I once read that Spalentor is one of Basel’s most interesting iconic buildings—it's almost a whole history lesson in a single building! It truly does stand out against the city's old town with its unique architecture. The tower's history is very interesting because it is linked to one of the main events that shaped the city: the earthquake of 1356

That dramatic seismic event reduced the city to ruins, and when it had to be rebuilt, the city was enclosed by a bigger ring of walls. This included multiple defensive structures, such as seven gate towers, and one of them was indeed Spalentor. Today, the tower stands as a symbol of the city's history, surrounded by other historic landmarks like St. Johann’s Tower and St. Alban's Tower.

I passed through Bern again a couple of days ago. As I’ve mentioned here before, it’s one of my favorite cities in Switzerland, and it’s super easy to get to from Basel.

I was actually going to Vaud that day, but since the weather was so lovely and the day was perfect, I decided to stop for a while.

I continued my usual walk from the city center to the bear pit, but I paused at the Aare bridge. The landscape was so beautiful that I had to stop and take pictures of the river.

The view was incredible: the turquoise water flowing beneath the bridge, set against the bright green of the trees, grass, and forested slopes on the left riverbank, as you can see above.

Yesterday, while riding the train through the city of Neuchâtel, I looked out of the window, and the scenery was absolutely spectacular during that golden hour when the light was just perfect for taking a photo. So, I quickly grabbed my phone and took the shot you can see above.

As you can see, the image captures the city of Neuchâtel as the train passed, with the historic Neuchâtel Castle and the Collegiate Church dominating the hill on the right. Below them, a sea of medieval rooftops descends toward Lake Neuchâtel. I was quite lucky with the timing.

I took a stroll down by the lake this evening in Morges. The air had a nice chill to it, but the view was absolutely worth it. The sky is rarely so clear that you can see all the way across to the Alps, but tonight was one of those nights, as you can see in the picture above.

The Morges is a river in Vaud that flows into the Rhône at Lake Geneva and passes through the town of Morges, which takes its name from the river. This is a fact I had no idea about! Nevertheless, last week in the evening, I was walking by the Independence Park and saw the lights in the horizon reflecting on the water with some tulips in the foreground, and I thought it would be a nice picture to share.

The weather was gorgeous yesterday, and I had some time to spare near Voltaplatz, so I took one of Basel’s little Rhine ferries once more. I remembered why this simple plan is something I enjoy every single time. It’s very interesting how this small wooden boat has no engine — it’s just a cable and the river current doing all the work, quietly carrying you from one bank to the other. No rush, no noise, just the water and the nice lady telling some stories in Basler Deutsch.

Now the history of those ferries is interesting as well: They have been around since the 19th century, back when they were actually needed and were part of the standard transport system, before more bridges went up complementing the Mittlere Brücke. Today they’re not really essential for getting around, but they’re still there as a reminder of what they once were. For a few minutes you’re not commuting, you’re not in a hurry, you’re just floating across the Rhine. Really nice!

Today we had the opportunity to visit the Grottes de Vallorbe, and it turned out to be a really amazing experience. We started our journey by taking the train from Renens to Le Day, and from there it was super convenient to hop on a bus that brought us directly to the caves’ parking. From there, the entrance to the caves is about a 10-minute walk along the river.

The Grottes themselves were absolutely beautiful. Formed over millions of years by the underground flow of the Orbe River, the caves showcase incredible limestone formations that are really unique. As we walked through, the natural rock structures were beautifully highlighted, creating a magical atmosphere throughout.

All in all, it was a nice day trip into one of the most beautiful cave systems in Europe.

Yesterday we went for a walk in Basel-Landschaft while the weather was really lovely. We started at the SBB Bahnhof in Basel and took the IR to Liestal. From there, we continued by bus 70 to Reigoldswil village. Instead of hiking up, we decided to take the cable car up to Wasserfallen, which made the start of the day feel very relaxed and easy.

From the top, we then walked all the way back down together with A. and L. It was a really nice route through green hills, forests, and small waterfalls, with flower-filled fields along the way, as well as some truly beautiful landscapes like the one you see in the picture above.

Our feet were a bit sore after the steep descent, but it was totally worth it.

I took this picture a couple of weeks ago during one of my early morning walks through Basel's city center. I love capturing shots in the early morning or late afternoon when places are quiet and you get to enjoy the small things that make them what they are — like a gravel pétanque court scattered with pigeons, a lone person sitting quietly on a bench, a bare winter tree, and the twin spires of the Münster poking up above the rooftops in the background. The light made it impossible not to stop and take a photo.

