Switzerland is one of those countries that everyone knows by reputation, but which still manages to surprise in person. It is the country of mountains, lakes and order, of course, but it is also a place where nature and man have found a balance that is rarely seen elsewhere.

Cities are clean, functional, everything works. Trains arrive on time, the streets are well maintained, and even the most touristy corners maintain a dignity that never lapses into tacky. There is a discreet elegance that pervades everything, but without ostentation.

And then there are the mountains. Everywhere you look at them, they are there: they loom over the horizon, they are reflected in the lakes, they frame every glimpse. It's not just a postcard: it's a constant presence that reminds you how great nature is and how, after all, man here has chosen to live with it rather than overwhelm it.

It's just a shame about the air conditioning: during a heat wave, Swiss efficiency stops in front of a fan...