Boring And Expensive? Not Really! Surprising Switzerland is a Franco-German-Italian Threeway Of Enjoyment
Having constantly been in the news for decades thanks to international summits, secret bank accounts, and famous residents, Switzerland is too quickly assigned stereotypes and put into automatic thought. And like so many of the celebrities who call the country home, the real Switzerland is an enigma familiar to everyone but known by few. The big surprise is that Switzerland is one of the gayest countries in Europe, with a highly developed gayfrastructure and many places to socialise, no matter how much or how little clothing you wish to wear. The Swiss reputation for seriousness and hard work is counterbalanced with a delightfully intense sexuality. As the location for this year’s EuroPride event, Zurich, Switzerland’s biggest city, is finally in the funlight. In recognition of the importance of this special event, Switzerland Tourism has produced a comprehensive (and very beautiful) 32-page brochure specifically for EuroPride visitors, presenting the entire country with a pink tinge added to its white snowcapped mountains, green valleys, and blue lakes; ever clever, forward-thinking Switzerland Tourism also provides downloadable podcasts explaining the attractions of the country as you see them. What else to read while chomping down another wedge of fresh cheese? EuroPride’s own magazine, of course—a remarkable publication with 120 pages of articles, photos, and helpful information.
Forward thinkers are especially thick on the ground in Switzerland; though the modest Swiss do not trumpet their achievements to the world, the country can lay claim to many a famous mind: Einstein, Chevrolet, Le Corbusier, Jung, and Rousseau, for example. It’s not all mind over matter, though; Swiss people admire a fine body as avidly as James Bond—just ask ageless beauty Ursula Andress, who emerged bikini-clad from the sea in one of the Bond films’ most famous scenes ever, or debonair Marc Forster, director of dishy Daniel Craig in Quantum Of Solace. In a country with Germanic, French, and Italian genes, is it a wonder there are lots of goodlooking people with style and spirit around town? Actress Renée Zellweger and singer Jewel both have Swiss fathers.
Switzerland’s reputation as a serious place belies the enormous amount of creativity that gives the country a near-endless parade of festivals, exhibits, and processions. Art installations abound, and on public holidays, don’t be surprised to see marching bands immaculately dressed in historic finery making their ways through the streets as their forefathers have done for centuries. As for gay life, there are many social groups, sporting associations, and cultural events filling the calendar. Check that Switzerland Tourism brochure; presented along with the major gay events around the country are numerous bars and even saunas where men—and women—come together for a good time, however they may define it. And when I say ‘men and women’ I mean it; some saunas in Switzerland have ‘mixed’ nights. What to make of this? Those fluid in their sexuality are thankful, still others are on their knees with joy, happy are they that straight guys have an excuse to go into a sauna. Once inside, labels have a way of disappearing. Zurich, bless its hard, has no less than six saunas around town—just so you know.
Okay, but what is there to DO? Answer: heaps of things. First of all, Switzerland is beautiful; take a deep breath of fresh mountain air and enjoy the views while planning the day. After your fill of museums and big, thick, chewy pretzels, head for Lake Zurich, hire a kayak, and enjoy the activity as much as the scenery. If you’re strong, you can even row all the way to Kilchberg, home of the Lindt chocolate factory, but nonkayakers can get there with the Zurich Card, a handy tourism device that gives unlimited use of public transport and entry into museums and attractions in the Zurich region. Bike lanes make two-wheel travel a breeze around town, while nearly empty mountain roads offer a challenge to even the thickest of thighs. Night hours will not be a problem to fill; with all the gay places in Zurich gorgeous Old Town, one wonders where all the straight people go. Perhaps the sauna.
Switzerland is a rich country, and where money goes, the arts follow. The country is awash in gouache; Kunsthaus Zürich, for example, exhibits a fine collection, especially of Central European art. Many small villages around the country are the surprising homes to billion-dollar art collections housed in their owners’ former villas.
SWISS Air Lines is an apt representation of the country it serves, with crisp interiors and efficient service in the air. The SWISS fleet has recently had upgrades to its Business Class cabin, an oasis of civilised calm populated mostly by people under forty. With Swiss Railways’ excellent network, no place in the country is more than a few hours from Zürich’s traveller-friendly airport, itself a stop along the major rail lines, making the transition from air to land swift and easy. From Perth, easy connections in Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong, or Shanghai, or Tokyo will have you in Helvetic Heaven in no time.
MORE INFORMATION
www.europride09.eu
www.europride09.eu/en/program/europride-magazine.html
www.myswitzerland.com/gay
www.zuerich.com
www.swiss.com
www.sbb.ch/en
www.gaycity.ch
www.angels.ch
text and images by Robert La Bua
***
