Switzerland

My first encounter with Switzerland came in the fall of 1946, at the
age of nine years. The effects of WW II caused my asthma attacks,
which in due course became so bad that it was advised, if at all possible
for me to be brought to Switzerland to a home for asthmatic children.
This could be my only chance of survival.
For a year I was in such an establishment in the town of Celerina, near
St. Moritz in the region of Graubunden.
At that time I was to be outdoors the entire day as long as there was
sunlight, I was thought the art of "skiing". Every day I was skiing and made
trips on various mountain trails in the area.
At the end of 1947, a medical check revealed that I was fit enough to
return home to the Netherlands.
In later years, I have returned to that beautiful country many times, and
each time when I am on a high mountain top, somewhere in the Alps, I feel
wonderful. ( See "My Early Years" )
And even now in later years, whenever I have the chance to be in Europe I
visit some part of the Alps, and prefer to be on top of the mountains.
Of course in those days I did not make any pictures, so here are some old
black & white photo's from that time.

Ski lessons winter 1946 - 1947

Pictures of Switzerland of later visits

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Mountain train Swiss landscape Glacier Country side

In 1978 while on vacation, I tried to
repeat the art of skiing again.
Unfortunately at that time my flexibility
and experience did not come to my aid.
But at least I tried.