It's one of those scenes that feels completely unhurried, which is something I really appreciate about this city.

A couple of days ago the weather started to get better so I decided to jump back on my bike and commute to work. I left relatively early to avoid the rush hour and enjoy the morning light.

The weather was perfect, but what was even better was the background view of this commute: The sun rising in the background behind the Alps, creating interesting shadows and beautiful colors reflected on Lake Léman. I stopped to take some photos and enjoy the moment.

I felt really lucky to witness such a beautiful scene during my daily commute!

Every year when the health insurance renewal letters arrive, I get that familiar sinking feeling. Premiums going up again? Of course they are. I finally decided to look at the actual numbers, and yeah, the data confirms what we all suspected.

Back in 2001, the average earned premium per insured person was 1,911 CHF. Fast forward to 2024, and we’re looking at 4,234 CHF. That’s a 121% increase over 23 years, or about 3.5% annual growth. Not exactly a surprise, but seeing it spelled out still stings a little.

This year I had to switch to another provider in order to keep my premium increase manageable, and I know I’m not alone in that. Every year the effort of comparing plans and switching providers becomes more of a necessity than a choice. I wonder if a public option could curb these rising costs.

Source: Dashboard de l’assurance-maladie

Sometimes you turn your head while walking and suddenly realize you’ve found the perfect photo spot. That’s exactly what happened yesterday along the shores of Lake Zug. The sun was out, the water was calm, and bare tree branches and the wooden posts framed a beautiful view showing the edge of the lake, while the town of Zug and the surrounding hills were clearly in the background under a blue winter sky. It was an amazing view!

This morning the winter weather wasn't too bad, so I decided to grab my bike and do my commute using my favorite mode of transport. As I was passing by the Blancherie parking lot, I had to pull over and turn right—the sunset against the Alps in the background, reflecting off the calm waters of Lac Léman, was simply too beautiful to skip it. I took a moment to stop, wait a moment to admire it and then I shot the picture as you see above. As you can see with the lady in the foreground, I wasn't the only one taken by the view :)

Yesterday I was biking on my way to work, and when I started to climb the hill on the Route de Genève that takes you to the roundabout of Préverenges, I turned my head right and saw such a beautiful sunrise over Lake Léman, with the Alps in the background, that I had to stop to take the picture you see above.

On this New Year’s Eve of 2026, still recovering from the flu, we chose to celebrate quietly at home, preparing a traditional Bogotan ajiaco for a late lunch—a dish perfect for a cold day like yesterday. In that simple moment, I felt hopeful that 2026 would be a good year ahead!

Yesterday we had a nice day with A & L. We were looking for a day trip, and since they were absolutely dying to see some snow, I spent some time Googling the closest mountains accessible by public transport in the Vaud region. I eventually stumbled upon Rochers de Naye, and it turned out to be the perfect plan for a quick getaway into the snowy peaks.

We hopped on the cogwheel train from Montreux, and once we reached the top, the kids had the best time playing in the snow and building a snowman. We even got the chance to visit Santa’s Village, walking through a light-decorated tunnel, taking pictures with him, and leaving with a couple of treats in hand.

The train ride itself is an attraction, offering amazing panoramic views, just like the one in the picture above.

One of my favorite places in Basel is the Markthalle. This historic market hall has been transformed into a vibrant food court with a variety of international cuisines. The architecture of the building is quite interesting, with its high ceilings and large windows that let in plenty of natural light during the day.

Last week, when I was passing by Markthalle at night, I noticed the full moon shining brightly above the building. The combination of the modern "Markthalle" neon lights and the natural glow of the moon created a beautiful view that I tried to capture in the photo above.

One of the joys of spending weekends in Basel is being just steps away from the French border. It’s really easy to slip across early in the morning, pick up fresh bread from a local bakery, and return before sunrise — ready to enjoy breakfast with a still-warm baguette. And as if that weren’t enough, this trip often rewards early risers with breathtaking sunrises, like the one captured in the previous photo on Burgfelderstrasse.

Every once in a while, you get lucky enough to witness that exact moment at sunrise when the sun first peeks over the horizon, painting the sky in a beautiful palette of orange and pink hues. That’s exactly what happened in Morges a couple of weeks ago, when I opened the windows to let in the fresh morning air and I was fortunate to capture it in the image above. I hope my significant other is lucky to have such a view today. Happy Birthday K!

