Switzerland has no competition. It sits in the middle of Europe, it has the highest technological development, it’s legally safe and the political circumstances are never going to change.
Jean Ziegler, Swiss former professor of sociology at the University of Geneva and the Sorbonne, Paris, and former vice-president of the Advisory Committee to the United Nations Human Rights Council
Switzerland is simply a large, lumpy, solid rock with a thin skin of grass stretched over it.
Mark Twain, American writer
As I write this blog post, my oldest son, Zylan, is on his way back to the US. He might be awaiting his connecting flight in Coppenhagen; he might have boarded the plane transporting him back to Chicago, back to the Midwest where jetlag and the resumption of summer work awaits him. Regardless, I did what I needed to ensure he checked in at the Zurich Airport and made the first leg of his flight.
Though I have travelled extensively since moving to Qatar five years ago, since COVID-19 impacted the world, international travel has not been as easy as it once was. I travelled during the waves and mutations of the Coronavirus, and during these trips, I had to research the entry requirements, vaccination policies, and windows for PCR tests before making my plans. Then I had to argue with the check-in crew at the airport about the latest regulations to board my flight because sometimes check-in representatives operated on old information. So now, I have a Pavlovian reflex to check-in at airports. I get anxious and tense—especially when Zylan is involved because of our experience this past December in Dubai.
I didn’t blog about my experience in Dubai: I only posted photos. My mom and two sons joined me for two weeks to visit the Dubai Expo and enjoy the opulence of the city. My youngest son, Ronan, had to fly out early during the trip. No problems. That left Zylan, my mom, and I to spend several more days together. I planned to take them to Abu Dhabi to see the Louvre. However, the day we were to depart for Abu Dhabi, Zylan thought that he might have COVID symptoms. We were all vaccinated, but we all got tested, and he was right. Thankfully, my mom and I tested negative. My mom was able to leave Dubai as scheduled, but Zylan had to spend 10 days quarantining, and I had to spend that time with him waiting and managing the stress of unplanned vacation days in a very expensive city.
A few days after Zylan’s quarantine would expire, I rescheduled our flights. Because I was flying an hour to Qatar, my flight wasn’t a hassle or huge expense. However, Zylan rescheduled flight back to the US was an additional expense for me, and we still needed a negative test result for him to be cleared to fly. I spent the days leading up to his departure reading whatever I could on the US State Department homepage and the website of the airline. The other issue was that due to a spike in COVID cases in Dubai, PCR tests were in demand and the time to get back results had increased. It was next to impossible to secure a PCR test which could guarantee results in 24-36 hours. For reentry into the US, 48 hours was the window for the test result. On the day of Zylan’s departure, we went to the Dubai airport and queued up for a couple hours to get a rapid test with results within 45 minutes. He tested negative, and then we went to the airport again later that night to check him in. I didn’t believe we were in the clear yet.
While we waited in line, I was half expecting that Zylan would not be allowed to board his flight, and then he and I would have to spend additional time in Dubai to fulfill some vague requirement. I had been anxious and doubtful the entire day. Thankfully, however, when we reached the check-in desk, they accepted his COVID paperwork, and he was cleared to leave. We hugged as he headed to his gate. Then I went back to our Airbnb to prepare for my own flight, exhausted from the whole ordeal. That was the last time I saw him before our meet up in Switzerland.
For our Swiss rendezvous, Zylan had no problems arriving, and he and I had a very memorable time together exploring Switzerland. We met up in Zurich, headed to Interlocken for a couple days, spent several nights in Wegen above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, before heading to Bern, and finally back to Zurich for his departure flight. After parting ways, I would spend five more weeks exploring Europe with my youngest son, Ronan, later joining me for a week in the Czech Republic.
As we returned to Zurich, Zylan probably noticed that I was quieter and tenser than I had been previously. That was because I was mentally sorting the entry requirements for the US and preparing myself for all contingencies. Once we arrived by train in Zurich, we boarded a tram to airport where I had scheduled an expensive RT PCR test for Zylan. However, because he was chewing gum, we had to wait 30 minutes before the test could be administered. Fine. We could wander the shopping area and wait. After 30 minutes, we headed back to the test site, but Zylan informed me that while he was in the Swiss chocolate shop, he tried a truffle. What? Go get some water and rinse out your mouth! I was quite annoyed with him. For him, it was a small mistake. For me, it triggered the stress that I had repressed from our experience quarantining in Dubai. His check-in hinged on me being able to thread the needle for his entry into the US. I am sure he sensed the tension building in me, but he gave me the space that I needed and didn’t provoke my ire. We got him tested, and three hours later he had his negative test results.
