Exchanging your Foreign Driver's Licence for a Swiss Driver's Licence

My new Swiss driver's license
(with some things greyed out for privacy reasons... yours will have some text on it! )

We interrupt this exciting summary of my Easter vacation to talk about:

Switching your foreign driver's license to a Swiss license!

Crowd: Yeah! Woo Hoo! Jessica, you rock!

(panties flying, cheers swell from the crowd, someone in the front row starts to cry from the emotion of it all)

So without further ado, our experience:

We knew since we arrived that we had 12 months to exchange our international driver's license for a Swiss license. And of course, we waited until the last minute - meaning we arrived in March last year, so of course we did it in March this year! If you don't exchange it within the 12 months, you have to take the driver's test (read expensive hassle) - so don't delay!

We started by picking up a form for the exchange. The first step of the process is to fill out the form and get an eye test. The form is pretty straight forward - name, address, driving class (to drive a normal car is C - no different license for stick vs. automatic) etc. and a bunch of boxes with medical illness names that you have to check to say whether or not you suffer from Nierenkrankheit (kidney illness) or Geisteskrankheit. And naturally, because we forgot to bring the forms with us to the eye test, we had to fill them out again at the eye test - so for about 20 minutes, and thankfully the place was empty, I would ask "Was ist Geisteskrankheit?" and we would play charades with the Optician until we figured out what it was and that of course we were lucky enough to not have it.

After that, the eye test is pretty painless (except we freaked out a bit and thought we were blind for a moment... oh so lustig) - you can get it at any eye doctor, or eye glass store (usually one in the same - just ask at the optometry places if they do a 'Führerausweis Sehtest'). Just pay CHF 20 per person for it, they sign off, and you are on to the next and final step.

Luckily, we figured out that instead of having to go to Zurich Strassenverkehrsamt (driver's bureau) to hand in the form, we could take it to our Gemeidehaus in Urdorf and they take care of the rest. That saved us a lot of time. I believe we paid another CHF 20 each for the pleasure and handed over 2 passport sized photos, our American driver's licenses and showed our passports and L permits as identification and that was that... did I promise them my first born, too? I can't remember exactly. Oh well...

Then about 2 weeks later... we got a letter - 2 letters to be exact, (in German of course...) - one each - saying that we should call the Strassenverkehrsamt ASAP. So the next morning I did... and here is where the trouble started. It seems that yes, you can exchange a foreign license for the US for Australia for a Swiss license (you will get them back in this case, but Europeans are not as fortunate - they don't get the European license back...). However, the foreign license has to show that you have had a license for at least 12 months (I believe, or was it 24 months?) prior to moving to Switzerland, and wouldn't it just figure that we changed our Texas licenses to Mass licenses only a few months before moving to Switzerland and the dates on them were within the last 12 months! Again - we moved to Switzerland in 2008, and the licenses we had said 2007... so they were invalid!

The lady on the telephone was really nice and said that if we had another license - like we have dozens or something - that showed we were licensed earlier, we could send those in and proceed... I asked her what kind of other license, and she said sometimes people have old licenses they keep as SOUVENIERS or something, and that perhaps one of those was older and we could send that in... I mean, WHO DOES THAT?! Um, well, it would appear we do because after searching I found our old Australian licenses from years ago and we sent those in and voila - problem solved! I don't even want to know what we would have had to do if those were not lying around. I think I have read on other forums that we would have had to contact the driver's bureau in the States and ask for a driving transcript - oh the PAIN. Toll. Thank goodness we are one of those freaks that keeps old licenses hanging around!

After about a week, we got all of our old licenses back (2 x US and 2 x AUS) and the new Swiss licenses... Yippee!!! EASY! :)

And with it was a yellow slip for CHF 85 per person for the Amt. YEAH. So all up that was CHF 125 per person for the pleasure to drive in Switzerland - considerably less, I hear, than having to do all the driver's tests and starting from scratch here!

And, the big question you all want to know - how is the driving on the new license?

