Check out the latest news from Switzerland.

1. Experience the magic of autumn – when the cows come home!
2. “Autumn Special” Offer from Swiss Youth Hostels Association.
3. MySwitzerland.com – Winter Web Offers
4. New hotels and wellness in the Lake Geneva Region
5. ‘New Hotel’ Business Bed & Breakfast in Zurich
6. The night watchman of Lausanne Cathedral
7. Limited Edition Swiss Railway Prints
8. Food & Wine – Appenzeller macaroni cheese

If you like to know more about these subjects, please scroll down.

1. Experience the magic of autumn – when the cows come home!

If there is one poetic season, it must be autumn. Its mystic charms were hailed by poets Hermann Hesse and Rainer Maria Rilke; it’s rare beauty is best captured in the words of Albert Camus: “Autumn is like a second spring with each leaf turning into a flower. Autumn has much to offer and there are new and exciting possibilities for holidays and excursions awaiting our guests. A full selection of offers can be found by using our autumn holiday search engine. Choose your favourite region, pick your resort, and then select your preferred hotel chain. http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=i&tid=tid&url=uk.myswitzerland.com/en/navpage.cfm?category=Autumn

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2. “Autumn Special” Offer from Swiss Youth Hostels Association.

Autumn Special – 3 nights from CHF 59. – or 6 nights from CHF 109. –
Booking a long weekend or a week’s holiday at the last moment? Nothing could be easier! 41 youth hostels invite you to visit them this autumn.
The price categories are as follows:
A) 3 nights CHF 59. – / 6 nights CHF 109. –
B) 3 nights CHF 69. – / 6 nights CHF 129. –
C) 3 nights CHF 89. – / 6 nights CHF 169. –
D) 3 nights CHF 119. – / 6 nights CHF 229. – (Incl. evening meal)
Included: Overnight stay in a room with 4-6 beds (rooms with 2 beds on request), copious breakfast & bed linen.
Not included: Tourist taxes & Membership
Children: Up to 2 years old: free of charge 2 – 6 years old: 50% reduction. Validity of the offer Overnight stays until 20 October 2002 for individual guests and groups.
Reservations: The day before arrival at the latest.
Reserve your bed directly from the youth hostel by e-mail (see web site).
Important : your e-mail must include the mention “Autumn Special” for you to benefit from this promotion. Otherwise, you will be charged the normal rates.
Further information Simply click on the website address for all important details of what the Youth Hostel offers and exciting things to do in the surrounding region. http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=i&tid=tid&url=www.youthhostel.ch/e/herbst.cfm

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3. MySwitzerland.com – Winter Web Offers

Spend Christmas or New Year in Grindelwald. Skiing in one of Switzerland’s top ski areas from £908!

7 nights Ski holiday in Meiringen, Switzerland from just £499! including free 6 day lift pass and free ski hire.
10% Discount for early bookings before 01. November 2002! Further details from: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=i&tid=tid&url=www.MySwitzerland.com

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4. New hotels and wellness in the Lake Geneva Region

Some of Switzerland’s finest hotels and wellness facilities have long been part of the scene in the Lake Geneva region. Now, two new establishments have opened their doors and more are on the way. The fassbind hotels family chain has opened the group’s largest establishment in Lausanne. The Alpha Palmiers, a superior 4-star property, offers 186 rooms. The hotel also includes two restaurants (International and Thai), a bar and 20 fully equipped seminar rooms for up to 250 people. Further info: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=i&tid=tid&url=www.fhotels.ch

Also in Lausanne, the new Hotel Melia Carlton, offers 44 rooms, a gourmet restaurant, shaded terrace and conference room (up to 40 persons). Info from: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=i&tid=tid&url=www.solmelia.com

The Montreux palace, the century old hotel recently acquired by the prestigious Raffles Group, is this October opening an exclusive new attraction – Amrita Wellness. The new complex extends over a surface area of 1935 square metres and represents a new integrated approach to wellbeing and health enhancement combining western technology with eastern therapies. Info from:
http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=i&tid=tid&url=www.montreux-palace.ch

