Travelling To Work With A Dog - A Dachshund

 I was sitting on the train to South Harrow in London when I suddenly realised there was somebody sitting next to me. A dear little dachshund. Ever so quiet.

Darling dachshund. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Dachshund travelling in a bag on his owner's lap in London. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

I got talking to the owner. How do you spell Dachshund? The name ends with h u n d, which is German for dog, like hound in English. 

I asked, 'Why do you carry him in a bag? Is because he is tired?'

'It's convenient. I don't get a dog lead caught up in the train or other people. And he is very small, so people might step on him, accidentally. So I keep him on my lap.'

'Where are you taking him?'

She told me, 'We're going home. I take him to work. Not every day. Sometimes I work from home. So we have a rota at work. Who is going to take their dog to work. The management provides dog baskets. In every room. So I can keep him with me. So he is not alone. And he is a very calming presence.'

I asked her, 'Can you travel with him by plane, to Europe?'

'Yes. If you have a dog passport.'

'Rabies, and jabs?'

'Yes. Identity and medical history.'

'How old is he?'

'Middle aged for a dog.'

'So you have a few more years to enjoy his company.'

Later I looked up pet passports. They will record if the animal is micro-chipped, which is handy, so the animal can be linked up with you if it gets injured on the road, bites somebody, or simply gets lost. The passport will also be a record of rabies prevention, tapeworm treatment, complete history. A pet passport is, quite expensive, around a hundred pounds at the current rate, like a human passport. But which you can use multiple times which is cheaper than the alternative system of getting a vet report from every country for every journey.

I looked up Dachshunds in Wikipedia. The word Dachs is German for badger. Nouns have capital initial letters in German. They were bred that shape for tunneling to catch badgers. The long ears of the dog protect the ear canal from the dirty soil.

The dogs are also known as sausage dogs in the UK and Australia. Apparently dachshunds are not all docile. Some of them bark, bite and are disobedient, especially when in hot pursuit. However, on the train, my dear little dachshund was docile, a pleasure to meet.

Useful Websites

https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/pet-passport

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/pet-passports-uk-eu-brexit-b3078891.html

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

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German-Speaking Switzerland - Cities, attractions and food

If you want to practise your German, (as well as French and Italian)  in Switzerland, you have many opportunities. The French speaking parts are in the west, as you drive in from France. The Italian speaking parts are in the south-east, towards Italy. The rest is German speaking.

You'll find lots to do. Whilst improving your German, (you already know kindergarten and lots of German words) you can see a museum devoted to Einstein, explore covered bridges decorated with historic murals, and eat Swiss food.  

The big cities which are German speaking are Basel, Bern, Lucerne and Zurich. Lets start with a checklist of places you might visit or underline on a physical map. Here are the German-speaking cantons and major cities in Switzerland:

Purely German-Speaking Cantons (17 of 26)

• Aargau

• Appenzell Ausserrhoden

• Appenzell Innerrhoden

• Basel-Landschaft

• Basel-Stadt

• Glarus

• Lucerne (Luzern)

• Nidwalden

• Obwalden

• Schaffhausen

• Schwyz

• Solothurn

• St. Gallen

• Thurgau

• Uri

• Zug

• Zurich (Zürich)

Bilingual/Trilingual Cantons (Where German is spoken alongside other languages)

• Bern (Bern): German and French

• Fribourg (Freiburg): French and German

• Valais (Wallis): French and German

• Graubünden (Grisons): German, Romansh, and Italian

Major German-Speaking Cities

• Zurich

• Basel

• Bern

• Winterthur

• Lucerne

• St. Gallen

• Basel

  Museums:

  • Kunstmuseum Basel: The oldest public art collection in the world, holding masterpieces from the 15th century to contemporary works.

  • Tinguely Museum: A creative, interactive museum dedicated to the whimsical, mechanical scrap-metal kinetic sculptures of Jean Tinguely.

  • Fondation Beyeler: Located just outside the city in Riehen, it features a world-class modern art collection housed in a stunning building designed by Renzo Piano.

  Landmarks & Attractions:

  • Basler Münster (Basel Minster): The red sandstone cathedral with colorful roof tiles and the tomb of Erasmus of Rotterdam.

  • The Rhine Embankment & "Fähren": The historic, cable-guided wooden ferries that cross the Rhine River using only the river's current.

  • Basel Spalenbator: One of the three remaining medieval gates of the old city fortifications.

