Sat, 21 November 2009
Amanda of Queso Suizo blog continues her top 20 things that Swiss people like. More cowbell, anyone?
Fill out an Expat Voices interview by 1 December and you can win a free bottle of whiskey!
Kerrin of MyKugelhopf visits Péclard, Zurich's new/old pastry shop and tea salon.
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A century and a quarter after a cutler set out to supply Swiss soldiers with a survival tool, the Swiss Army knife adapts to the urban jungle.Schwyz -- A century and a quarter after a master cutler set out to supply Swiss soldiers with a survival tool, the iconic Swiss Army knife still adjusts gun sights, cuts cheese and opens cans.
But deep in Switzerland's rural Alpine heartland, Karl Elsener's descendants at Victorinox, the last firm in the country that still makes the pocket knives, have been forced to adapt to the urban jungle.
Apart from the hallmark blades, the corkscrew -- originally sold to officers only -- tweezers, and screwdrivers, the now 100-strong range includes a "cyber tool" to fix computers, a USB key and the blunt-tipped children's knife.
Former rival and now subsidiary Wenger recently added the folding nail clipper to the nail file, while London's Bond Street, New York's Soho and Tokyo's Ginza rival army barracks around the world as outlets.
Victorinox president Carl Elsener Junior is now eyeing a Bluetooth-equipped remote controller for business presentations and even fingerprint ID to secure data stored on the computer memory key.
"We always try to be very close to the market and get new ideas," said Elsener Junior, great-grandson of the company's founder.
Elsener says the family firm has poured "a lot of soul" for more than 125 years into developing the legendary red tool.
"The Swiss Army knife became the reliable companion for many expeditions: to the North Pole, the South Pole, in the Amazon, to Mount Everest, even official equipment of the space shuttle crews," said Elsener with pride.
"Powerful presidents have been using the Swiss Army knife as a gift for their visitors to the White House," he added, also recalling that it was once used to perform an in-flight emergency tracheotomy high above the Philippines.
Switzerland offers year-round sporting opportunities, from skiing in winter to swimming, golf and camping in summer.
How to open and close a Swiss bank account, plus information on confidentiality and security deposits.
How to obtain a licence, import vehicles and follow road rules in Switzerland.
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