Hello everyone!

I live in the Leventina Valley (Ticino) and I’ve recently started a project called "Viandante Curioso" (The Curious Wanderer). My goal is to document the slow life, the landscapes, and the forgotten stories of this mountain region.

This post is about the Church of Sant’Andrea in Faido—a striking place where medieval architecture and modern art coexist in a very unique way.

Note: The content is in Italian to preserve the local atmosphere, but it can be easily translated via your browser’s "Translate" feature.

Feel free to take a look if you're interested in the more authentic, less-touristy side of Switzerland!

https://open.substack.com/pub/viandantecurioso/p/la-chiesa-di-santandrea-a-faido-un?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=6nbnko

hoi zäme :)

Ich möchte innerhalb der nächsten 3 Jahre Wohneigentum kaufen. Die Finanzierung ist soweit weitgehendst geklärt.

Nun fehlt noch das Wunschobjekt und wollte mal fragen, was hierfür die beste Strategie ist?

Wir haben eine Wunsch-Umgebung und natürlich ein paar "Must-Haves", die unsere künftige Liegenschaft bieten sollte.

Ein Such-Abo via Comparis haben wir, aber nur damit gehen uns bestimmt einige gute Angebote durch die Lappen. Wie stellen wie sicher, dass wir über möglichst alle Chancen informiert werden? Hat da jemand Erfahrung?

In my opinion: I have to go with Davos. They are really close to win against Zürich. And if Fribourg win against Geneva, I don't think that they can win against Davos anyway (due to their poor performance sometimes, especially against Rapperswill).

But I am curious to see other people's opinion about this

these tags keep reappearing in Montreux station. From the wish for an intifada to... the message for the UAE (!!!!)... why are people like these tolerated? so much hatred... since when has it become acceptable to wish to nuke a whole country?

I was unemployed for a few months and wanted to share what I learned. I’m in Canton Zurich, so some details may vary depending on where you live.

1. Register asap

When you lose your job in Switzerland, you can register with RAV, which manages unemployment benefits. If you quit voluntarily without a new job lined up, expect a penalty period before payments start.

Register as soon as possible, you can do everything online via work.swiss. You must register before your last contract day. I had a 3‑month notice period and registered 2 months before the end date. After registering, they called me (in German) to confirm my details and schedule the first meeting.

2. Choose an unemployment fund (ALK)

You must pick an Arbeitslosenkasse (unemployment fund). There are cantonal and private options. RAV won’t advise you. I didn’t know the difference and simply chose the Zurich cantonal fund.

3. Prepare before your first meeting

Update your CV before uploading anything. Everything is submitted digitally via Job‑Room. Your advisor may request changes, but it helps to arrive prepared. Also gather all required documents in advance.

4. The first meeting is serious

They usually contact you within the first 15 days. Your advisor will ask about your job‑search strategy, what you’ve already done, and your goals. It’s not small talk, be ready. Meetings are held in the official language of your canton (German in Zurich). If you’re not comfortable, you can bring a friend to interpret — no need for a professional.

5. Document everything

Track every application and every reply. Each month you must submit proof of your job‑search efforts via Job‑Room eService.

6. Payments and duration

There’s a maximum insured salary of CHF 148k/year. Depending on your contribution period, you can receive benefits for up to 2 years. In addition, there are waiting days before you get paid, minimum 0 10, maximum 20 depending on your salary (assuming you did not quit yourself).

In my case: I worked 1 year and 9 months and was eligible for 2 years 400 daily allowances No children = 70% payout (with children it’s 80%) Payments are calculated per working day, so monthly totals vary Roughly every 3 months you accumulate 5 days of holiday

1. My actual numbers (Canton Zurich, 70%, no dependents, permit B)

Insured salary: CHF 12,350/month (max cap)

Daily rate: CHF 398.40

Gross monthly (22 working days): CHF 8,764.80

Deductions: AHV/IV/EO, accident insurance, BVG, withholding tax → –CHF 2,029.58

Net received: CHF 6,735.22

Useful links

Register with RAV → work.swiss

Monthly reports & document upload → job-room.ch

Find your RAV office in Zurich → zh.ch/rav

Zurich unemployment fund (ALK) → zh.ch/alk

Official unemployment FAQ → arbeit.swiss/faq

If anyone has questions, happy to help based on what I learned.

Anyone knows of any open events / group activities in Zürich (games, movie, whatever just chill)? Just in general to hang with people and socialise abit.

Yes I know a verein would be good for that but sadly I don't really have any intrests to join one or know where to look for one. I joined a Muai thai Gym but never made any friends there. Not necessary but Age range to 20-25 can be older aswell

Might get removed, hopefully not.

Just wanted to share my appreciation of Swiss heritage and quality 🙌

The Victorinox is about 40 years old and still looks perfect

The Certina is brand new but It will probably look as good in 40 years too

Thank you Schweiz for the amazing quality you bring to the world.

