Swiss National Fireworks Bonanza

You would think that at some point the swiss would rebel against all the ridiculous rules they have to out up with here, but i think we have discovered the reason they are so complacent. once a year they are allowed to go absolutely insane. we didn't know this of course, before the actual event, except that fireworks were available at all major stores.....














most of the other interns spent this weekend in
Ticino bungee jumping off the same dam as in Goldeneye with the IAESTE organizers. (apparently the highest commercial jump) unfortunately the sign up for that trip happened so fast we missed it and were put on the waiting list.


Instead we started our day early heading down to Luzern to see the sites. We had been to luzern very breifly on the way to a hike but we noted it's quaint and apparently highly photographed footbridge and thought we would go back to visit. we spent most of the day wandering around the older districts. we found one very cool vintage store which was unfortunately closed but we plan to go back at some point in the near future. I brought my new camera and so always seemed to be lagging behind the group to get some kind of picture that i hoped would work out..... some did but mostly i think i need more practice.




there weren't going to be any fireworks in luzern so we hopped on a train that evening and speed to Brunnen which is also a lakeside town, just the other side of the lake. we got a good seat early right on the water. Chan bought some of the fireworks and proceeded to periodically light them off froma large peice of drift wood directly beneath us, much to the chagrin of the poor woman beside him. you should of seen some of here maneuvers!







The fireworks were shot off from a barge in the middle of the lake and they were spectacular. Probably one of the best fireworks displays i've ever seen. two type of fireworks though come to mind specifically...





the first seemed fairly traditional and were shot straight upwards but once they exploded, instead of a flurry of sparks there was a distinct vertical line, fairly small but firework standards. this seemed like a letdown until we noticed what seemed to be tiny parachutes on each of them. these lines then remained suspended in the air, their glow actually dying before they began any sort of descent. the second ones we thought were a mistake because they were fired directly into the water. apparently this was expected though since they went of anyway and became giant green volcanos spewing out of the water all the way around the barge.




at the end of the official display the locals began their fun. First thing to note was the abba cover band and giant inflatable cell phone present on the mainstage. second, it sounded like you were in the battlefield. people would pick a corner (not distinguishing at all between the merits of a back alley vs a downtown main corridor) and set off hundreds of fireworks. some small. some huge. some didn't make and "works" as such they just set off a massive shockwave style BANG.
I am sad to report that we made a small girl child cry with one of our misplaced fireworks. our only defence is that though fireworks are available at home we apparently still do not have the same inherent "light and flight" skill as the swiss are apparently endowed with.

needles to say it was an eventful day. a side of the swiss culture that until now i would have deemed non-existent. proved me wrong though!

If some of these pictures don't make sense it is just that i happened to take them that day as well and like them enough to want to include them......