The next day at the airport, we arrived 2 ½ hours before his check-in. We were third in line at the Scandinavian Air counter. There was only one representative handling the economy check-ins. Ahead of us was a couple with a young child and the maximum allowance of suitcases, and of course, it took forever for them provide all their documents and get their suitcases and stroller tagged. I was already annoyed before Zylan checked in. When it was Zylan’s turn, he provided his passport, vaccination card, and negative RT PCR. He only had one bag to check in. However, when the representative should have been printing his boarding pass, she encountered a problem. His passport wasn’t swiping. She tried multiple swipes. Then she told us to step aside for 5 minutes, and her supervisor would come deal with the problem.
Fine. We can wait 5 minutes. The representative checked in a person. 5 minutes. She checked in another person. 5 minutes. Then she checked in another person. 5 more minutes. Excuse me, is your supervisor coming? “Yes, she should be here shortly.” Another person checked in. 5 minutes. Another person checked in. This one with annoying questions. 5 more minutes. Excuse me, are you sure your supervisor is coming. “Yes, I don’t know why she’s not here yet.” Could you call her again and tell her that we are waiting? Finally, a supervisor showed up and collected Zylan’s passport. From afar, I watched her punch in Zylan’s passport information in the computer. Then she printed a boarding pass, walked back to the representative helping us and said something in German. The representative’s face got red. Then she calmly checked in Zylan’s bag, and we were on his way.
I wanted to say something heartfelt to my son before he crossed the security gate, but because of my annoyance, all I could manage was You know your boarding gate, son? “No, I’ll figure it out. That was fucking annoying.” Yeah, I know. I love you. Safe travels. We hugged, and that was the conclusion to our time in Switzerland. I then boarded a tram and headed back to the Zurich Airbnb.
Throughout the time Zylan and I spent in Switzerland, I was thinking about various topics I could blog about from our trip: observations about Switzerland and Swiss culture, diatribes about American society and its faltering international standing, musings about the moon prices throughout Switzerland and how I was in an expensive country with my son with expensive tastes, the pop culture experience of watching Top Gun: Maverick in Bern, or reflections about father son dynamics and how my parental role has changed now that my sons are adults. However, I chose to vent about how I get stressed out by airport check-in requirements and procedures for international flights. First world problems.
Still, please enjoy some of the pictures from the time Zylan and I spent exploring scenic Switzerland.
Zurich
The city of Zurich, a global center for banking and finance, lies at the north end of Lake Zurich in northern Switzerland. The picturesque lanes of the central Altstadt (Old Town), on either side of the Limmat River, reflect its pre-medieval history. Waterfront promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river toward the 17th-century Rathaus (town hall).
Google
Interlaken
Interlaken is a traditional resort town in the mountainous Bernese Oberland region of central Switzerland. Built on a narrow stretch of valley, between the emerald-colored waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, it has old timber houses and parkland on either side of the Aare River. Its surrounding mountains, with dense forests, alpine meadows and glaciers, has numerous hiking and skiing trails.
Google
Lauterbrunnen Valley
Lauterbrunnen is situated in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps, between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks. With its 72 thundering waterfalls, secluded valleys, colourful alpine meadows and lonely mountain inns, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the biggest nature conservation areas in Switzerland.
“Lauterbrunnen,” Switzerland Tourism
Schilthorn
The Schilthorn is a summit in Europe, in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland. It overlooks the valley of Lauterbrunnen in the Bernese Oberland, and is the highest mountain in the range lying north of the Sefinenfurgge Pass. The Schilthorn lies above the village of Mürren, from where a cable car leads to its summit.
“Schilthorn,” Wikipedia
Bern
Dipping into one of Bern’s free outdoor pools, enjoying a gelato from one of the excellent gelaterias, or going for a hike in the scenic Gantrisch Nature Park – the possibilities for excursions and experiences in the destination Bern are practically endless.
“Bern Welcome,” Official Website of Bern Welcome
Swiss cities remind me of the kid at high school who’s great at sports, has perfect hair, the best girlfriend, and the teachers all love him. He’s just too perfect.
Rick Steves, American Travel Writer
opusculum 