The garlic here is denser than in Southern Europe and harder to slice and crush. I also seem to remember this about France, mind you. The produce available, be it animal or vegetable, is first-grade and looks and tastes nourishing and wholesome. The beef, pork, lamb, and venison are all to die for. Chicken is expensive compared to other meats but, interestingly enough, I’ve noticed how much less – if at all – it sweats in the pan. I suppose the Swiss have a thing about the Oestrogen levels in their fowl, unlike in Spain. Fish and seafood is good but understandably expensive and a relative delicacy unless you happen to drive a Maseratti. All milk products are supreme.

Contrary to what we had been led to believe, I’ve found the natives to be – almost without exception – very friendly and approachable. Interestingly, French and Italian are of little use to us in these parts. People appreciate any efforts in primitive German and will gladly help you out in passable English, especially the young. Everyone is courteous, considerate, and tidy. No one seems to litter and there isn’t a dog turd in sight. It’s very safe and little kids of five or six are trusted to walk to school and back on their own. We are sort of moving in that direction with Ines but we haven’t yet let her do the whole route by herself, despite the fact that our district is quiet and safe and the school is only 800 metres away. This has more to do with Cristina and me training ourselves to relax after the relative anxieties of bringing up kids in a city like Barcelona.

Luzern, and its surroundings, is picture-postcard pretty and you hardly ever hear any police sirens. There is very little visible poverty and, as in many cities, the handful of career alcoholics and drug addicts seem to congregate around the bus stops in front of the train station.

Yes, there is a more regimented aspect to life here and you are expected to follow certain rules. But I think that because the majority do, this provides the lubricant to ensure that the system works for all. Switzerland seems to be a very digitalized society and although seemingly very bureaucratic at first, once you are “in” many things are easily resolved. The fiscal system is a relative minefield. Thank God we have Deloitte to advise us for the next couple of years.

It’s an achingly beautiful country from what we have seen and in many respects I feel that the Swiss are living in the 22nd century. We have no regrets about moving here and we both feel that this experience will be of tremendous benefit to the four of us. I feel this is the beginning of a life-long romance.