Loading ...I spent most of 1962 and early 1963 there , in a small town in the Canton of Vaud .
Every young man goes (went) into the military for training and is (was) issued a weapon for life.
His military gear had to be kept at home in readiness , so that the entire country could be mobilized in an hour or two . Each year they would spend two or three weeks in exercises .
( I will never forget flying down a long hill on my bicycle on a country road – probably at 40-50 mph and almost wrecked when I was startled by a group of camouflaged soldiers and a netted anti-aircraft gun just a foot or two off my path that I had not seen until I heard their voices next to me .)
It is the oldest , and probably most stable confederation on Earth.
There are four languages and cultures in Switzerland – German , French , Italian and Romansch , but they are cohesive , not divided .
When I lived there , the exchange rate was 4 FS per dollar . Now 0.99 FS per dollar .
The last time I drove on their excellent autoroutes , I noticed circles in the pavement at the entrance and exits of tunnels . They are pop up pylons , likely hydraulically operated remotely to close off all the major highways into the country to thwart invasion .
During WWII , they struck a deal with Hitler to remain neutral , but allow safe passage of troop trains to France or Italy on condition that they NEVER stop on Swiss lands . If a train stopped or broke down the transported troops would be annihilated .
The Swiss are slow to warm up to you , but once a friend , they are a friend for life .
A word about the Swiss – a proud and disciplined nation
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