  Specialty Foods:

  • Basler Läckerli: A traditional spiced, rectangular gingerbread biscuit made with honey, candied citrus peel, almonds, and Kirsch.

  • Basler Mehlsuppe: A deeply savory, traditional roasted brown flour soup traditionally eaten during the Fasnacht (carnival) celebrations.

  • Fastenwähe: A savory, cross-shaped yeasted dough pastry sprinkled with caraway seeds and coarse salt.

  Bern

  Museums:

  • Einstein Museum & Bernisches Historisches Museum: A massive historical museum that integrates a permanent exhibition dedicated to Albert Einstein’s life and his time developing the theory of relativity in Bern.

  • Zentrum Paul Klee: An architectural masterpiece designed by Renzo Piano, housing the world's most comprehensive collection of works by the modernist painter Paul Klee.

  • Museum of Communication: An interactive, playful museum exploring how humans connect through tech, mail, and media.

  Landmarks & Attractions:

  • Altstadt (Old Town): A UNESCO World Heritage site featuring six kilometers of medieval arcades (Lauben) and distinctive sandstone buildings.

  • Zytglogge: The iconic 15th-century astronomical clock tower with animated mechanical figures that perform before the hour.

  • The Rose Garden (Rosengarten) & Bear Park (BärenPark): A terraced park overlooking the loops of the Aare River, historically linked to the city's relationship with live brown bears.

  • Reichenbach Falls and the Sherlock Holmes Museum (located in the municipality of Meiringen) are in the German-speaking region of Switzerland in the Bernese Oberland region of the Canton of Bern, 

  Specialty Foods:

  • Bernese Platte (Berner Platte): A hearty, traditional feast featuring a massive assortment of meats and sausages (such as smoked pork, tongue, beef, and Tunggescht) served with potatoes and sauerkraut or dried beans.

  • Mandelbärli: Small, sweet almond cakes shaped like little bears.

  • Züpfe: A golden, braided Swiss butter bread traditionally eaten on Sunday mornings.

  Lucerne

  Museums:

  • Swiss Museum of Transport (Verkehrshaus der Schweiz): Switzerland's most popular museum, featuring vast interactive exhibitions on trains, cars, aviation, space travel, and a planetarium.

  • Rosengart Collection: An art museum showcasing works by classic modernists like Picasso and Paul Klee, alongside impressive Impressionist paintings.

  • Richard Wagner Museum: Located in the lakeside country house where the composer lived and worked.

  Landmarks & Attractions:

  • Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke): A historic 14th-century covered wooden footbridge spanning the Reuss River, famous for its interior triangular painted panels.

  • Lion Monument (Löwendenkmal): A poignant sculpture carved into a rock face to honor the Swiss Guards killed during the French Revolution.

  • Mount Pilatus and Mount Rigi: Iconic mountain peaks accessible via steep cogwheel railways, cable cars, and boat cruises on Lake Lucerne.

  Specialty Foods:

  • Luzerner Chügelipastete: Lucerne's signature pastry dish—a round, towering puff-fill pastry shell stuffed with veal meatballs, mushrooms, and sweetbreads in a rich, creamy white sauce.

  • Älplermagronen: A comforting alpine macaroni dish made with potatoes, cheese, cream, and roasted onions, typically served with a side of applesauce.

  • Luzerner Lebkuchen: A locally spiced, moist honey gingerbread loaf coated with a crisp sugar glaze.

  Zurich

  Museums:

  • Kunsthaus Zürich: One of Switzerland's premier art museums, holding an extensive collection ranging from Old Masters to major collections of Munch, Giacometti, and modern expressionists.

  • Swiss National Museum (Landesmuseum): A castle-like structure near the central station that explores the cultural history of Switzerland from ancient times to the present.

  • Lindt Home of Chocolate: Located in Kilchberg just outside the center, featuring the world's tallest freestanding chocolate fountain and immersive interactive exhibits.

  Landmarks & Attractions:

  • Grossmünster & Fraumünster: Zurich's twin landmark churches; the latter is famous for its glowing stained-glass windows designed by Marc Chagall.

  • Bahnhofstrasse: One of the world's most exclusive and expensive shopping avenues, stretching from the central station to Lake Zurich.

  • Lindenhof Hill: A quiet, tree-shaded public square perched above the Old Town, offering sweeping views of the Limmat River and historical roots tracing back to Roman times.