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5. ‘New Hotel’ Business Bed & Breakfast in Zurich

The ‘iPR Guest Rooms’ are located in a charming old town house in the heart of the old town, just a few steps from the opera, theatres, restaurants and Zurich’s nightlife. Rooms have TV/VCR, videogames, stereo/CD player, refrigerator, mini-bar with normal prices, coffee-machines and water-coolers to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Internet access can be provided and rental of mobile phones, photocopy, fax and travel services are also offered. Prices start from CHF 65.00 per person (depending on single or double occupancy) with full breakfast and taxes included. For reservations please call 0041 1 480 0127 (Special rates are available for same day reservations – please call after 6.00 PM to check availability

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6. The night watchman of Lausanne Cathedral

One of the most unusual attractions of Lausanne, which never fails to fascinate visitors, is the appearance of a night watchman high up in the tower of the cathedral. 365 days a year, year in year out, he calls out the hours of the night from his vantage point some 75 metres up in the tower. Between the hours of ten o’ clock at night and two o’ clock in the morning, he calls out the hour in the direction of north, south, east and west.
The tradition dates back nearly six centuries to 1405 when, as in many other European cities, it was the watchman’s duty to sound the alert in the event of danger or disaster, whether manmade or natural. In Lausanne, the watchman also patrolled the city streets on Sundays, calling for strict silence to be observed during religious services.
This year has seen the appointment of a new night watchman – 43-year-old Renato Haeusler. Having already deputised as watchman on a number of occasions, he is well acquainted with the duties he has to perform. And as a part-time sports teacher, he has the necessary physical qualifications. Despite the cosy comforts of his little room high up in the Cathedral tower (complete with bed, telephone, radio and television), he often has to climb up and down the 160 steps to welcome visitors and take them on a tour of the tower.

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7. Limited Edition Swiss Railway Prints

Through his interest in the railways of Switzerland, Gerald Savine, a recognised railway artist, has produced a series of gouache paintings. These can make a fantastic gift for any Switzerland or Swiss Railways enthusiast. So far, the first 4 paintings have been turned into limited editions of 500 prints, each one numbered and signed. Print prices including postage is £22.50 in UK, £25.00 to Europe, £26.00 to North American, £26.50 to Australia / New Zealand. Picture number 3 is also available as a Greetings Card. 10 Cards: – £11.50 in UK, £12.00 Europe, £12.50 North America. Payments can be made by using your credit/debit card. The prints have quickly attained not only a following in the UK and Europe but also in North America and South Africa.
The original paintings are available for purchase and Gerald is also able to accept commissions.
To find out how you can order your prints or for more information please click: http://cdb.stnet.ch/link.cfm?uuid=i&tid=tid&url=www.geraldsavine.ukf.net/main_frameset.html

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8. Food & Wine – Appenzeller macaroni cheese

The ideal meal for cold evenings in front of the fire.
Serves 4 persons
7 oz.mature Appenzeller cheese
7 oz.high-fat Appenzeller cheese
1 lbs. macaroni
0.5 lbs. potatos
1 large onion
1 stick (4oz.) of butter

Peel potatoes and cut into thin chip-like strips. Parboil in salted water. Add the macaroni to the same boiling, salted water and cook them “al dente”. Turn potatoes and macaroni into a sieve and drain well. Grate the Appenzeller cheese finely and intersperse layers of macaroni/potato whith layers of cheese in a hot pan. Chop the onion coarsely and fry until golden-brown in butter. Pour the fried onion over the macaroni. Cover and leave to stand far a few minutes to allow the Appenzeller Cheese to melt. This dish should be served hot. Goes best with sausages or just salad with either a St Saphorin white wine or Merlot del Ticino available by the case from Armin Loetscher from the St Moritz Restaurant on: 020 7734 3324