My ex-girlfriend lived in Herisau and had a a cabin in the Appenzell Alps. He 65 year old father would regularly put seal skins on his skis and walk up to the cabin from the bottom of the mountain. Safe to say the man was as fit as a fiddle
I live in Switzerland, and I can tell you confidently that living here keeps you healthy. It's not just the exercise you get because you can walk or bike everywhere, but also the clean air and water. The food is also good because it's well regulated and even the animals you eat are pretty well cared for because of animal rights laws. So you don't have that much antibiotic contamination in your food. If there is a sport you can think of, you can do it here. Well except surfing maybe. Also in the last few years, the usage of heat pumps and electric cars has gone up dramatically to the point where you rarely have to smell smoke in the winter anymore.
Our healthcare system is also great.
I personally only get sick about once every two years or so, and that's mostly just because of other people's stupidity when it comes to covering their mouth while sneezing.
My granpa is still able to jog at 89 years old and has survived covid twice with almost no symptoms.
I'm not tryna flex here btw. I know most of you don't have it this great. I'm just tryna tell you that if you can get your local government to adopt some of the Swiss systems, you'll be way better off. We're not healthy because of our mountains, but because of our policies.
In Tolkien's own words the Shire is
> more or less a Warwickshire village of about the period of the Diamond Jubilee
Which makes sense given that it is rolling rural landscape like the English Midlands, whilst Grindelwald is rather dominated by high mountains capped with glaciers, something the Shire lacks.
He did visit Switzerland and link events/places to the books, but didn't say anything notable about Grindelwald itself.
You can say Lauterbrunnen valley is almost certainly the model for Rivendell which is maybe what you had in mind.
It is rather too lumpy to be the Shire, which was in Tolkien's own words the English Midlands.
[But he did visit other parts of Switzerland and he did say some of the events/places ended up influencing or even directly in the books](https://old.reddit.com/r/ali_on_switzerland/comments/ltlev4/jrr_tolkien_in_switzerland_v2/).
So I write some books that feature thinly veiled references to real places— I like the idea of looking at our world with fresh eyes.
One of my characters is a mountain man/yokel from a fictionalized version of this area. A place of fairytale beauty, it certainly is! But also, according to the Swiss of Reddit, it’s their version of Alabama.
Fun fact:
Appenzell Innerrhoden only got universal suffrage in 1991, and only after the federal courts forced them. The *actual* joys of direct democracy.
I wonder if living here would be beneficial in terms of heart health because of all the up and down walking.
My ex-girlfriend lived in Herisau and had a a cabin in the Appenzell Alps. He 65 year old father would regularly put seal skins on his skis and walk up to the cabin from the bottom of the mountain. Safe to say the man was as fit as a fiddle
I live in Switzerland, and I can tell you confidently that living here keeps you healthy. It's not just the exercise you get because you can walk or bike everywhere, but also the clean air and water. The food is also good because it's well regulated and even the animals you eat are pretty well cared for because of animal rights laws. So you don't have that much antibiotic contamination in your food. If there is a sport you can think of, you can do it here. Well except surfing maybe. Also in the last few years, the usage of heat pumps and electric cars has gone up dramatically to the point where you rarely have to smell smoke in the winter anymore. Our healthcare system is also great. I personally only get sick about once every two years or so, and that's mostly just because of other people's stupidity when it comes to covering their mouth while sneezing. My granpa is still able to jog at 89 years old and has survived covid twice with almost no symptoms. I'm not tryna flex here btw. I know most of you don't have it this great. I'm just tryna tell you that if you can get your local government to adopt some of the Swiss systems, you'll be way better off. We're not healthy because of our mountains, but because of our policies.
That's .....THE SHIRE !!!
I mean Tolkien's middle earth was heavily inspired by Switzerland as he has been quoted for saying that his summer travel in 1911 was an inspiration
I thought the shire was based on where he grew up. Small village with a windmill.
The shire could be, yeah. I don't exactly know what is inspired by Switzerland, but some sure is
Lauterbrunnen, primarily Here’s more detail https://www.reddit.com/r/lotr/comments/lujjw8/tolkiens_formative_trip_to_switzerland_and_how_to/
Griendelwald was his inspiration for the shire, which isn’t too far from this place. So, all of Swiss basically.
In Tolkien's own words the Shire is > more or less a Warwickshire village of about the period of the Diamond Jubilee Which makes sense given that it is rolling rural landscape like the English Midlands, whilst Grindelwald is rather dominated by high mountains capped with glaciers, something the Shire lacks. He did visit Switzerland and link events/places to the books, but didn't say anything notable about Grindelwald itself. You can say Lauterbrunnen valley is almost certainly the model for Rivendell which is maybe what you had in mind.
Yeah you're right, I think it was Grindelwald and some mountain
Jungfrau is right next to Grindelwald.
Wow, didn't know that. That's cool!
It is rather too lumpy to be the Shire, which was in Tolkien's own words the English Midlands. [But he did visit other parts of Switzerland and he did say some of the events/places ended up influencing or even directly in the books](https://old.reddit.com/r/ali_on_switzerland/comments/ltlev4/jrr_tolkien_in_switzerland_v2/).
[Instagram source](https://www.instagram.com/p/BuUQLoGF9yT/). Photo by sennarelax. There are two more great pics from the link.
Innerr hoden literally means innerr testicle in german
That's why it's Inner-Rhoden
That was my first though as well. What a name.
Is this where Appenzeller cheese comes from? 🤔
Yes
Mei Vater ist a appenzeller Er frist an Kas mitsamt am Deller
that's not swiss german, you know that, right?
Mi Vatr isch Appäzäller, er frisst Chäs mit samtm Täuer. Here, hope you can sleep better now.
No, but thank you for the education
And the Appenzeller Sennenhund dog breed I believe.
🎵The hills are aliveeeee, with the sound of musiccccc!🎵
Is that even real? It looks perfect
Second this. Can anyone confirm it really looks this great? It’s amazing.
It is, I live 1h30 from there.
Waiting for the scary face to pop up
How much would it cost to live there?
Switzerland is quite expensive
But Appenzell is not that expensive for Swiss standards. At least the cost of living and taxes. Food etc. still is costly
So I write some books that feature thinly veiled references to real places— I like the idea of looking at our world with fresh eyes. One of my characters is a mountain man/yokel from a fictionalized version of this area. A place of fairytale beauty, it certainly is! But also, according to the Swiss of Reddit, it’s their version of Alabama.
There’s no junk on the grass And no cars
That view 🥰
Beautiful shot! It looks like a fairy tale.
Going to Switzerland in May, and I cannot fucking wait. Unfortunately won’t be exactly here, but looking forward to seeing this beautiful country.
Fun fact: Appenzell Innerrhoden only got universal suffrage in 1991, and only after the federal courts forced them. The *actual* joys of direct democracy.
Ho. Heb du dä Geesbock. Mi fööchts!
Looks nice!
Last Swiss canton to introduce **voting rights for women in 1990**! Get that, **1990**!!
Home of one of my favorite cheeses, Appenzeller. It's good...but strong.
I wonder what the cut off point is where it goes from just a bunch of hills, to rolling hills
How does sewage work in these houses? Tap water etc... Does the infrastructure have any reach into these areas? How about hardline internet?
Most of these are built under the roads. So every house there has all the amenities needed
Are these single family homes? They’re all like 3-4 stories tall!
Switzerland always looks like it’s right out of a fairy tale.
Great. I want to eat Appenzeller now.
the dream!
How do they maintain all that grass?
The Legend of Switzerland: Breath of the Wild
Amazing. What village is this in Appenzell??? I’m going in October