Photography Archives - Working 2 Live, Living 2 Travel

Autumn fair season in Switzerland

Typical carnival rides dot the landscape during a Swiss fair.

It’s been a wonderful autumn in Switzerland this year, without snowfall to this point and with warm sunny days surpassing many of those in summer. Autumn also brings fair season in Switzerland, brought in by truckloads of carnival rides and Michael Jackson props. I attended two of these fairs in the past weeks – St. Gallen’s Olma and Basel’s Herbstmesse.
Olma is the name of a famous sausage in St Gallen. Tourists from across Europe have heard of its legend and it’s labeled as the “can’t miss” food for their visit. In fact, the taste is supposed to be so good that they say you offend the cook by smothering it with mustard or some other condiment because this taste is good enough to stand alone.

But before the sausage, Olma was an acronym meaning “Ostschweizerische Land- und Milchwirtschaftliche Ausstellung,” an annual fair focusing on agriculture and offering city folk a chance to mingle with country folk over drinks. It happens for 10 days annually on the fairgrounds dubbed Olma Messen, a spread of several “halls” that welcome guests daily until 7 p.m. After 7, the party continues well into the night outside of the halls.

Unlike Olma, Herbstmesse is spread across the city of Basel with no overall admission fee. Most of the outdoor exhibits, vendors and rides are the same as at other Swiss fairs but nothing offered at other fairs quite compares to Kellerabsieg when Basel Fasnacht cliques open the doors to their private basement clubhouses for only one night.

We had previously attended Basel Fasnacht and witnessed the confetti showers, irreverence and flute playing. Even during Fasnacht, though, these basements remained off limits. On this night, food and drinks are served at prices lower than offered at Swiss restaurants and guests are able to see decor from past carnivals that remain as souvenirs.

Basel Fasnacht flutes — At 4 a.m. Monday during Basel Fasnacht, masked flute players parade in the streets with no set paths.

Besides Basel, Lucerne is the other well known Fasnacht (Swiss Carnival). This was also represented in the parade.

Olma begins with a parade from the year's visiting canton. This year's visitor, Lucerne, portrayed several scenes of traditional Swiss life. — Olma begins with a parade from the year’s visiting canton. This year’s visitor, Lucerne, portrayed several scenes of traditional Swiss life.

Lucerne traditions represented in Olma's opening parade. — Lucerne traditions represented in Olma’s opening parade.

Alp horns add traditional Swiss music to the scene.

The 2014 Olma parade ends with an appearance from the 2015 visiting canton, Aargau.

Agriculture remains the focal point of Olma.

Beer arrives from famous Swiss brewery Feldschlösschen.

This round of Olma's famous pig race is won by a pig sponsored by the local favorite Schützengarten. — This round of Olma’s famous pig race is won by a pig sponsored by the local favorite Schützengarten.

Children are employed with candy to chase the pigs back from the track for another round of betting.

Beer tents resembling Munich's Oktoberfest remain open late into the night with live music. — Beer tents resembling Munich’s Oktoberfest remain open late into the night with live music.

Basel Fasnacht clique Runzlebieger's secret basement, open to the public for only one night per year. — Basel Fasnacht clique Runzlebieger’s secret basement, open to the public for only one night per year.

Runzlebiger's artist explains the 200 hour process involved with each canvas in preparation for Fasnacht. — Runzlebiger’s artist explains the 200 hour process involved with each canvas in preparation for Fasnacht.

High society cows and children with their McDonalds meals at Naarebaschi.

There is no shortage of rivalries between Basel and Zurich. Here, the Zurich arrogance is said to be growing like a poisoned mushroom.

VKB Stamm artwork depicting traditional Fasnacht masked flute players.

Swiss traditions represented by this artwork in the basement of Guggemuusig Ohregribler.

