Raphael Kessler

My fondest memory of Switzerland was when I taught a Swiss Army Knife salesman how haggling works. It was a bit like the scene from 'Life of Brian', only in reverse.

The first place we visited was Zurich, which is an attractive town set along the river side (photo 1). Some of the buildings are directly on the river (photo 2). There are a number of churches (photo 3), many with long pointy spires but not all and a grand opera house (photo 4).

We found Geneva a less attractive town, just to annoy us more I was given a parking ticket that I couldn't even evade as the parking wardens (photo 1) waited next to my car until I returned. The biggest sight in Geneva is the Jet D'Eau or Water Jet (photo 2). Designed by a fellow by the name of Kessler, so obviously of good stock, but quite a boring sight to see.

I revisited Switzerland again some years later and stayed with some friends in Zug. At the time I was there, it was also Carnival time, so we went off to neighbouring Baar, where a fun time was had watching the floats and getting involved in confetti battles etc. Many of the floats were designed around something topical, whether it was the Winter Olympics which were running in Torino, the increase in the fines from speed cameras or the influx of arabs buying up bits of Switzerland. The participants weren't the only ones to dress up as many of the crowd, particularly those with children came along in costume.

In Baar there was a shop named after me, so it seemed rude not to take a couple of photos there.

When I was in Zurich, I had the opportunity to have another look around and due to the weather and the early time of day, I had much of the city to myself.