Friday, October 17- Switzerland

Outing with Lotte to Schloss (Castle) Hallwyl and Picnic lunch by Hallwyl Lake, then drive up to the highest point around here to get a 360 degree view of the valleys. Lotte said they use to be able to ski down the hills here when she was growing up, but not any more with the warming winters. The sun is out again after yesterday's clouds and downpour. Stopped in at Lotte's church which is the Chrischona denomination. Apparently everyone in Switzerland has to check a box signifying if they are Catholic, Protestant or other as part of their tax process. If you check either Catholic or Protestant part of your tax goes to the Catholic church or the Protestant State Church (Reformed). All other church denominations are classified as Free churches and members of those denominations do not have tax taken (neither would Muslims, Buddhists etc). As with Hedi and others we continue to ask a lot of questions to find out how life works wherever we are. Other interesting Swiss trivia – health insurance is much more like that in the US where you buy it or get it through your employer, however everyone must possess insurance – perhaps a little more like what Obama is proposing.

Duncan