  Specialty Foods:

  • Zürcher Geschnetzeltes: Zurich's most famous dish consisting of sliced veal and mushrooms cooked in a rich, velvety white-wine and cream sauce, traditionally served with crispy Rösti.

  • Luxemburgerli: Delicate, airy miniature macarons with a soft cream filling, popularized by the historic Confiserie Sprüngli.

  • Bircher Muesli: Invented in Zurich around 1900 by physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner as a health food, combining soaked rolled oats, grated apples, nuts, lemon juice, and milk or yogurt.

  • Covered wooden bridges (Holzbrücken) are an iconic part of traditional Swiss architecture. You can find them throughout German-speaking Switzerland across major rivers like the Reuss, Rhine, Aare, and Thur.

    Top Locations for Covered Wooden Bridges

    1. Lucerne (Canton of Lucerne)

    Lucerne is world-famous for its covered wooden footbridges featuring unique triangular roof panel paintings:

    • Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke): Europe's oldest surviving covered wooden bridge (built around 1360), featuring historical interior murals and an adjacent octagonal water tower.

    • Spreuer Bridge (Spreuerbrücke): Built in 1408, this shorter covered bridge is famous for its haunting 17th-century Danse Macabre ("Dance of Death") paintings.

    2. Stein am Rhein & Schaffhausen Region (Canton of Schaffhausen / Thurgau)

    • Holzbrücke Bad Säckingen / Stein: Connecting Stein in Canton Aargau to Bad Säckingen in Germany across the High Rhine, this is the longest covered wooden bridge in Europe (203.7 meters / 668 feet).

    • Diessenhofen–Gailingen Wooden Bridge: A historic 18th-century covered bridge spanning the Rhine between Diessenhofen (Canton Thurgau) and Germany.

    3. Canton Bern

    • Thun (Obere und Untere Schleusenbrücke): Covered wooden lock bridges dating back to the 18th century that cross the Aare River near Lake Thun, complete with floodgate mechanisms and floral decorations.

    • Büren an der Aare: A striking 108-meter-long reconstructed historic covered bridge spanning the Aare River.

    4. Canton Aargau

    • Baden (Holzbrücke Baden): Spanning the Limmat River, this 18th-century roofed bridge connects the historic Old Town with the opposite bank.

    • Mellingen: A covered wooden bridge across the Reuss River serving as a scenic entrance to Mellingen's medieval center.

    5. Toggenburg & St. Gallen Region

  • Thur River Valley: The Toggenburg region features a whole trail of regional covered wooden bridges (Toggenburger Holzbrücken), such as those near Wattwil, Nesslau, and Kappel, constructed to handle heavy alpine winter snowfall.

  • PONTRESINA, Graubünden canton

  • • Museum Alpin: Housed in a historic Engadine home, this local museum displays regional alpine objects, historical mountaineering gear, flowers and plants, and the history of early winter tourism in the region.

    Landmarks & Attractions

    • Berghaus Diavolezza & Munt Pers: A scenic cable car rides up to nearly 3,000 meters, offering panoramic views of the Bernina Massif, Piz Palü, and the Morteratsch Glacier.

    • Val Roseg (Roseg Valley): A car-free alpine valley starting from Pontresina, popular for hiking, cross-country skiing, and horse-drawn carriage rides (Kutschenfahrten).

    • The Ibex Paradise (Steinbock-Paradies): A family-friendly theme trail starting at the Alp Languard station that teaches visitors about the local Alpine ibex.

    • Piz Languard & Georgy’s Hütte: A summit hike leading up to the highest alpine hut in the canton of Graubünden, known for views across the Engadine region and wildlife.

    Specialty Foods

    • Engadine Nut Cake (Engadiner Nusstorte): The most famous regional sweet treat—a shortcrust pastry filled with chopped caramelized walnuts, cream, and honey.

    • Alpine Barley Soup (Bündner Gerstensuppe): A traditional Graubünden soup made with barley, cured ham or bacon, root vegetables, and cream.

    • Pizzoccheri: Hearty buckwheat noodles tossed with Savoy cabbage, potatoes, garlic butter, and local mountain cheese, influenced by the nearby Italian-Swiss influence.

Memory Aids for German Words, Swiss German, German/Swiss Hotels and Attractions

Where can you use German? In Europe, Germany, Austria, Switzerland.

The word Bruck means bridge as used in the Austrian city of Innsbruck. Salzburg in Austria means salt city.

