Switzerland

Switzerland is a parliamentary republic in West-Central Europe. The official languages are German, French, Italian, and Romansch, which is close to Latin and spoken mostly in the canton of Grisons. Foreign nationals are about 23% of the population. Many are from Italy and Germany, and Sri Lankan and Serbian communities seem to be growing. The terrain includes mountains, plateaus, and waterways. Overall the climate is temperate but there is considerable variation. Some mountainous areas have glaciers. Native animal species include the ibex, the Alpine marmot, and the arctic hare. Mainstays of the economy include banking, tourism, and the manufacture of pharmaceutical goods, scientific and precision measuring instruments, and musical instruments.

From Zermatt, you can gaze up at the Matterhorn, take a cable car up to an area full of glaciers, or hike up this monumental mountain in the Alps. Montreux has a great medieval castle on an island, called the Ch├óteau de Chillon. For a little mental edification, check out a great museum like the modern art collection at Bern’s Paul Klee Centre. From there, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Lavaux Vineyard Terraces run about 18 miles in the direction of Lausanne. About 1,000 years old, they reveal ingenuity and optimization of natural resources to make a great, useful product.

Bread, pasta, potatoes, and muesli (Swiss-invented) are common starchy staples. Typical vegetables include mushrooms, carrots, turnips, and pickled cucumbers. Pork and fish are popular. The Swiss love melted cheese, and fondue and the similar raclette (featuring potatoes) are shining examples. For more great potato cuisine, try papet vaudois, made of leeks, potatoes, and often saucisse au chou (cabbage sausage), or r├Âsti potato cakes, not unlike hash browns. Italian regional specialties include saffron risotto and pizzoccheri (buckwheat tagliatelle pasta with greens and, what else, cubed potatoes). Polenta is a staple in some parts of Switzerland. There are opportunities to eat organic vegan amuses bouches (appetizers), dine on organic pizza or Ayurvedic food, hit a juice bar or grab an organic coffee, and stock up on health food provisions. You can pretty well trust the Swiss to cook some clean food with characteristic precision and care. For a treat, you can get artisanal absinthe, or taste meringue near its place of origin.