My Sweet Escape to Switzerland

by Hanna Nyzhnyk (Ukraine)

I didn't expect to find Switzerland

Being a genuine party girl with a great passion for loud Latin American discos, I didn’t expect to find my personal sort of delight and peace in seemingly quiet, exemplary(as that valedictorian-classsmate our parents wanted us to look up to) town in southern Switzerland called Lugano. For us, children of the concrete jungle, used to breathe emissions of public transport rather than fresh air(which is in short supply these days), this place would definitely seem a God’s mercy. No streaks of smoke, chewing gum on concrete paths or plastic bags tied to the branches of trees. Spectacular! How does “la dolce vita” of Italian-speaking Lugano actually smell? It has the notes of Hermes perfumes worn by old ladies in retirement, aromatic Swiss chocolate right at the corner in Vanini boutique, lovely pink tulips sold by the lake, and leather backseats of new Maserati cars. Despite its reputation of “the city for exhausted retirees”, Lugano has a lot to offer to its guests of all ages - personally I enjoyed dancing to house techno rhythms in SKY Club, my mother spent an eternity at Manor(local shopping mall), while my 80-year old grandpa expressed appreciation for productive Italian lessons by the lake. But my personal Discovery of the Year was the famous lake of Lugano - always pure and tranquil, symbolising the town’s main traits. Exhausted wealthy pensioner or small punk at their puberty - that’s not what matters at the moment. Everyone is equal before the Lugano lake. Everyone gets speechless for a moment,wanting to move to Switzerland - by any means - immediately, staring at their face reflected in its waters. Not to mention those scarlet, absolutely breathtaking sunsets above the lake - our nature went all out working on the views of Lugano! What deserves attention even more than all the stunning sceneries of this town is multiculturalism, incredible phenomenon in the context of human rights. Inclusion, tolerance and compassion are in the air at the same time with above-mentioned Hermes and chocolate smells: accordingly, it creates a safe environment for all the talented people in a relatively small Swiss town. As opposed to my country, people aren’t being ashamed for calling themselves “world citizens”, it is simply their choice. Freedom of choice - where to live, how to look, who to love. We all know that no landscape will help you if you got into bad company. But be sure - here you won’t meet toxic people. It’s impossible to be toxic in such a great location. It’s all interconnected. It is no use denying that Lugano is a town for the wealthy and powerful - nevertheless, it still welcomes everyone whose potential doesn’t fit in their motherland. Doesn’t matter how far your wallet is - Lugano will accept you with joyful heart and open arms! Anyway, don’t forget to buy some Swiss francs and get ready for “dolce far niente”!