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Switzerland is a small country in Europe, famous for their banks,
neutrality, mountains, chocolate and cheese! There are four official languages;
German, French, Italian and Romansch, spoken by 74%, 20%, 4% and 1% of the population
respectively. So there were plenty of opportunities to be completely confused
and misunderstood. For more general information on Switzerland visit www.about.ch
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the trip we stayed in the town of Guarda in the Engadin, this village is
locating in the Romansch speaking section of Switzerland. The Swiss Heritage
Society (Schweizer Heimatschutz)
ranked Guarda as one of Switzerland’s towns of national importance
in 1975, because of its well preserved sgraffito decorated Engadin buildings.
Its a beautiful town located high above the floor of the lower Engadin
valley.
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This national holiday
commemorates the swearing of an oath on August 1st 1291 that is considered the
start of the Swiss confederation. The oath was sworn by one citizen from each
of the three original cantons (Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden) to unite against
outside aggressors; "we will be a one and only nation of brothers..."
Le Punt had
its own celebration scheduled for that evening. Alpenhorn music and Swiss-German
band music filled the plaza in the evening, followed by a speech (of which we
understood little) and the national anthem (which apparently can be sung in
which ever language you fancy). We got “lamponi” lanterns at sunset,
and made our way downtown with the rest of the locals to stand around the whopping
great bonfire and watch crazy pyromaniacs with fireworks (no professional display
here). We even scored some bratwurst and buns
at the bonfire, though we regret taking sausage away from the good Swiss taxpayers
who unknowingly paid for crazy Americans to eat their food.
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 Bobbie and Mike amoung the crowd, beside the bonfire |
 The bonfire at Le Punt |
