Sure, they were just giving away Jaquet Droz chronos!  (n/t)

Honest Injun! Wait.
You don't think the fact that they made me scan my Platinum Visa, then did a thumbprint and retina scan before they let me in the foyer is.. well, fishy, do you?

That's it! I'm gonna look at my CC statement very closely!

Great photos Ricky, thanks. Looks like you're having a great time.  (n/t)

I am! Of course..
..it's nose-to-the-grindstone come Monday morning.

Fun trip  (n/t)

'tis! But, come on, someone HAS to Call BS on the rent-a-car.  (n/t)

I might say the same for the giveaway chrono, Mr. LEE!!!
I just did a search on the bay.....and found an example of the same watch for $14,500 USD!!!! If that was a give away, I'm waiting for someone to toss you a golden calf!!!!!

I'm busted!
Wanna see the real rent-a-car now?

I'm guessing Ford Ka (n/t)

Bzzzzzzzzzzzzt! But I'll come clean.
Here 'tis:



My Kingdom For A Horse if ye can ID it.

No fair looking at the file name!

it's a Seat of some kind...
You can tell by the badge. Can't tell you which one

I want the little red van behind it though

I tink its a Renault Kangoo >>>
or a Citroen Berlingo. I would say Kangoo though.

Both Renault and Citroen built those on their base mini-utility van. This was the very first response from the French OEMs to the SUV craze in the late 90's
Couldnt be cheesiest or cheaper ($12K)
We do much better now

I have a strange attraction to tiny vans...
It is a sickness

I thought maybe you may have rented a deLorean....
I mean, you ARE in switzerland....the land of Timepieces....

That would have been my first choice...anyhow....

Seat or Skoda? (n/t)

SEAT Ibiza (n/t)

Ding ding ding! Give the man a cigar!
An Ibiza it is.

Pretty decent little car. Comfortable, quiet, handles well, and is reasonably peppy. It handled the val de Ruz with aplomb, and that's no easy test!

A Dacia logan, maybe? ( Renault). (n/t)

obvious at a glance the Acura has US position lights and front plates are obliged in Europe  (n/t)

Free swiss Chronograph....FAST CAR!?!!?! Le Locle? Man...am I JEALOUS!!!!
Great pics.....That chrono looks real nice!!!

ahh living vicariously, aint it grand
Shovel all the BS you want RL, I stuck at home with the books, so help a brother dream sounds like a heck of a trip

Re: Shovel all the BS you want RL..

Some artists work in marble, others with paint and canvas. My medium is BS.

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Cleans Up
..I stuck at home with the books, so help a borther dream

My pleasure.

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Cleans Up
sounds like a heck of a trip

Well.. "mixed" might be the best way to describe it so far. Nightmarish start (#@%&ed Delta Airlines! ), then a great couple of days. Today we're back to.. well, not so hot. Look for another top-level update in the next hour or so...

Fibbing aside, looks like you're having a great time.  (n/t)

Fibbing? Why Bro. Dan!
Surely you jest!

I'll admit, you had me going >>>
for a minute there.

Re: ..for a minute there.
Ya big sucker!

I was going for "so outlandish no one will believe it".

How did they let a cheap ass hilljack like you into that Country anyways
If they only new what a caveman you were --- Enjoy!

I got a Passport!
And, since they're Neutral, Switzerland is careful not to start International Incidents.

Now, I might start one...

Well, WE know it's a , but it musta worked for the pictorial
coverage! Have fun CaveMan! Hopefully when you get home your standards will be raised

Re: Hopefully when you get home your standards will be raised
Oh, I seriously doubt that.

Maybe a little bit.

Great pictures,  (n/t)

Great pics, RL! Have fun! (n/t)

Based on that I'm going to have to move! Sounds like a great country that would be easy to  (n/t)

Ricky, we love these topics of yours!
Have a great time, be safe , be ... great! And , since we talk about... Neuchatel, here is one !!!.....

Ioannis Fassoulakis / Matala / Crete / Greece

Re: And , since we talk about... Neuchatel, here is one !!!.....
Well done!

I think we overlook how many brand-names in the horological world are, in fact, tied to place names. For instance, yesterday I noticed a sign for the town of Landeron. Now I don't know for sure that's where the Landeron movements got their name.. but it seems likely to the point of certainty.

Yes, sir!  (n/t)

be very careful! Speed traps are more common than traffic lights in Switzerland and...
fines are ca. SFR 1200 for 20 km/h too fast in the city....

Re: ..fines are ca. SFR 1200 for 20 km/h too fast in the city....
Holy Highway Robbery!

Thing is, I noticed that everyone does slow down to (pretty much) the posted speed limits in the municipalities. However, on the open road it's a whole 'nother story!

But.. man! CHF 1200 is a steep fine! I believe I'll slow down, period.

Thanks or the tip!

mind you, the Swiss are considered to be among the most civilized drivers in Europe  (n/t)

Oh, agreed! Most impressive to me..
..is their iron-clad almost sacred adherence to "the pedestrian always has the right of way" creed. I see some pedestrians step out into a crosswalk with traffic approaching, and I cringe. 'cause that would get your ass runned over in Memphis , sooner or later (probably sooner! ).

And it's not just that. Faithful signalling, no tail-gating, no passing on the wrong side.. sure, to me it's no wonder they've earned the reputation.

Nice report Ricky, thanks a lot. I was at the Expo 64 in Lausanne, the car stars of that exhibition where the >
Citroen Deux Cheveaux and they also had a brand new Mustang there. What I remember also is that a Swiss photographer presented his 360 degree panorama camera. A yes, the grilled sausages where great too.

As for leaving Switzerland, I am still returning every year and will continue to do so as long as I can do long haul flights. I like to see other cultures and other continents and Asia seemed a great choice at the time. If my daughter is studying in the US, I might have to change continents again.

My roots are still firmly in Switzerland, but I have always wanted to see the whole Planet.

Great report, I will keep this one in the Travel Reports forum.

Keep the reports coming, don't waste too much time typing (you can edit the posts later to add extra info) and enjoy everything Switzerland has to offer

As for driving fast, the western part of Switzerland has definitely a looser definition of speed limit. Watch village entries and village exits when you see the 50 sign next to a barn, then drive 50. In that area I would not necessarily try to speed, it's a rural area and some of the farmers on their tractors think they have been there before the road was built and drive accordingly. Must be the same back home

Re: My roots are still firmly in Switzerland, but I have always wanted to see the whole Planet.

Well, I can certainly understand that.

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Reto
As for driving fast, the western part of Switzerland has definitely a looser definition of speed limit. Watch village entries and village exits when you see the 50 sign next to a barn, then drive 50.

Oh, definitely. As I mentioned to Micha, everyone does seem to respect the speed limits in the towns and villages. It's on the open road where their right foot gets heavy.

And, I must admit that the swervy curvy roads make it seem like you're going faster than you really are. I don't believe I exceeded 140 Km/H (87 MPH) at any point. Or not by much, anyway. Still, a few drivers passed me like I was standing still. They had to be in the 160 to 180 Km/H range. One tricked-out Audi passed me like I was in reverse! If he wasn't doing 200+, I'm a Monkey's Uncle!

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Reto
..a rural area and some of the farmers on their tractors think they have been there before the road was built and drive accordingly. Must be the same back home

Oh, you bet. Some things are truly universal.

Cool pics, wait the following ones  (n/t)

Looks great, Ricky. Have FUN!!!! (n/t)

Great pics!  (n/t)