HA ! I have no idea. I didn't say I used it yet, did I? I take the train everywhere... I know I am CRAZY. Mobility here I come. I have to make up that CHF 125 somewhere! ;)

So again, here's the checklist:

• Within 12 months exchange your foreign license if you have a license from one of the ok countries (those with a license not from one of these countries have to take a driving test, too)
  
• Fill out the form (in German unfortunately, the whole process is, so be patient my little German learners) and get a passport photo
  
• Get the eye test at your local optician - don't forget the form
• Then bring the form, the photo, your valid license (and any 'souvenir licenses' in case you have a new license that does not show your validation within the last 12 months and some dough to the Strassenverkehrsamt in Zurich or to your Gemeide, pay any fees
• Wait - and pray that you did it all right!
  
• Get your license in the mail, and your old license returned - Pay more... for the priveledge to drive.
• And for goodness sakes - DRIVE around Switzerland and love every minute of it! Good luck.
  

More details (in German) from the Kanton Zurich Strassenverkehrsamt. Or a good write-up here from the AWC Zurich Website.

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Locarno over Easter Break

When I was telling the folks at work about my Easter break plans, one bloke mentioned that when he goes to Ticino he goes to Locarno, and only Locarno... I recalled visiting Locarno for a few hours back in 1998, and I recalled liking it - something about a church and the lake, and a boat ride to Isola Bella. And I thought - yeah, we will take a little side trip to Locarno!

Locarno is just a stone's throw from Bellinzona - and by that I mean we took a train there directly, only about 20-25 minutes away. We went there on Saturday for the morning and afternoon before heading down to Como, Italy in the evening... I mean, we did all three castles on Friday, so what did we have to lose!

Again... Locarno was pretty empty. Where are all the tourists?

Locarno is a promenade place. So the first thing we did was promenade of course, along the boardwalk by the Lago Maggiore, enjoying the mountains in the distance and the wide expanse of water out to the south. I had planned to take Jace to the Isola Bella but we missed the boat - literally. Next time...

After walking the promenade, we went into town. Locarno is quaint and easily walkable in about an hour. The Piazza Grande is the main place to be, and you get there by walking west through the town, by all the shops. We had lunch at one of the pizzerias here.

After lunch, we picked up this wicked Easter dessert cake, and then we took the Funicular or Locarno FLMS up the hill to see the Madonna del Sasso. The ride is about 8 minutes and it departs every 15 minutes starting on the hour.

The view from the top of the funicular is amazing. I can imagine on a clear day it would be just gorgeous. After walking around the church we decided to take the (steep stone, but nevertheless manageable) path back down to Locarno, passing these shrines that line the ravine.

I love this shot below with the church and the funicular in frame.

Check out that view... amazing. These shots were taken at the church, in one of the corridors.

Here are some lovely details around the church.

After we made it back down to the town, the last place we visited was a 12th century castle called Castello Visconteo. We just walked around and took it all in with the rest of the town, then went back to Bellinzona on the train.

In case I missed something, here is a list from Suzer as well (check out her blog, Locarno Sweet Locarno), regarding her highlights as a local expat in Locarno:

• Be sure to take the walking path to Minusio. It begins at the end of the waterfront park (to the left when coming from the station). (I should have done this! )
  
  
• There is also a cool castle that is speculated to be designed by Di Vinci, and a funicular (close to the station also) that will take you to the mountain top for great views. (Did it!)
  
  
• My major recommondation is to have coffee at one of the shops on Piazza Grande at dusk, there seems to be something special in the air then. (Pizza count? :) Oh, and everyone pretty much knows German here, so don't feel like you have to speak Italian. If you see a Grotti , try it....I haven't yet, but they are supposed to be amazing! (Next time!)
  
  
• Oh and also, the "LungoLago" restuarant is open 24/7....very helpful!
  

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What is this piece of Easter heaven?

Hello? Tap tap? Anyone out there or is everyone on Easter vacation still?!

Well, if that is the case, perhaps you can help me with this question related to Easter - what on earth is this???

I saw these little cakes all over in Ticino this past weekend. The cakes come in all sizes, from 100 grams to the whopping, prop up an unstable stable 750 gram variety. They are almost always shaped in this cross/dove/wacky Swiss cross shape, too. And eventually I broke down and bought a wee one to share with Jace before riding up the Funicular in Locarno... and by share I mean he totally cheated me out of most of it!