A couple of days ago we did our usual day trip from Basel to Bern, but this time we took a really nice walk along the river Aare. We passed by Freibad Marzili and ended up at the Bern Tierpark, enjoying beautiful weather all along the way. We wrapped up the trip with a well-deserved drink before crossing the Kirschfeldenbrücke again. It was the perfect way to unplug from the daily routine!

The Eurovision Song Contest, created in 1956 in Lugano, Switzerland, is considered Europe's longest-running international music competition. It currently includes over 40 participating nations, celebrating a broad variety of musical styles and cultural expressions.

This year, the competition is taking place in Basel for the 69th edition (third time Switzerland is hosting) and the city has transformed itself into Eurovision Town! Certain public spaces like Münsterplatz are adorned with heart-shaped decorations like the one you see above.

Last weekend, we passed by the Rathaus on the tram, where the Turquoise Carpet event was taking place. Once again, for these few weeks, the capital has transformed itself into a hub of cultural celebration for Eurovision.

Bern has become one of our favorite destinations for weekend day trips. The fact that it's only an hour from Basel, with plenty of connections throughout the weekend, makes it incredibly easy to just hop on the next available train without much planning at all.

Our usual routine is to get off at the central train station and walk straight to the BärenPark, passing by several iconic Bernese landmarks like the Zytglogge and the Einsteinhaus, and crossing the Nydeggbrücke bridge over the Aare River. The walk always ends at the Gelateria Eiswerkstatt, tucked inside the old tram depot, where we treat ourselves to some ice cream.

It was right there at the BärenPark where I took the photo you see above—on a day when the weather was perfect and the light couldn’t have been better for capturing the moment.

We were lucky that the weather last weekend in Morges was really nice: sunny but not too strong, perfect for a light jersey and a slow walk.

While strolling along the Cure Air beach, I sat on a bench near the lake and noticed a couple of people taking pictures. Among them, two women caught my attention, standing with the mountains behind them and the sun in front.

The scene felt perfect for a picture. The light, contrast, and shared desire to capture the moment came together to create the composition you see above.

This year, A and L were really eager to see the famous Morgenstreich—they’d been hearing about it non-stop. I hadn’t been in a while, not since Covid and everything, but I wanted to make them happy. So, I got up before 4 AM, as one must, and found a spot that wasn’t too crowded (at least by Morgenstreich standards). We ended up spending almost 45 minutes immersed in the atmosphere, listening to the different groups in traditional costumes play the drums and piccolo, marching alongside the iconic lanterns. It was there that I took the picture you see above.

Last week, EPFL announced in its official news channel that it had launched a Mastodon server (social.epfl.ch) for its academic community, choosing this platform because it aligns with its open science values and offers independence from corporate-controlled social media.

Although I've been away from traditional social media platforms for some time, I welcome this initiative and really hope it succeeds. The decentralised nature of Mastodon, combined with transparent algorithms and user privacy, offers a refreshing alternative to mainstream platforms. Additionally, it's really nice to see the EPFL supporting high impact open source projects.

The history of the famous German physicist Albert Einstein is closely intertwined with that of the renowned Swiss city of Bern. It was here, in 1905, while working at the patent office, that Einstein published four groundbreaking scientific papers that changed the course of modern physics: the photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, the special theory of relativity and the iconic equation (E = mc^2).

Many years ago, when I visited Bern for the first time, I had the opportunity to visit the Einstein House, a museum located in the apartment where Einstein lived during his time in the city. However, last weekend, I discovered something new: the bench near the Bear Pit that I had passed many times also features a statue of the famous physicist. Quite fascinating!

A couple of days ago, winter came early to Basel, and out of nowhere, the city turned into a winter wonderland. Snow was falling throughout the day and night, and the next day, the city was completely covered in white. It was so sudden that the city was not prepared for it; as a result, many tram lines were not working, and the streets were full of snow. The snowplows were out and about, trying to clear the streets, while people walked around in their winter jackets and boots.

Nevertheless, it was a beautiful sight to see! I took a walk through the city and captured some pictures, like the one above, taken over the Rhine River, next to the Wettstein Bridge. I always love the sight of snow falling and the city covered in white—it is so peaceful and quiet. Walking on fresh snow is always enjoyable, especially with the crunching sound under your feet.

A couple of weeks ago, I visited the Basel Herbstmesse. This year, I had the chance to ride the Ferris wheel again, which they usually set up in Münsterplatz. From the top, I snapped this picture—showing the cathedral and the Rhine River in the background. The view is amazing, and it gives a nice perspective on the city!

