Grüezi! Get out your mom’s wallet because it’s time to go to Switzerland.
Located in central Europe, Switzerland is one of the most expensive counties in the world. While it boasts some of the best cheeses, watches and chocolate in the world, be prepared, because none of it comes cheap. A chocolate candy bar can cost around five to ten dollars, some cheese fondue the Swiss are so famous for can set you back $100 for four people and that Rolex watch you’ve been eyeing will definitely drain both the savings and checking account. 
But the Swiss also have one of the highest standards of living in the world, cleanest environments, and beautiful landscapes. So when you want to be a chef, but have to start as a dishwasher – Switzerland is the place to be as the minimum wage is roughly $35 per hour. Cha Ching.
Check out these mountains. One of the most famous mountain ranges of all, thanks in part to Disneyland and the Matterhorn ride, is the Alps. This impressive chain of mountains stretches all the way from Slovenia through Austria, Liechtenstein, Germany, Italy and France. That is one big mountain range. The Swiss Alps are so impressive and so famous is because the country has so many of the tallest peaks which are always covered in glaciers and snow. They offer great skiing and snow sports in the winter, and hiking adventures in the summer. But put away those binoculars, because contrary to the ride in Disneyland, the real Matterhorn doesn’t come with an abominable snowman. Sorry.
What is that elephant trunk like horn being blown by the guy in the lederhosen? Why, it’s an alphorn. Used by Swiss shepherds to communicate to their cows in the pastures, to other shepherds in neighboring Alps and to people in the valleys below, this traditional instrument was an important part of Swiss history. Today these instruments are used primarily for traditional ceremonies and events as well as to lure abominable snowmen out of their caves. Just kidding. There are no abominable snowmen in the Swiss Alps.
Like the Alphorn, yodeling was another traditional form of communicating between Alps. Check out the video to how it’s done. Then try it for yourself. Your parents would love to have a yodeler in the house! And if you get good enough, there is a side stage at the local county fair with your name on it.
People eat a lot of cheese in Switzerland. But in order to make all that cheese, the Swiss have a lot of cows that wear cowbells so they are easy to locate in the fields. In fact, the country has so many cowbells, it has become one of the many symbols of the country. In Switzerland, you can never have too much cowbell – Blue Oyster Cult would approve.
Check out some of the Swiss cheese inspired recipes here.