It reminds me of a Panatone, a completely Italian delight - the cake is dense with fruit pieces scattered lightly throughout and there are these nuggets of sugar on top which are so nice that I almost shed a tear each time one slid off my next bite and onto the floor.

I would like to know more about these if anyone is proficient in little cakes that come out at Easter. Your services are appreciated. Thanks.

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Don't miss the latest Expatica post here! Swiss Greetings 101

Easter in Bellinzona, Switzerland

Castelgrande, Bellinzona

We spent Easter in Tessin/Ticino, the Italian part of Switzerland about 2 and a half hours from Zürich, just on the border with Italy - and we even crossed into Como (Italy!) for a few days. I had wanted to take Jace to Bellinzona for awhile now (having been there for a day with my host family back in 1998 - jeez I am old) and the four day break was the perfect excuse to get out of town and take in some of the sights and eat a whole bunch of pizza and gelato! ;)

The highlight(s) of Bellinzona are the three UNESCO World Heritage Listed (one of 6 listed locations in Switzerland!) castles, built between 1250 and 1500. And being a history buff, I thought Jace would enjoy hiking around the castles and climbing the walls, and enjoy he did - he was like a kid in a candy (he would say 'lollie') store.

Castelgrande castle walls and fortifications

I am not going to try to explain the history of these buildings, the UNESCO website does that grandly, but I will say that you can easily explore Bellinzona in 1 or 2 days, hiking to all three castles (with a little deep breathing, at least on my part), and visiting the museums with ease. Get the three castle museum ticket for CHF 10 to enjoy the rest from the rigorous hikes and take in the very different exhibits at each castle - and celebrate when it is all done with a gelato in town, or two, or three. ;) There are also cafes at the Castelgrande and Sasso Corbaro (this one had a cool wine bar feel) in case you need something inbetween. I would recommend a stop over here on the way to Milan or Venice, for sure. It is a delightful little historic town.

Me on the castle walls - where are all the other tourists?
Not at Bellinzona, thank you very much for staying away ya'll!

View from Castelgrande - the central castle in Bellinzona and the easiest to get to - there is actually a lift/elevator up to this one! So I cannot take too much credit for hiking to this baby, but I walked down! And then stuffed myself with a Pizza Quatro Stagione... ;) From here you can see the Montebello and Sasso Corbaro (highest) castles.

This is Montebello castle, the second that we visited, and the next as you go upwards from the valley... it was about a 15 minute walk from the main streets of Bellinzona to this castle, but the view was worth it. This castle had two really cool draw bridges and an interesting museum full of old jewelry.

This is also Castle Montebello, the second we visited, but from the other side, the mountain side... now you can tell we are hiking. The last castle, Sasso Corbaro, is the highest up the hill, about 3.5 km from the city streets, UPHILL... but is was a nice walk. I am just not much for...well walking. ;) See map of Bellinzona highlights here.
This church and tons of vineyards are part of the great view on the way to the third castle.

An artistic shot of the church from the Sasso Corbaro castle.

This is the center of Bellinzona's city streets.
Make sure you sit on the benches outside and do some people watching!

View from Sasso Corbaro of the Castelgrande and the Montebello castles.

Enjoy Bellinzona! We sure did... more on the rest of our Easter trip with stops in Locarno and Como coming this week.

Happy Easter Swiss Chocolates

Happy Easter!

Following in the footsteps of Kerrin and her Kugelhopf, I decided to take some photos of the lovely Easter chocolate creations available around Zürich, and my wanderings took me straight to Merkur Confiserie on Bahnhofstrasse. Usually the slabs of chocolate and the truffles are what draw me into this chocolate heaven, but during Easter time I cannot help but admire all the lovely chocolate creations. And... let me just say, the Swiss do Easter with the chocolate baskets and the bunnies. OH yes! And they seem to be surprised that we do, too. HELLOO!! We like invented the Easter basket, ok? ;) The Swiss also seem to have a preoccupation with one type of chocolate shape in particular come Easter time - not the egg... not the chick... but... THE BUNNY! I just want to eat all their ears off, they are so scrumptous.

This is a bunny chorus line...