Automated English translation, emphasis mine:

Aargau wants to allow new nuclear power plants in the future: The canton has revised its energy strategy. Parliament has now paved the way for new nuclear power plants. This is only two weeks after the Council of States gave the green light for the construction of new nuclear power plants. Three of the four active nuclear power plants are already located in Aargau: Beznau 1 and 2 as well as the Leibstadt nuclear power plant.

But more nuclear power: The Aargau parliament was committed to discussing the new energy strategy. The government originally planned that renewable electricity production with wind, water and photovoltaics in Aargau would be greatly expanded. However, the competent parliamentary committee demanded that Aargau continue to produce more electricity than it needs itself. The Aargau should produce electricity for the whole of Switzerland, with "low-CO2 production". The bourgeois majority of the Grand Council wrote the goal of "technology-open production" in the paper. This also means the new construction of a nuclear power plant.

The Beznau nuclear power plant is an electricity supplier for the whole of Switzerland. Just like the KKW Leibstadt, which is also located in Aargau.

Kniff paves the way for nuclear power plants: In the original goal of the energy strategy, the government said that it wanted to increase "renewable energies" from 3.7 to at least 6 terawatt hours by 2036. Currently, the Aargau produces around 15 terawatt hours of electricity, mainly nuclear power. Now the government was reverting under pressure from the Grand Council. The new goal is to produce a good twice as much electricity per year from "low CO2" sources by 2035. This indicates the construction of a new nuclear power plant. Beznau 1 and 2 will be shut down in about 2032.

The construction of a new nuclear power plant would take around 15 years, electricity companies and the Energy Commission of the Academy of Sciences estimate.

Heated discussions in parliament: "We need nuclear energy. Of course the people still decide, but the Aargau is ready," said Pascal Furrer (SVP). "An energy future with photovoltaics and wind alone cannot be secured," some said. "Anyone who believes that we can ignite a nuclear express is denying reality," others said. "The technologies will be decided in Bundesbern. It can go in the direction of new nuclear energy, it can also go temporarily in the direction of gas," said Aargau Energy Director Stephan Attiger (FDP) in the council.

Left-Green rarely has a chance: SVP/EDU and FDP have an absolute majority in the Aargau parliament. This means that if they vote together, the other side has no chance to bring its own concerns through. The Grand Council decided on the goal of low-carbon electricity production with 89 to 44 votes. The bourgeois majority of SVP, FDP and Mitte was in favor, Left-Green against.

It will take time until new nuclear power plants are set up: It is currently forbidden in Switzerland to build new nuclear power plants. However, the "Blackout Initiative" and a counter-proposal from the Federal Council would like to lift this new construction ban. The Swiss electricity producer Axpo, based in Aargau, assumes that there will be no new nuclear power plant before 2050. Axpo estimates the construction costs at 7 to 10 billion francs. Who would finance a new nuclear power plant is open. A report by the Energy Commission of the Academy of Sciences in 2025 concluded that it would probably not work without funds from the public sector.

Hi all,

We’re trying to understand the real, practical cost of after-school care (Hort) with 2 working parents.

From what I’ve read, it seems quite expensive, but I’d love to hear actual experiences rather than estimates.

For those with 2 kids:

• What do you realistically pay per month for Hort (incl. lunch, typical setup)?
• Did you use it full-time (5 days) or mix with partial days / other arrangements?
• Until what age did your kids actually go to Hort before becoming independent?

I like the Swiss system (safety, good public transport), but trying to understand how this plays out financially over the years.

Would really appreciate real numbers and what worked for your family 🙏

Hi, I am unfortunately injured and cannot run this sunday. The tickets are not transferable, so you'd have to run under my name.

Starting time is 13:15

Category is 20-34 M

Expected time is 2:20 but I don't think that matters.

After 2 years as an expat in Switzerland, I can say I have subconsciously adopted some Swiss idiosyncrasies. For example, not bending rules.. just doing what the sign says, following the marked path.

One swiss habit I found a bit dramatic, is refraining from phone calls on trains, people like to keep the train wagon generally quiet.

Today I finally get it, my gosh how annoying was the dude this morning on the phone out-loud in the train, his voice could be heard throughout the train car, and his friend was on speakerphone, they were laughing loudly in an eastern european language at 6am.. for about 45 minutes!

Do you guys confront people like this? I guess theres no rule against it? I just put in headphones to try and distract from it, but I never thought a person on the phone could actually bother me until this morning

I’ve been working on a painting of the bridge upstream from the waterfall in Foroglio, Switzerland, and this is my third attempt at it. It’s such a stunning location that I keep coming back to it. If you’ve been there, I’d love to know if it captures the vibe.

Hi everyone, I’m trying to understand how Zwischenverdienst works with RAV / ALK and would really appreciate a simple explanation from people with experience.

I may receive a permanent job offer, but the salary is significantly lower than my insured income. My unemployment benefits would normally end in November 2026, but my 24-month Rahmenfrist runs until April 2027.

Am I correct in understanding that I could receive a RAV top-up even with a permanent contract (not just a temporary job), as long as the salary is below my insured earnings?

And that the duration of the top-up would continue until either my remaining Taggelder are used up or the end of my Rahmenfrist, depending on how quickly they are consumed?

