die krumme

die krumme
Originally uploaded by dcrollins

What is the deal with the swiss cigars? This one is called "die krumme", which I think means "the twist".

Rather than being rolled perfectly, die krumme comes from the package looking like a pipe cleaner stuffed in someone's pocket. It also has a convenient plastic mouthpiece, so there's no need to cut it or get tobacco trimmings in your mouth.

The old farts outside of my local watering hole (La Ola Bar, Seefeldstrasse north of Badenerstr.) can be found sitting outside smoking these every day at about 1600. They also play this weird dice game involving an octagonal felt board and three dies -- the objective seems to be to roll doubles or triples in order to accumulate chits (coasters), which can be used to have someone else buy your bier.

Land of the fat swiss ladies

We live at the corner of Marta and Hilda streets, just north of Badenerstrasse and Sihlfeldstrasse. Nearby are Bertastr., Idastr., Agnesstr. -- you get the idea.

And here I thought Kreis 4 was supposed to be "die PartyZone".

about the site

The name "Fortress Democracy" really sums up what I love about Switzerland. If the US was "The Great Arsenal of Democracy" during the 20th century, then I submit that less interventionist countries such as Switzerland can best serve the cause of humanity by becoming fortress democracies. The point is to lead by example, rather than to force your system of government on others (I make no judgement as to which is better).

With one of the highest standards of living in the world, a degree of personal freedom not often found in Europe (where else can you smoke in your office?), and a great urban landscape for the city dweller in all of us, Switzerland has a lot to offer. As an IT professional for a large swiss bank, I have traveled here often and witnessed its change from a sleepy banking backwater to one of the most progressive and exciting cities in central europe. I currently live in Kreis 4.

Other names considered for this site: "Röstfrei", after the inscription at the base of every Victorinox blade. (As a kid I wielded this giant swiss army knife that was the envy of all the other Boy Scouts.)

"HundBegrabä": you won't find this in any dictionary, but it's one of my favourite expressions in Swiss German. If someone wants to get to the heart of the matter, they will say "da lit da Hund Begrabä", which means literally "that's where the dog is buried".

Pictured above is the rear of a sculpture in the Niederdorf, up on the hill north of Bellevue.

Gruezi!

The intention is for this website to express my sense of wonderment (and frustration!) at my experience in moving to Zürich, Switzerland.