This one is so cheeky. Hi there you cheeky one you. I see your basket! No worth hiding it.

This one and the one next to it are our twins, one is good, one is bad.
I will leave it up to you to decide which one.

This one is just plain evil. Evil and delicious. I hate its red beady eyes.

This one is putting on airs. I think it's the bow.

I feel like this guy would be really annoying and ask "Are we there yet?" a thousand times.
Sorry but I would eat him first.

All of them are so yummy looking. Enjoy the Easter holiday!

Have I lost the plot?! My Swiss Garden Plot

You know these places on the side of the road that look like shanty towns? Lots of little shacks all together in a row?

Well, did you know that they are actually gardens? In the UK they call these little gardens "allotments" and they became very popular during war times to promote self-sufficiency. But now, because most people live in apartments there is not a lot of land for gardening around the apartment complexes. So you can rent a bit of land to garden on... and this concept is also über popular in Switzerland. You see these garden plots all over once you know what you are looking at.

And, well, guess what? This one here... yes, this plot of dirt... it's MINE! ALL MINE. Don't laugh. I know you want one deep down, too. And see that ray of sun that is falling on it, highlighting my small piece of heaven? That is no mistake. That is due to the natural heavenly garden goodness, 100% made in Switzerland.

I actually signed up for one of these plots last year - goodness knows when. I think it was around June or July last year, and I figured I might never get one considering that I had to go onto a waiting list. I thought no one would ever leave (or I would have to wait for someone to kick it)! Thankfully, I got the notice in February and I started planning the space immediately despite the fact that I only just got the keys at the end of March. The plots are managed by the Gartenverein, or Gardening Club, locally and it really is quite an active, interesting community.

The plot is 16 meters by 6 meters or so. And to be honest, it feels absolutely HUGE! I thought it would be way smaller and I am a bit more ambitious now with all this space. I also get the shed that is on it and some tools that were left by the previous plot holder for the bargain price of 100 CHF. And let's face it - that rocks as I doubt I could get one tool for that price at Bauhaus.

Now, I am very aware of the fact that this is not a gardening blog, and rest assured that I am not going to be blogging about my gardening all day long (and let's face it, how uncool would that make me? I am already risking senior citizen status here...) - but considering that gardening is such a Swiss thing and these plots are utterly Swiss, I will be more than happy to give updates on my progress in the garden.

The weather has been so lovely and warm lately that I have thrown caution to the wind and started planting, hoping that the days of frost are long gone. I am planting in raised beds, and trying to take advantage of every bit of land.

On Sunday, I spent about four hours in the garden, making the beds and planting seeds. So far I have put in about 5 varieties of lettuce, two types of radish, marigolds, heaps of herbs, onions, peas, poppies and sunflowers. I have reserved a lot of seed in case I made the mistake of planting too early.

Here is where my herb garden will, fingers crossed, eventually be!

And these are the pavers that I moved around to make a nice path to my shed. I tried to keep the lines straight and organized - as especially in their gardens the Swiss are neat, tidy, and organized. I hope I don't let anyone down! And I have to make sure to weed as soon as the pesky weeds pop up, otherwise someone will weed for me and I will get FINED! Oh yes, there are lots of rules when it comes to the Swiss plots. But I am ready. I cannot wait for the bounty and along with that comes some hard work... and rule following, as with everything else in Switzerland.

Ah the plot... I am one step closer to being a bit more Swiss... ;)

Resources for my Swiss Gardening Plot to date:

• I bought all my seeds so far at www.samen.ch - they are really great quality and the packets are easy to read and follow. They also send a great catalog 3-4 times / year.
  
• I have bought all the other goodies - tools, gloves, etc - at Bauhaus in Schlieren. It is the closest you can get to a huge home goods store like Bunnings (AUS) or Lowes (USA).
• Familiengartenverein - or "family garden club"- if you want your own plot in Switzerland, this is what they are called. Ask for one of these at your local Gemeide. At mine you have to put down a deposite for the plot but this is a one time thing. I think it is about 80 CHF and 20 CHF per key for the compound. Then the annual fees are less than 100 CHF for the plot and all the water you need. It is a great deal really for a small bit of land to plant on.