Even though I've been going to this fair for years, I realized I’d never actually read up on its history. Turns out, it’s not just any fair; it’s the oldest and largest in Switzerland. It’s been held in Basel since 1471! The fair was first allowed by Emperor Friedrich III and started out as a market for selling goods and livestock. Hard to imagine that now, with all the rides, food stalls, and fun attractions we see today.

The fair’s changed a lot over the centuries, but it’s amazing how it still feels like a local tradition and brings the whole city together every year. If you’re ever in Basel during Herbstmesse, I definitely recommend a ride on the Ferris wheel for those city views—it’s worth it!

AnimeGAN is a deep learning model designed to convert real-world images or videos into anime-style artwork. Using this model, it's possible to transform photos into nice anime-style images that look like they were taken from a Japanese animation.

A couple of weeks ago I passed by this place early in the morning and I was able to capture a nice photo of the beach. I decided to use the Tensorflow.js version of this AnimeGAN model to convert the photo into an anime-style image. The result is quite interesting as you can observe in the image above.

One of my favorite plans is to jump on a train and head to Geneva. I always walk along Quai Gustave-Ador to the Jet d'Eau, enjoying the nice path along Lake Geneva.

A couple of days ago, I did this again. After passing the Jet d'Eau, I looked back and noticed the setting sun creating a beautiful backlight behind the fountain. It was a view that I thought was worth a picture, so I quickly captured the moment with my camera.

This unexpected photo turned out to be one of my favorites from that spot, so I'm sharing it here with you.

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit the village just before the Vallorbe station, thanks to a kind invitation from a friend and former work colleague. He invited me for dinner at his house, which is conveniently located right next to the station 'Le Day'. Not only was it a very pleasant evening with excellent food and company, but it was equally interesting to get to know this region of Vaud.

Before heading to his place, he suggested that we take a walk near a meadow where we spotted some chamois grazing on the cliff near the viaduct. These animals are indeed very interesting. We then went through the tunnel under the viaduct, where I had the opportunity to take the photo above.

It’s a very nice region, and I will definitely come back.

Last week, we were walking near Schützenmatt Park when we stumbled upon an unusual sight in the middle of the central meadow. One of the storks that typically wanders through the park in the early morning was having a confrontation with a bird of prey, which looked like a falcon. The scene unfolded over a few minutes, during which the stork protested with its distinctive "clack-clack-clack-clack." Finally, the falcon got fed up and flew off to a branch of a nearby tree, close to where we had parked our bikes.

I discussed with L. how unusual this situation was. It's rare to see such wildlife behaving this way in the middle of an urban park. It made me wonder if the argument had started earlier, perhaps in the sky, between these two fascinating birds.

A few weeks back, I visited a dear old friend, a guy whom I know from our school days, who now lives close to me in Vaud, Switzerland. My routine for these visits usually involves taking the train to Montreux and getting off at the Burier station. This time, everything aligned perfectly, allowing me to witness a really nice sunset painting on a particularly quiet Lake Leman, displaying a set of vibrant colors.

It is almost 9 years since the last time I had the opportunity to visit Locarno. This is a beautiful city in southern Switzerland, located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore. It is known for its mild climate, its Mediterranean air, and its amazing landscapes. Last night I took this picture in the Piazza Grande, which is the main square in the city center. I remembered that just on that occasion in 2016, I attended a screening of the movie "Lo chiamavano Trinità" in this square.

Augusta Raurica is an ancient Roman archaeological site located near the modern town of Kaiseraugst, Switzerland. It was once a thriving Roman settlement and served as the capital of the Roman province of Rhaetia. Augusta Raurica was founded in the 1st century BCE and reached its peak during the 1st and 2nd centuries CE.

The proximity to Basel, along with convenient transportation options, makes this place an excellent destination for a day-trip excursion, especially when the weather is nice. Last weekend we visited this place again and enjoyed a walk around the site. It's interesting because it contains a number of well-preserved ruins, including the theater, the temple, and the forum. It's recommended if you are visiting Basel.

Yesterday we were celebrating New Year's Eve in Switzerland with a delightful Bogotanian dish called Ajiaco con Pollo. We placed the steaming pot at the center of the table and everyone poured a good amount of it, adding capers, cream, and the important avocado slices. This Colombian dish always brings some nice memories of my childhood, so I was delighted to discover that we still had some dried "guascas" to recreate it as close as possible to the real deal. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year 2024!

