Cheese, chocolate and wine in Switzerland

Chocolate Visits

I visited the Alprose chocolate factory museum on my last visit to Switzerland. We got off the train and a short walk later we saw the statue of the cow providing milk for the chocolate.

Inside is a museum starting with the history of chocolate which started as a bitter drink. You can still have drinking chocolate, but sweetened. Later the addition of milk and sugar turned it into my favourite, milk chocolate. But dark chocolate is supposed to be better for your heath. Then along came the addition of nuts and numerous flavourings and shapes. 

We ended up in the shop. A kind of chocolate heaven.

Next on my travel to Switzerland wish list is the Lindt museum in Zurich.

Cheese Visits

The Alpine Dairy of Morteratsch makes cheese and runs tours twice a day.  

Useful Websites on Swiss Chocolate Museums and Factory Visits

Cheese Visits Websites

The Alpine Dairy of Morteratsch 

https://www.morteratsch.ch/en/activities/summer/alpschaukaeserei/

Chocolate Visits Websites

https://alprose.ch/chocolate-experience/

 https://www.viator.com/tours/Zurich/Lindt-Home-of-Chocolate-Museum-Entry-Ticket/d577-5575861P6

There's no shortage of chocolate museums, and advice.

https://swissfamilyfun.com/switzerland-chocolate-factories/

Winery & Vinyard Visits

https://www.swisswinecellar.ch/en/wine-route/german-speaking-switzerland

https://www.swisswinecellar.ch/en/map

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More Swiss German, standard German, translations explained

In Duolingo in addition to the listening and speaking exercises there are quizzes where you match the English word to the word in the other language. Sometimes I get confused, in Spanish or Italian, because I do not realise that I am being asked for a noun not a verb. For example, I am asked to translate fall, American English for British autumn. I think I am being asked for the verb to fall. 

However, in German you can distinguish the noun cook from the verb cook because the noun starts with a capital letter. When I see the word cook in English, is the German the word for a cook, or to cook? Google translate solves this problem.

English - Standard German

the cook - der Koch

to cook - kochen

English - Swiss-German - German

Switzerland - schwiz - Schweiz (both the German and Swiss-German words start with sch but standard German has an extra e)

cook/chef -  Choch (Swiss-German), Koch (Standard German, with initial capital for a noun)

Useful Websites

https://studyinginswitzerland.com/swiss-german-vs-german-differences/

https://mysydventures.wordpress.com/2024/12/30/germany-switzerland-share-language-and-food-but-here-are-5-differences-i-noticed/

Preview Of A Hiking Holiday In Switzerland

 

My hiking holiday friends are considering a holiday next year to German speaking Switzerland. A German speaking member of the group recommended the region.

One of the main areas to visit will be his favourite, Pontresina, which has cheap or free transport. At least it did last time he was there.

I have had a quick look at it. The area is on the Eastern side of Switzerland, nearer to Germany, hence the language. 

The Countryside in Pontresina, Switzerland

The countryside offers: 

summer hiking, 

winter skiing, 

a cable car. 

If you want to venture further, trips to: 

St Moritz, and 

trips on a red train. 

The Culture in Pontresina, Switzerland

For those interested in food and culture: 

the Museum Alpin, and 

the Alpine Dairy of Morteratsch which makes cheese.  

Useful Websites about Pontresina and Switzerland

Not be confused with the Alpine museum in Bern, Switzerland:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Alpine_Museum

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_museums_in_Switzerland

https://www.morteratsch.ch/en/activities/summer/alpschaukaeserei/

Also see my posts on Swiss-German language.

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