The first World Psychedelic Forum took place in Basel, Switzerland, March 21-24, and the guest of honor was 102 year old Albert Hofmann, the inventor of LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), one of the most potent (and popular) of hallucinogenic substances. Working at Sandoz when he accidentally came across it in 1943, he considered it his “problem child”. I have often wondered what he was looking for?
Switzerland
I fantasize about it, and when I get it, I like to lean back, with my hands behind my head, and close my eyes. If I haven’t had any in a long time I may tremble from time to time. I’m a man that can’t get enough. I don’t think I’m unusual in this. That’s why in 2007 the Swiss chocolate industry had record results: SFr1,662 million ($1,512 million dollars).
What’s not to like, scenery, good food, and lots and lots of wine coming from the wine areas on the far side of the Röstigraben , or the west of Switzerland if you prefer. Mostly situated along the lake of Geneva, it’s a breathtaking journey by car, taking the small routes, exploring vineyards and passing through villages like Lavaux, Chebrex, and La Côte.
Read more: Over the Rösti-Graben
The Rösti-Graben is a fictitious trench running along the Saane river and the language divide between the French and German speaking areas of Switzerland. More acute in the past, it also marked a difference in the politics and mentality between the German-speaking majority and the French minority.
Literall translation: Rösti-trench, and Rösti being a very satisfying potato dish from Bern, and the Swiss German national dish to boot.
Switzerland is in central Europe, both mentally and geographically. The original Swiss Confederation was formed in 1291 as a defensive alliance by the cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden and by 1353 also included Glarus and Zug plus the city-states of Lucerne, Zürich and Berne.
Switzerland's independence from the Holy Roman Empire was recognized in the Treaty of Westphalia in 1648, but the armies of the French Revolution conquered Switzerland in 1798 and centralized the government creating the “Helvetic Republic”, effectively abolishing the cantons. In 1803 Napoleon having bigger problems in Europe, met with the leading Swiss politicians in Paris, restored Swiss autonomy and introduced a Confederation of 19 cantons (Act of Mediation).
