Switzerland

Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation is a landlocked alpine country of roughly 7.7 million people (2009) in Western Europe with an area of 41,285 km². Switzerland is a federal republic consisting of 26 states, called cantons. Berne is the seat of the federal authorities, while the country's economic centres are its three global cities, Geneva, Basel and especially Zürich. Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world by per capita gross domestic product, with a nominal per capita GDP of $67,384. Zürich and Geneva have respectively been ranked as having the second and third highest quality of life in the world.

Switzerland is bordered by Germany to the north, France to the west, Italy to the south and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. The country has a long history of neutrality—it has not been at war internationally since 1815—and hosts many international organizations, including the Red Cross, the World Trade Organization and one of the U.N.'s two European offices. It is not a member of the European Union, but it is part of the Schengen Agreement.

The culture of Switzerland is influenced by its neighbours but over the years a distinctive culture with some regional differences and an independent streak has developed. In particular, French-speaking regions have tended to orient themselves slightly more on French culture and tend to be more pro EU. In general, the Swiss are known for their long standing humanitarian tradition as Switzerland is the birth place of the Red Cross Movement and hosts the United Nations Human Rights Council. Swiss German speaking areas may perhaps be seen more oriented on German culture, although German-speaking Swiss people identify strictly as Swiss because of the difference between High German, and the Swiss German dialects. Italian-speaking areas can have more of an Italian culture. A region may be in some ways strongly culturally connected to the neighbouring country that shares its language. The linguistically isolated Romansh culture in the eastern mountains of Switzerland is also robust and strives to maintain its rare linguistic tradition.

Robert Holub,
Coordinator Media Relations, Switzerland Tourism - North America

My name is Robert Holub and I was born in Switzerland (1979), Bern - the capital. I lived my first 22 years in that city and grew up very...green, outdorsy...i guess Swiss. That means in summer I would go to lakes to do BBQs, swim and drink the water straight out of the lake (because the water is so pure and clean), in winter I would go to the mountains to ski and eat cheese fondue in wooden Alpine huts. After a year of studies in California in 2002 I went back (the lack of cheese and swiss bred made me sick) to continue living in Bern where I started working in the media industry (TV). I would travel since I was a kid and continue doing so extensively also with my job as a producer in TV. But everytime I would come back, I would feel at ease...beacuse Switzerland is so clean and everything. 2 years ago I wanted to broaden my horizon and combine my professional experience in media and passion for travel, moved to NYC to work for Switzerland Tourism as a media relations coordinator. But again...the cheese and the swiss bred...even in NYC...it's hard to find.

Aurelia Carlen,
Sales Manager - Leisure, Zurich Tourism

Aurelia Carlen is responsible for North America at Zürich Tourism. She is based in Zürich and often travels to the US and Canada in order to promote Zürich and stay in touch with media, tour operators and travel agents.

After having worked at a mountain resort and one year in New York Aurelia moved to Zürich many years ago. She fell in love with that city right away. The unique combination of this small vibrant city with the historic Old Town, the cultural offer and the beautiful setting on Lake Zürich and with the Alps in the near distance, makes her never want to leave again. Where else can you swim during the hot months in the crystal clear water of the River Limmat that flows through the city and drink the refreshing water out of 1’200 fountains?

David Farley,
Travel Writer and Author

David Farley is the author of An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church's Strangest Relic in Italy's Oddest Town (Penguin/Gotham Books), a travel memoir/narrative history about farley's bizarre, intriguing, and sometimes humorous search for one of Christianity's most curious relics: the foreskin of Jesus.

He's the co-editor of Travelers' Tales Prague and the Czech Republic, an anthology of literary nonfiction about the Czech capital and its environs. His travel essays have also appeared in the books, The Best Travel Writing 2009, The Best Travelers' Tales 2004 and 30 Days in Italy. In 2005, farley's story, "Natural Born Pig Killers," won a Lowell Thomas Award, which recognizes excellence in travel writing; a year later, his story, "Of Kings and Cows" was named one of the notable travel stories in The Best American Travel Writing 2006.

farley spends his time eating, drinking, traveling and then writing about it. He writes the "Moveable Feast" column for the Travel Channel's WorldHum.com. His work also appears in the travel sections of The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, and The Chicago Tribune, as well as the magazines Conde Nast Traveler, Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel, Playboy, GQ, New York magazine, Time Out New York, National Geographic Adventure, and National Geographic Traveler, among other publications. He's talked about his travels on the Fine Living network, as well as on radio stations all over North America.

Besides writing about himself in the third person, farley enjoys doing public speaking stints from time to time. He's lectured to hundreds at the Smithsonian Institution and the New York Times Travel Show. He's given lectures on writing at bookstores around New York City. And he teaches writing at New York University and Gotham Writers' Workshop.

He's also worked as the Nightlife Editor at BlackBook magazine and the New York City Restaurant Editor for Gayot.com.

After stints in San Francisco, Rome, Paris, and Prague, farley now lives with his wife and their dog Abraham Lincoln in New York City. He's the founder of the Restless Legs Reading Series. And he's also an awesome dancer.

Gigi Kracht,
Artist

I was born in the Pearl of Orient, the Philippines! Educated in the East Coast of the United States, married Andrea Kracht, the 6th generation owner of the legendary Baur au Lac Hotel in Zurich which was created in 1844. The hotel property will soon complete its renovation which has taken a year to completion involving 25 rooms and suites, meeting rooms, the Pavillon Restaurant and Terrasse which front the garden where all sculptures are exhibited. Aside from my passion for the arts, I also write for two magazines: the "VIEWS" annual magazine of the Baur au Lac wherein i focus on my passion for the arts and architecture "Gatsby" magazine which is sold in 40 countries around the world.