SwissMissMeg

Came for the cattle drive, stayed for the raclette and cider. This past weekend, my school offered our faculty the chance to travel to Wassen, a small town about 1.5 hours to the north, to see the alpine cattle drive.

As autumn descends, as do the cattle from the upper mountain pastures where they have been grazing for the past few months. These high elevation grasslands provide the animals reprieve from the summer heat. As snow arrives in this mountainous region, the cattle must return to the valley to seek shelter for the winter.

We arrived in Wassen just in time, having faced traffic approaching the Gotthard Road Tunnel (17 kilometers carved through the mountain). We heard the bells of the goats and enjoyed their antics in the streets.

The cows were dressed in their finest – flower crowns and massive cowbells. Their herders were quite friendly and eager to mingle, as were the goats.

A band of traditional musicians played massive cowbells in unison, marching through the marketplace of stalls set up to sell local delights – from pastry to fresh yogurt, soaps and felted textiles.

A group of us took shelter from the wind in the music tent, a scene which resembled a basic ski lodge lined with picnic tables. Polka music was a reminder that we were in a Swiss-German canton, Uri to be precise. Aside from a local toppling backwards off their bench every so often, the scene was tame and good natured.

After drinks and food, we took a little wander and saw what there was to see – a church upon the hill, chalet-style houses, and a single cafe (Gina’s). We saw sunflowers still in full bloom and admired the mountain backdrop surrounding the town.

Before long, it was time to head back to the warmer climes of Lugano. I am really excited to enjoy my first real autumn in a few years but, for now, I am happy to soak in the late summer sun alongside these gorgeous cotton candy skies. More to come…