A few weeks ago, Basel experienced an unusually chilly couple of days, including a particularly frosty weekend that gave us a fresh layer of snow. This wintry weather was the perfect excuse to enjoy classic winter activities such as crafting snowmen, engaging in friendly snowball battles, and enjoying some fun ice sliding.

The following day was bright and sunny, and as a result, the lingering cold ensured the snow stuck around a bit longer. These moments presented some interesting photo opportunities, as the example captured in the image above. The photo showcases the sun's rays creating interesting patterns on the snowy rooftop.

Every time I visited the city of Geneva, whenever I had to wait at the train station platforms, I always noticed those luminous works of art in the street in front, and I always wondered what the story behind them was. Even the last time I visited Geneva, I took the photo you find above, when I was passing by

Some days ago, I was reading the story of those displays, and it's as interesting as they are beautiful: In December 2016, this work, titled "Pinta Cura", created by the local artist Frédéric Post, was set up in the center of Geneva for the 3rd edition of the Geneva Lux Festival. The work details the shamanic symbolism of Yage medicine among some indigenous people in Colombia, featuring the figures of the anaconda and the jaguar, two animals of power linked to healing and care.

A couple of days ago, when I was coming back from work and arriving in the picturesque city where I live, I started to think: What would happen if I told one of the AI tools to paint this place using the Impressionist technique, and then told it to describe it? Well, here is the result of this experiment:

"In an Impressionist painting of the Swiss town of Morges, we are transported to a tranquil and picturesque scene next to the pier of Lake Geneva. The essence of the Impressionist style is to capture the fleeting moment, the play of light and color, and the atmospheric ambiance. In this particular painting, the artist has masterfully conveyed these elements.

The canvas is alive with vibrant, dappled colors that dance across the scene. The shimmering waters of Lake Geneva, in soft shades of blues and greens, extend toward the horizon, creating a reflective surface that mirrors the world above. The surface of the lake is beautifully textured with strokes of various shades, conveying the rippling movement of the water..."

This is just an excerpt because the machine then started to describe parts of Morges that are not in the painting, but still, this visual and textual test was quite interesting.

A couple of days ago I had the opportunity to visit Geneva again, with a good friend of mine who was visiting me for the first time in the region. We decided to pay a visit to this interesting city, without a definite plan, just to chill and walk around the city. When we were passing near the cathedral, I noticed there were some people up there in the tower, and I proposed to her going up to have a panoramic view of the city (I had never done it before).

The plan turned out to be a very interesting one, offering beautiful views of the different parts of the city with a clear and sunny sky. One of those views is captured in the previous photograph: The iconic Jet d'Eau in the middle of the clear waters of Lake Geneva.

Saint Sulpice, a beautiful village in close proximity to Lausanne and Ecublens, has some amazing scenery along its lakeside promenade. One of the landmarks in this nice place is a meticulously preserved 12th-century church that you can observe in this backlight picture taken a couple of days ago.

This picture, taken in Morges last weekend, features an amazing landscape with an interesting composition: In the foreground, there is a group of multicolor tulips arranged in a nice lane; in the middle ground, there is Lake Leman with some boats and reflections on the lake; and finally, in the background, there are the alpine mountains with snow-capped peaks.

I think the contrast of colors in this picture is particularly nice, with the bright colors of the tulips contrasting with the blue and green hues of the lake and the earthy tones of the mountains, combined with the perfect sunset light. Nice!

A couple of days ago, while strolling through the center of Geneva, I stumbled upon a fascinating sight: an interesting composition in the background, with the Jet d'eau visible in the distance, seemingly on the verge of reaching the grey clouds before it started to rain.

The Tulip Festival in Morges is an annual event that takes place in this picturesque Vaudois. The festival is dedicated to celebrating the arrival of spring and the blooming of thousands of tulips that adorn the parks and gardens of Morges.

A couple of days ago, as I was strolling near the lake, my eyes caught this interesting sight. The scenery featured the lake and the mountains in the backdrop, along with bright yellow tulips on the stage. I couldn't help but think that it would make a nice composition for a photo, such as the one I attempted above.

One of the advantages of the EPFL campus is its location relatively close to Lake Leman. Sometimes the landscapes that can be seen in the background are really spectacular. This was indeed what happened last week: I was on the esplanade walking towards the library when I noticed in the background a composition that I thought definitely deserved a photo and a post about it.

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, the sky above the town of Morges was awash with some brilliant shades of pink and orange. The tranquil waters of Lake Geneva below reflected these vibrant hues, creating a stunning and serene scene.

