Travel Switzerland
Adventures in Switzerland
Living in a city is a big advantage as well as big routine from time to time. Perhaps each person is an adventure seeker at heart, and, during boring hours in traffic jams or queuing to a cinema we like to imagine all kinds of unbelievable adventures, envious of that lucky guy Indiana Jones. However, there are some ways to make your dreams come true: set out in search of legendary Atlantis, cross the ocean in a canoe or – look for adventures when you travel Switzerland.
This country is rich for adventures to any taste. You just have to choose whatever you would like to experience this time – and, getting to Switzerland, you will realize your extreme dreams.
One of the Swiss favorite adventures is air-ballooning in Chateau d’Oex, in southwest Switzerland. A 90-minute flight over a Swiss Valley will become an unforgettable traveling and a source of marvelous photos if you have a camera. Soaring at the level of mountain peaks you can watch beautiful wooden chalets and large pastures with green sappy grass. In January the International Hot-Air Ballooning Week takes place here: dozens of colorful balloons are taking to the skies and floating in the transparent mountain air, presenting an enchanting sight.
Another famous Swiss attraction is bungee jumping. Experienced jumpers say that the best place is the Verzasca dam, 722 feet (220 meters) in height. The bungee cord is fixed to your ankles; a step forward – and you are headily rushing down, then a gentle deceleration – and you are bouncing over the emptiness. Several seconds of adventure provokes such an adrenaline secretion that its flashbacks can linger for days.
In Switzerland adventures can be relaxing as well as extremal. So is floating on the River Aare – especially popular among the citizens of Bern. The best way is to leave your clothes near the Marzili swimming pool and, on walking upstream, to jump into the refreshing water. Floating on the River Aare is an ideal pastime during hot summers and doesn’t require special training.
There are many others breathtaking attractions in Switzerland besides the above mentioned ones. The choice depends on your tastes, skills and courage, but anyway you will feel a real hero of a cliff-hanger.
 Festivals in Switzerland
Switzerland can be considered one of the most festive countries in the world the Swiss are literally celebrating all the year round. The culture of this country is notable for its diversity of languages, religions and customs, and so to travel Switzerland and to take part in its national festivals will both bring you fun and greatly enrich your outlook.
Besides the traditional holidays like Christmas and Easter there are many other festive days reflecting the rich history and culture of the country. An example is the Sechsela”uten festival which is celebrated on the third Sunday and Monday in April. People admire colourful processions and burn an effigy called Boogg.
In the middle or the end of September the Swiss of Alpine areas celebrate the descent of cows from their summer pastures in the mountains. The animals, as the heroes of the occasion, are decorated with flowers. This holiday is often accompanied by street fairs.
One of the most popular attractions all over the world is the Carnival. Swiss carnival, held just before or just after the beginning of Lent, is not so profuse as its Rio confre`re, still it is quite a performance. As the heritage of pagan culture, which had its rigid taboo and a certain code of behaviour, carnival had always meant not only festivities but also breakage of rules. Although the way of celebrating has changed through centuries, some traditions are kept until now. People still disguise themselves, put on masks and parade the streets playing musical instruments and enjoying life to the full.
Some holidays as the “Millet Gruel Trip”, Escalade or Unspunnen festival, can help to learn the history of Switzerland. The “Millet Gruel Trip” commemorates the attempt of Zurich to convince Strasbourg of the alliance. To prove that the distance between the two cities was short, the citizens used… a pot of hot gruel. It was loaded onto a ship in Zurich in the morning and, having sailed down the Limmat and the Rhine, arrived in Strasbourg the same evening, still hot. The “Millet Gruel Trip” takes place every ten years since 1976.
The Swiss are proud of their history, and one the main events for them is the National day. At the 1st of August, 1291 three Alpine cantons took the oath of confederation, which became the prerequisite for foundation of Switzerland. The official part of the festivities take part in Ru”tli where, seven centuries ago, the representatives of Schwyz, Unterwalden and Uri gathered to make a vow of brotherhood. Nowadays August 1st is marked with fireworks and bonfires which attract many tourists.