Gerdon, thanks I still read german but it is getting rusty so any paractise is good. Yes, sure there are cracks in Switzerland as in most other places, but I'll tell you one thing, you have lots of nice things. I was there last year hiking around Grindelwald, Murrenn and Kleinescheidegg and it is beautiful. I live presently in Toronto, and we have nothing even close. In the alps by late February or early March you can sit outside and enjoy the sun pretty high in the mountains while you are enjoying a 'kaffe fertig". Canada has the size and wilderness, but it is hard to actually enjoy due to the distances. At least in Switzerland as well as in Norway where I am from, you can drive for 2-3 hours and really get away.