The calm waters of Lake Geneva stretched out into the distance, their surface rippling gently in the light breeze. As the sun continued to rise, the colors of the sky deepened and the reflections on the water became even more pronounced, creating a breathtaking visual spectacle.

... and all this text was AI-generated just by asking the model to describe this picture. I had to make some corrections, but it was still quite impressive :)

Last week I was at the office when suddenly it started to snow heavily, and I could see the snowflakes falling very quickly through the window. I thought at that moment that it would be worth taking a picture, and you can see the result above this text.

Sometimes taking a good picture involves a bit of good luck and being in the right place at the right time. That's just what happened in Morges, Switzerland, a couple of days ago. I was riding back on my bike after buying some coffee when I noticed the silhouette of the Morges church reflected in the lake, with that spectacular sunset in the background. It was definitely a moment that called for me to stop and take this shot!

Yesterday when we were on our way home, my girlfriend pointed out the window and said, "Look, look there in the background." I couldn't see at the beginning what she was talking about, but then the amazing Bernese Alps were on full display in the background. I quickly snapped this shot with my phone, which you can see in the picture above. Really nice!

A couple of days ago I was testing my electric bike, doing a ride from the university to Vevey (about 25 km). At some point when the sunlight was starting to dim, I decided to stop and look back and I saw this beautiful sky that I captured in the photo you find in this post.

This morning, before starting work, I noticed that the day was quite beautiful with a bright sun. So, I went for a short walk to the lake here in Morges. While passing by the harbor, I captured this image, noting its interesting composition.

Nice picture of the moonlight through a tree's branches' shadows, a couple of days ago in Morges, Vaud, Switzerland.

The city center of Morges can be quite beautiful when there are snowy days in these winter months. That was the case a couple of days ago as you can see in the photo above this post.

On this first day of 2022 I had the opportunity to enjoy this beautiful sunset on the shore of Lake Geneva, with the church of Morges in the background. I felt at that moment that in spite of the difficult beginning of 2022, I had hope that everything would be better and that it would be a great year!

Last week when I was leaving work, the light was just perfect to take this snapshot at the EPFL Campus.

Lausanne is a city that can be quite photogenic, and one of my favorite areas for taking photos is the Ouchy area. This area has stunning views of the lake with the Alps in the background. A couple of weeks ago I took this photo of the Éole sculpture created by Clelia Bettua in 1995.

Last week I went out at lunchtime to do a little walk to the lake that is quite close to my home office setting. Although the day was quite cold, the sun reflecting on Lake Geneva created a beautiful view that I captured in the photo you can see above.

The number of cases of covid-19 in Switzerland increased dramatically in November, reaching more than 10,000 at the beginning of the month, which forced the cantonal and federal authorities to take strict measures to prevent contagion.

One of the main differences with respect to the wave that occurred during the spring time is that the number of hospitalizations has increased significantly as can be seen in the graph above. We hope that those measures taken by the authorities will help to control this new peak. Of course everybody has to do their part: #wearamask.

Both in Basel city and Zurich, it is required to wear a face mask with the objective of reducing COVID-19 transmission. The country flattened the curve but as soon as it began to reopen, the cases started to go up again. The cantons of Geneva, Vaud, and Zurich are the most affected as can be observed in the previous graph.

Yesterday I noticed that the autumn colors are already here. It's beautiful, as you can see in the picture above. However, with the crazy weather this year and the temperature going up and down, I barely realized that this season was already here.

Sometimes you look out the window and the view is so nice that it doesn't look like a normal window but rather as a picture that was presented to you instead. That was the case today.

Wikipedia has a useful page with a lot of stats about Switzerland Statistics. The chart above shows the number of live births per year. Very relevant information today.

Last weekend we did a long weekend trip with my girlfriend to the Ticino region of Switzerland, staying in Locarno. I wasn't aware that the Locarno Film Festival was starting this week, and part of this event was a preview showing of a movie on Sunday night open to the public.

The organizers decided to honor Bud Spencer, one of the classic Italian actors from the 70's in the action-comedy genre who passed away earlier this year. They featured Lo chiamavano Trinità, one of the best examples of the "Spaghetti Westerns". I really enjoyed this movie! It brought back nice memories, since the movies featuring the duo Bud Spencer / Terence Hill were one of my grandpa's favorites.

In the Canton of Solothurn, Switzerland, there is a Benedictine monastery called Mariastein, relatively close to Basel. Apparently, this place is a must for the Catholics, but it's also a nice place to walk around in the fields, as you can see on this picture we took yesterday.