Well I suppose I'm starting this thread after last Sunday, when I decided to go up into the Alps walking. (See avatar @ 2400m)

The scenery just blew me away, I know it's a bit cheesy, but I felt glad to be alive and breathing, it makes life worthwhile.

It's a wierd sensation I get when things like this happen, I suppose I explain it as a "warm glow of satisfaction" (Pic attached)

I have had a perma grin on my face which has seemed to lasted for the last x3 days. Something so simple, but I'm surprised at the affect it's had.

So what makes you you happy about being in Switerland?

(Obviously not the scenery for canteen staff at the cafe @ First (2000m) miserable sods.)

income tax

and the occassional hike !

The fact that they encourage you to start fires out doors, and then provide you with an axe to cut up your wood, or significant others.
If it was in the UK there would be a circle of hacked off body parts surrounding the chopper.

The nice smiles I get from women when I come with son in pram during normal working hours.

The way my older son has been received in both the judo club and the football club.

Having the backdrop of Eiger, Munch & Jungfrau behind the Altstaad every time I go into town ....



oh ... & being 50 minutes from my first ski lift in Adelboden ....

It's not a bad view from the Chemistry department, either!

Ah - I wanted to add 'keep scrolling right', but the 'edit' button's disappeared off the right of the screen and I can't get to it as there's no scroll bar for this site in firefox...

The Eigers something special, perhaps it's just the climb being so difficult there's a certain aura about it.

In the original pic I posted the Eiger is to the right. I think these things look much better with the altitude and the quiet. I was shocked at how little noise there was up there.

I have to say the first time I experienced what you have, I had the same feelings. We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world and I am so glad there are others out there who appreciate this as much as I do. I never get tired of seeing natures beauty and all it's wonders. Now I am starting to sound cheesy but I do not care. I will always appreciate these things. We are going to Zermatt to see the Matterhorn this weekend, my partner Swiss has never been. I cannot wait!

What I really like in Switzerland is that it is a little old fashioned (in the positive way).

- The girls

Specially the latin ones at the salsa dance scene ( many Italians, Spanish and South Americans )

- The landscapes for sure

- Having the lake and the mountains so near

- The many sports facilities you have available, for footbal, tennis etc.

P.S. colonelboris, I clicked on your "swiss birds" link and I actually found birds.... that was not exactly what I expected

Another vote for the scenery. Simply stunning!! The accessibility of hiking, biking trails, the view from the Gempentour on a sunday morning (especially now the leaves are starting to turn). The people, the architecture (love Allschwil centre), the fact everything still has a novelty factor (even after 4 months of being here).....

The stunning mountains, the lakes, the public transport and the ease of living here. The forest for running, the well behaved dogs and all the different types of cheese!

That's off the top of my head - there are many many more things I love about living here!

It's often a disappointment for perusers of left-handed web sites.

Swiss cows with big bells and Toblerones !

The boastfulness of certain expats who hitherto thought they were something special, being silently humiliated by the wry locals, who dont feel the need to discuss money.

dave

The mountains - and I find life a very comfortable, predictable, safe experience.

Also, unlike those in the complaints dept. I have received special and positive treatment here as a foreigner - achieving many things that would have been impossible had I remained in the UK....

The only other place I've lived is the rural midwestern U.S., so...

Public transportation - both in the city, and the fact that it's so easy to escape: fifteen minutes and I can be out in the cornfields.

Dogs everywhere, even in the city - and not just little handbag-dogs either.

Mountains! Where I come from it's completely flat. Uetliberg takes my breath away.

Multiple languages. Walking down the street hearing conversation around me in three or four different languages. Hearing people switch back and forth between languages casually. Picking out words here and there in the languages I don't understand. What can I say? I'm a language nut who grew up in a pretty thoroughly monoglot culture - honestly, this is a huge thrill for me.

Pleasant, down-to-earth people - so much more like home than what I'd been led to expect.

Chocolate. I expect the seventy-odd different kinds of cheese are nice too, but I'm still a little intimidated by the selection. I've taken to shopping in the smallest Migros I can find, and I'm still a little intimidated by the selection. But chocolate - chocolate I can understand, and it makes me happy.

* The way public transport never seems more than a minute late
* Greeting random unknown colleagues entering and leaving elevators
* The way cheese is in every part of a 4 course meal
* The way Swiss club-goers "dance" (loosen up, you're making me look good!)
* Making every noun diminutive with -li

I've yet to come across a Swiss cow with Toblerones attached.

Love the lake wild life, especially the mute swans, Great Crested Grebes, hybrid ducks and mallards.

Love the chocolates, ice-cream and fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits.

Love that vehicles stop for us to cross the streets.

Love to be greeted by cheery neighbours.

Of course, love the blue-green lakes nestling between white-dusted mountains.