VKB Stamm's basement — VKB Stamm’s basement

Schotte Clique 1947 Basel's Basement Bar — Schotte Clique 1947 Basel’s Basement Bar

-Chris

Zurich Street Parade: Europe’s largest techno party

We’re often told that in Switzerland there are only two times a year when most Swiss loosen up, release their inhibitions and spend some time purely having fun: Fasnacht (Carnivale) and OpenAir festivals (outdoor concerts held in almost every Swiss city throughout the summer that attract all the big names in music with a lucrative Swiss paycheck). They failed to mention one event, however, or maybe they intentionally failed to mention the Zurich Street Parade because many of the 1 million attendees are not Swiss and 90 percent of Zurich residents we’ve met had rather leave the city than witness the “craziness and debauchery” that brings back memories of the 1980s version of their city and tales of crime in a long begotten age.

History of the Zurich Street Parade

Zurich Street Parade, Europe's largest techno party — Each year, 1 million people fill the streets of Zurich’s old city while 30 floats slowly wind their way down the route.

Comic-Con remains on Monica’s list of must-see events but for now, she’ll have to compromise with the many events that we stumble upon throughout Europe containing a side of cosplay. This means sacrifices, such as, in the case of the Zurich Street Parade, listening to techno music stream from each passing float as it stopped for at least half an hour with an endless stream of music that we prefer to throw into a mix and not hear for an entire day.

The Zurich Street Parade began in 1992 as a spinoff of Berlin’s Love Parade and a celebration of techno music, peace and a drug-free society. It first hit 1 million attendees in 2001 and even this year, with a 70% chance of rain and scheduled one week earlier on the calendar than usual, drew 950,000. In 2010, a crowd rush at Berlin’s Love Parade caused 21 deaths and 500 injuries, tragically ending the festival there and making Zurich’s Street Parade the largest techno celebration in Europe.

Cosplay at the Zurich Street Parade

Below are several of the people we saw during the 2014 Zurich Street Parade.

Which costume is your favorite?

-Chris

Chinese cinema: A Shanghai Film Studio tour photo post

Over-the-top action sequences, mismatched voices and melodramatic acting. That’s what I thought of Chinese cinema before I took a tour this past October of the Shanghai Film Studio in Sonjiang with the Shanghai Expatriate Association. Wondering through sets of the 1930s Nanjing Road, Old Shanghai Bridge and Suzhou Creek along with exhibits on classic movies, props and costumes, I found a new appreciation for Chinese cinema.

A photo tour of Shanghai Film Studio

Though the Studio is now more of a theme park instead of an active production studio, the old movie sets provide a wonderful backdrop for photos. Sit back and enjoy the show!

With the spectacular backdrop of old Nanjing Lu, a fashion shoot was in progress the day of my visit.

-Monica

Dining on the streets: A Shanghai street food tour photo post

A couple of weekends ago, Chris’ co-worker, Caroline, a local Shanghainese, took us on a Shanghai street food tour in the Qibao Ancient Town district. With my distaste for Asian food and fear of food poisoning, I have mainly refrained from the plentiful street food vendors throughout the city. I was excited, though, to have a local guide who could explain what the odd foods were and make sound recommendations.

Without further ado, I present a photo story of how our exciting cuisine adventure unfolded.

Candied fruit is a popular sweet treat. Chris' favorite of the day was the glazed-covered crab apples with the edible wrapping. — Candied fruit is a popular sweet treat. Chris’ favorite of the day was the glazed-covered crab apples with the edible wrapping.

Lotus root is known for its many medicinal benefits, such as soothing an upset stomach. Here, it is boiled and ready for a wide variety of dishes, such as stir-fry.

At the end of the tour, we were bursting at the seams. It was a great experience, made even better by the fact we didn’t get sick due to Caroline’s expert guidance. We now have a better sense about what street foods to order, and we plan to put that knowledge to use soon. What’s your favorite street food?

-Monica

Spring on a Swiss Farm

A view with the Alps in the background from a walking path nearby our flat.

April showers bring May flowers. We live in a farming community where our flat is surrounded by barns and pastures. When we first got here, everything was covered in snow. Since Spring has finally arrived, this community has come to life.

Farmers are out on their tractors; the cows we only saw in the barns before have been let out to pasture; and our neighbors will soon be receiving their annual flock of sheep. We’ve also started emerging from our cocoon of the heated flat and triple layers of clothes to enjoy afternoon walks.

These photos are a collection I’ve taken to show how beautiful the Switzerland countryside is in Spring. Enjoy!