While I'm from Northern Italy, I've only been to Switzerland once, in 1989. A few days in Lucerne (lovely), one afternoon in Basel, and two days in Maienfeld (my then-girlfriend wanted to see Heidi's house...).
We Italians have a rather complicated relationship with Switzerland. The stereotype goes like this: beautiful nature, boring culture, forget the people. The dislike works both ways, mind you. After all, rule-observing Swiss people and rule-bending Italians can hardly see eye to eye.
There's also the problem with immigration. Many Italians (even some of my relatives) have lived and worked in Switzerland through the years and have experienced a good deal of discrimination.
Thanks for this very interesting piece.
While I'm from Northern Italy, I've only been to Switzerland once, in 1989. A few days in Lucerne (lovely), one afternoon in Basel, and two days in Maienfeld (my then-girlfriend wanted to see Heidi's house...).
We Italians have a rather complicated relationship with Switzerland. The stereotype goes like this: beautiful nature, boring culture, forget the people. The dislike works both ways, mind you. After all, rule-observing Swiss people and rule-bending Italians can hardly see eye to eye.
There's also the problem with immigration. Many Italians (even some of my relatives) have lived and worked in Switzerland through the years and have experienced a good deal of discrimination.
But I love cheese, so there's still hope...
There's hope in the cheese! That's got to be the start of a good essay.
Sorry you've experienced this discrimination. Let's hope it's getting better...
Thanks for this remarkably in-depth portrait of Basel. Seems like it has a boat-load of quirks.
Thank you! It is quirky...and I’m still figuring it out :)