You’ve had the Belgian’s, the Scots and the Welsh, now its time to find out more about those lovers of peace and numbered bank accounts… the Swiss.
The Swiss
1. Switzerland legalized the use of marijuana in 2002, but sales are still not legal.
2. The Swiss Guard have been famously fierce mercenaries from the 15th to 19th centuries, but now only 100 are left, serving just the Pope & Vatican City.
3. Switzerland stayed neutral in both world wars, yet today every fit man serves in the army and stays in the reserves, and every household contains a bomb shelter and gun.
There is a public toilet in Switzerland made of one way glass. From the outside it is totally mirrored, yet inside you can look out 360 degrees and see everyone whilst you are having a pee!4BR
4. Swiss commas are decimal points, and vice versa: €1,50 is one and a half euros, and an American mile contains 5.280 feet.
5. It's against the law to slam your car door in Switzerland
6. There is a public toilet in Switzerland made of one way glass. From the outside it is totally mirrored, yet inside you can look out 360 degrees and see everyone whilst you are having a pee!
7. In March 2007, 170 Swiss soldiers mistakenly invaded neighbouring Liechtenstein during a routine training exercise. The infantry soldiers wandered 2 kilometers across an unmarked border into the tiny principality.
A spokesman for the Swiss army confirmed the story, but said that there were unlikely to be any serious repercussions for the mistaken invasion.
Liechtenstein’s Interior Ministry said nobody in had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. "It's not like they stormed over here with attack helicopters or something," he said.
8. Famous Swiss inventions include Velcro, Cellophane and the Swiss Army Knife, although the cuckoo clock was actually invented in the Black Forest of Germany and the Swiss Roll originates from the UK.
The Swiss Roll is not widely eaten in Switzerland, where they are called Biscuitrolle, Roulade or gâteau roulé. The wristwatch was invented by Patek Philippe in 1868.
9. Switzerland has the 2nd highest life expectancy in Europe (after Sweden).
10. About 20% of the people living in Switzerland are foreigners.