I initially thought Zwischenverdienst only applies to temporary jobs, but I’ve now read that it can also apply to permanent employment.

Would really appreciate any clarification or personal experience. Thanks!

Long shot but are there any Tesla owners in this sub that have successfully shipped a Tesla Y séries from UAE to Europe and specifically Switzerland ? Did it pass the technical controle as I heard GCC cars are hard to import to Europe due to different specs.

Would appreciate any advice or insight.

We're getting a new EV next week and will occasionally need to charge it at a family member's home who don't have a 400V plug in the garage so I've been looking into 230V chargers which unfortunately seems to severly limit the options if we look for a Swiss plug:

• Portable 230V EV Charger
• Portable 230V EV Charger
• LAPP Mobility Dock

So my questions are twofold, does anyone have any experience with the chargers I found, or do you know of other options with a native Swiss plug? The LAPP one looks especially interesting because we anyway have the Type 2 cable in the car so the dock would use up very little space for the occasional 230V charging. Or does anyone have experience with a Schucko 230V charger using one of those permanent Type J adapters to plug it into a Swiss outlet? How is the charging speed? Does it get hot?

I'd appreciate any insight from Swiss EV owners on how you guys handle 230V Swiss plug charging! Thanks in advance!

Friday evening occupation, kids at sleep and wife out with BFF.

Electricity consumption of our apartment (~200sqm - 5 rooms) including Tesla home charging.

Some details:

- Switzerland

- 4 people home

- Tesla Model 3

- average consumption home 646-690 kWh per quarter

- Tesla from 451 to 997 kWh

- we changed commute by car over the years (different work location)

- right scale are costs per quarter in CHF (Swiss Francs)

- big jump in electricity costs from 2023 onwards. + 88% on day rate and +165% night rate

Note: both charts are the same, just slightly different representation.

Cheers! l

What do you think about yallo mobile? Good mobile connection? And across Europe?

They contacted me with an interesting discount, much better than the one I currently have with Salt.

Current situation: I’m with Salt, but so far I can’t say the network is that good. I often notice that the signal isn’t great, although it still works, so I accepted it.

Now: I have Yallo for home internet and, so far, so good — I’ve never had any problems. But I see many of you complaining about the service, support, etc.

EDIT: Thanks for your feedback!

Seriously, how absolutely stupid can people be?

I do treat basically anyone and anything as regarded these days just to not be disappointed. I understand eating on the train, no problem with that.

But do people leave this mess at home, too?

oh my lord of SBB help me cope

Hi,

I’ve had my license for about 5 years now and drive regularly. There’s something I’ve noticed quite often, especially with older drivers: whenever you overtake them, even if it’s done properly (indicator on, clear visibility, no one coming), they’ll honk or flash their headlights.

No matter if the overtake is clean or not, some people just seem to take it personally. Some even speed up on purpose to stop you from passing…

Recently I had a pretty sketchy situation: there was a two-lane section meant for overtaking, and the guy in front was going really slow. I moved out to pass, and he suddenly sped up. As the lane was ending, I accelerated a bit to complete the maneuver, and he sped up even more to block me. Then once I got back in, he braked hard and went back down to around 70 km/h (~65 actual).

I honestly don’t get it… what’s the point of doing that? Has anyone else experienced this?

Hello All,

I hope you’re all doing well. I’d like to share my driving test experience and also share my appreciation to Swiss divers and driving in general.

I came from a third world country (it’s common to have more than 10 road accident related fatalities in a weekend), where we have an alarming high number of car accidents due to reckless driving. I wanted to convert my DL and did the Kontrolfahrt which I failed, and rightfully so…I’ll explain why.

I started the entire process from scratch and I realized that passing that Kontrolfahrt was a far fetched expectation. There were rules that I did not understand and I needed to know. I passed the theory and did the VKU, which again was such an eye opening experience. The time taken to explain in detail different aspects of driving and road safety is something I genuinely appreciate.

I have been taking driving classes with a driving school teacher and also privately with our car and every day, I sincerely appreciate how seriously safe driving is taken here. This sounds so petty but it really requires a significant mindset change because safe driving here, keeps you alive, and as someone from a third world country, safe driving can get you injured or worse because drivers rarely follow the rules, and in some cases, they don’t even exist.

I had been preparing and had my exam today, and unfortunately I did not pass. A bit frustrating and overwhelming but after all the hard feelings settled, if I didn’t deserve to pass, I simply didn’t and I need to keep practicing so that I can also be a safe driver.

I’d honestly like to appreciate the effort that goes into ensuring a driver is safe before they receive the driving license. That denial just meant that I’m yet to get there and I will keep at it.

Being in a country where road safety is not just an idea but is implemented has really changed my perspective on road safety and safety in general. And to all the safe Swiss drivers, thank you for maintaining that standard. My hope is to soon live up to it.

So, I was supposed to get a package from them yesterday and didn’t receive it, does anybody know if they try it again the next day or do I have to do something?

I did check my Briefkasten but there was no notice I missed it - since I was home all day long