephanie's Aunt's family and her friends!

Kitchen train!

Switzerland is also famous for its commercial and diplomatic centers./ the Swiss banks are the commercial hubs of the world.
Zurich is the financial center as well as an significant commercial and manufacturing center. The city of Basel is noted for its textile and clothing industry. Lausanne, on the other hand, is a city in the western part of Switzerland. It is residence to such prominent celebrities as Voltaire, Gibbon, and Rousseau as well as the center for Swizerland’s iron industry. Geneva is also the world’s diplomatic center along with its widely popular watchmaking and jewelry industry, . It is the headquarters of the United Nations (UN), International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

a department store!

another department store!

The day owl!

In Switzerland, with friend Andrea and family.                          

Switzerland is known mainly for its cold climate, mountainous topography and its political neutrality, which is possibly brought on by its topographical seclusion and being one of the top mountainous countries in Europe. In actuality, numerous Swiss people, in particular those who reside in the Swiss Alps still preserve their cultivation, traditions and Alpine characteristics, pretty much untainted by the marks of the modern civilizations with predominance habitats build in the Alps.

More than 70 percent of its land space is covered by the Swiss Alps which is known for its jagged peaks and steep gorges.  

Pennine Alps range ( Dufourspitze - Monte Rosa) -15,203 feet (Switzerland’s highest peak).

  Mattehorn ( Valais Canton ) - 14,688 feet

A mountain in Switzerland.

Getting ready for a ski trip!

                                                                                                              

In the Alpes to Skii - overlooking beautiful mountains in Switzerland.

Even though the soaring Alps have challenged some of history’s greatest explorers and athletes, many people has shunned the peaks for centuries due to the inhospitable realms of icy terror that harbored dragons, witches, and demons. Places such as Davos, St. Moritz, Gstaad, Interlaken, and Zermatt are today's choice destinations for skiers, sight-seers, and sophisticates. Each of these places has its own distinct charm. Here we see Thiago and party Skiing in Zermatt.

Switzerland has its own unique cultural traditions, which are a mixture of the cultures of Germany, Italy and France. The combination of cultural, linguistic, culinary, musical and literary influences from these three nations has led to the creation of a Swiss culture that is a synthesis of elements.
The Rhaeto-Romanic culture in the eastern mountains of Switzerland is also robust.

There is a strong architectural tradition in Switzerland. 
The Romanesque style of the 12th century can be found in the cathedrals, castles, and fortresses.