Furt means ford, as in the German city of Frankfurt.

Dorf, like the English word thorpe, means village. You see that is German towns like Dusseldorf, and in the English attraction, Thorpe Park. 

 English - German memory aids

Duck - Ente (the duck enters the water)

kite - Drachen  (which you drag along)

German - English memory aids

Drachen - kite

Ente (plural Enten) - duck (ducks)

Words which are the same in German and English

German - English

Disco - disco

Hunger - hunger

Park - park

so - so

wow - wow

Words which are the same English and German

disco - Disco

hunger - Hunger

park - Park (remember capital initial letter for nouns in German)

so - so 

wow - wow

German And English Words Which Look Similar

German - English

Haare - hair

Karten - cards

Musik - music

Selten - rarely (seldom)

English - German Words Which Look Similar

hair - Haare (ha ha, what a lot of hair, remember double a)

(to) help - helfen (help me by putting an f in helfen, en for infinitives, oh f... I need help, from anyone)

cards - Karten (I cart my cards about it the carton Karten, en for plurals)

Matching Word Endings German-English

Der Drucker - the printer

eine Pause - a break (a pause)

English - German Document Ending

document - Dokument

the end - Das Ende

end - Ende (written alone at the end of a document)

In London you can practise your German in Austrian restaurants, with names like schnitzel! Some names are easy to remember, the English alliteration, German Gymnasium, and Schnitzel Heaven, and Engel Bar. Engel means angel.

Albert's Schloss in Soho serves Bavarian Beer. Schloss means castle.

I asked Gemini to translate into German, the castle shop is closed, and I was told,

"Der Schlossladen ist geschlossen." geschlossen = closed (You can also use zu, as in "Der Schlossladen ist zu" for a more casual phrasing).

Since I am planning to visit German-speaking Switzerland next year (2027), I asked for standard German and the variation. The Swiss German sounds simpler and easier, like an English-speaking person trying to remember German.

Ask Gemini told me:

 Here is how to say it in both Standard German and Swiss German (Schwiizertdütsch):

1. "The castle shop is open."

• Standard German: Der Schlossladen ist geöffnet. (or Der Schlossladen ist offen.)

• Swiss German: De Schlosslade isch offe.

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2. "Is the castle shop open?"

• Standard German: Ist der Schlossladen geöffnet? (or Ist der Schlossladen offen?)

• Swiss German: Isch de Schlosslade offe?

Useful Websites

Languages - learn German using Duolingo online for free with advertisements, or pay to have the lessons without ads. 

duolingo.com

Attractions in Germany

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Amusement_parks_in_Germany

German restaurants in London - actually Austrian

https://www.thefork.co.uk/restaurants/london-c665790/german

I asked AI for German hotel groups, expecting to get one or two names but it gave made this extensive list:

Major German Hotel Groups

Motel One Group: A leading budget-design pioneer known for stylish, high-quality furniture, central locations, and fixed pricing. [1, 2]
H World International (formerly Deutsche Hospitality / Steigenberger Hotel Group): Operates upscale and luxury brands like Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts alongside IntercityHotel and Jaz in the City. [1, 2]
H-Hotels AG: A major family-run German group managing brands like H4 Hotels, H+ Hotels, H Residences, and Houstel.
Dorint Hotels & Resorts: Operates classic upscale full-service hotels and resorts primarily across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. [1]
Novum Hospitality: A fast-growing Hamburg-based group managing numerous midscale and economy properties across Europe, often via franchise partnerships.
Lindner Hotel Group: A traditional upscale hospitality group offering business and resort properties, now partnered with JDC/Hyatt. [1, 2]
Maritim Hotels: A well-established German chain specializing in large conference hotels, city-center properties, and classic beach resorts. [1]
Prizeotel: A design-budget economy brand founded in Germany and later integrated heavily into the Radisson portfolio.

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  Lindner Hotel Group

  Home | Lindner Hotel Group

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  Maritim Hotels

  Maritim Hotels | Book now for the best price!

  Maritim Hotels have locations in: * **Germany** * **Worldwide** * **City centers** * ** Airports** * **Beaches** Some Maritim Hote...

  
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  Horwath HTL

  Germany Hotels & Chains Report 2022 - Horwath HTL

  Accor: Remains the market leader with 362 hotels and 50,147 rooms. Accor's portfolio includes a wide range of brands across differ...

  

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